Federal Agency and Commission Reports 

for FY 2003

Supplemental Information 

to the 

Seventh Annual Report on Federal Agency Use of 

Voluntary Consensus Standards and Conformity 

Assessment 
ii

Federal Agency and Commission Reports for FY 2003

Table of Contents 

Appendix E - Cabinet Department Agencies ........................................ E-1 

Department of Agriculture...................................................................................... E-2 

Department of Commerce....................................................................................... E-5 

Department of Defense .......................................................................................... E-20 

Department of Education...................................................................................... E-30 

Department of Energy ........................................................................................... E-32 

Department of Health and Human Services........................................................ E-39 

Department of Homeland Security....................................................................... E-54 

Department of Housing and Urban Development .............................................. E-55 

Department of the Interior.................................................................................... E-63 

Department of Justice............................................................................................ E-68 

Department of Labor............................................................................................. E-70 

Department of State............................................................................................... E-74 

Department of Transportation ............................................................................. E-77 

Department of the Treasury ................................................................................. E-82 

Department of Veterans Affairs ........................................................................... E-84

Appendix F – Non-Cabinet Department and Commissions ................. F-1 

Agency for International Development................................................................... F-2 

Consumer Product Safety Commission .................................................................. F-4 

Environmental Protection Agency .......................................................................... F-8 

Federal Communications Commission ................................................................. F-33 

Federal Trade Commission.................................................................................... F-35 

General Services Administration........................................................................... F-37 

Government Printing Office .................................................................................. F-47 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ................................................ F-49 

National Archives and Records Administration .................................................. F-53 

National Science Foundation ................................................................................. F-57 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission........................................................................... F-59
Appendix E - Cabinet Department 

Agencies
E-2 

Department of Agriculture

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

163 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

106 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

42 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Accredited Standards Committee X9 ASCX9 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American National Standards Institute Government Member 

Forum 

ANSI/GMF 

American Oil Chemists Society AOCS 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

ANSI Standards for Structured Query Language ANSI/SQL 

Association of Official Analytical Chemists International AOACI 

Back Office Services BOS 

Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Taskforce on Fruit and 

Vegetable Juices 

CCFVJ 

Codex Comm. on Milk & Milk Products CCMMP 

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues CCPR 

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables CCPFV 

Committee of Java Community Process J2EE 

Components Framework CF 

Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity CCBD 

IBM Global Services Methodology IBM/GSM 
E-3 

Industry-wide Cooperative Meat Identification Standards 

Committee 

ICMISC 

International Dairy Federation IDF 

International Organization for Standardization Technical 

Committee 176 for Quality Management and Quality Assurance

ISO TC-176 

International Organization for Standardization Technical 

Committee for Meat and Meat Products 

ISO/TC 34/SC 6 

International Organization for Standardization/International 

Electrotechnical Commission 

ISO/IEC 

International Seed Testing Association ISTA 

International Standards Organization ISO 

International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of 

Plants 

UPOV 

J2EE National Consortium J2EE/NC 

Joint Financial Managers Improvement Program JFMIP 

Meat and Poultry Business-to Business Data Standards 

Organization 

mpXML 

Meat and Poultry Equipment Standards MPES 

National Computer Security Center NCSC 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST 

National Organic Program NOP 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Seed 

Schemes 

OECD 

Project Management Institute for Project Management PMI 

Rational Unified Process RUP 

Reference Architecture and Common Application Framework RACAF 

Sanitary Standards Program SSP 

Service Access and Delivery SAD 

Service Interface and Integration SII 

Service Platform and Infrastructure SPI 

UML National Consortium UML/NC 

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNECE 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each instance 

where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and each 

instance; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-4 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use or 

as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

USDA concurs that the standards policy stated in Circular A-119 is effective in reducing 

duplicate systems of standards. It effectively defines the role and coordinates the use of 

government-unique standards in the marketplace. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

No comments on activities. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

No examples of case studies. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

The reporting tool is user-friendly. 
E-5 

Department of Commerce

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

415 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

118 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Acoustical Society of America ASA 

Air Transportation Association ATA 

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute ARI 

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions ATIS 

American Biomolecular Resource Facilities ABRF 

American Concrete Institute ACI 

American Congress on Surveying and Mapping ACSM 

American Dental Association ADA 

American Gas Association AGA 

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics AIAA 

American Institute of Steel Construction AISC 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Nuclear Society ANS 

American Physical Society APS 

American Society For Quality ASQ 

American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTMI 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air- ASHRAE 
E-6 

Conditioning Engineers 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Vacuum Society AVS 

American Water Works Association AWWA 

American Welding Society AWS 

Association for Information and Image Management AIIM 

Association of Official Analytical Chemists International AOACI 

Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms Technical Forum BLAS 

Biometric Application Programming Interface Consortium BioAPI 

British Standards Institution BSI 

Bureau of International Weights and Measures BIPM 

Calorimetry Conference CalCon 

Canadian General Standards Board CGSB 

College of American Pathologists CAP 

Common Criteria Management Committee CCMC 

Compressed Gas Association CGA 

Council for Optical Radiation Measurements CORM 

Dansk Standards Association (Denmark) DS 

Deutsches Institut fur Nomung - German Institute for 

Standardization 

DIN 

Electronic Book Exchange EBX 

Electronic Industries Alliance EIA 

European Computer Manufacturers Association ECMA 

European Conference on Thermophysical Properties ECTP 

European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological EUMETSAT 

Extensible Markup Language Consortium XML 

General Council on Weights and Measures CGPM 

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America IESNA 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Instructional Management System IMS 

Instrument Society of America ISA 

Inter-Society Color Council ISCC 

Interconnecting and Packaging Printed Circuits IPC 

International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam IAPWS 

International Astronomical Union IAU 

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA 

International Cartographic Association ICA 

International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO 

International Code Council ICC 

International Commission on Illumination CIE 

International Commission on Radiation Units and 

Measurements 

ICRU 

International Committee for Information Technology Standards INCITS 

International Council of Scientific Unions ICSU 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Federation on Information Processing IFIP 
E-7 

International Hydrographic Organization IHO 

International Institute of Welding IIW 

International Laboratory Accreditation Conference ILAC 

International Measurement Confederation IMEKO 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

International Organization of Legal Metrology OIML 

International Telecommunication Union ITU 

International Union of Crystallography IUCr 

International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction

Materials, Systems and Structures 

RILEM 

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry IUPAC 

International Union of Pure and Applied Physics IUPAP 

International Union of Radio Science URSI 

Internet Engineering Task Force IETF 

Internet Software Consortium ISC 

Java Grande Forum JGF 

Joint Committee for Gauges in Metrology JCGM 

Joint Electron Devices Engineering Council JEDEC 

National Association of Broadcasters NAB 

National Association of Corrosion Engineers International NACE 

National Association of Photographic Manufacturers NAPM 

National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards NCCLS 

National Conference of Standards Laboratories NCSL 

National Conference on Weights and Measures NCWM 

National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation NACLA 

National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRPM 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Information Standards Organization NISO 

North American Open Math Initiative NAOMI 

Object Management Group OMG 

Open eBook Forum OeBF 

Optical Internetworking Forum OIF 

Optical Society of America OSA 

Optical Storage Technology Association OSTA 

Optics and Electro-Optics Standards Council OEOSC 

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 

Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information 

Standards 

OASIS 

Pan American Standards Commission COPANT 

Paper Industry Management Association PIMA 

Parallel Tools Consortium PTOOLS 

Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics RTCA 

Robotics Industry Association RIA 

Safety Glazing Certification Council SGCC 

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute SEMI 

Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology SEMATECH 
E-8 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers SMPTE 

Society for Biology SFB 

Technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry TAPPI 

Telecommunications Industry Association TIA 

U.S. Geological Society USGS 

U.S. Product Data Association USPRO 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards VAMAS 

Video Electronics Standards Association VESA 

World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO 

World Meteorological Organization WMO 

World Wide Web Consortium W3C 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

Not Applicable. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 
E-9 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

NIST believes that the Circular provides satisfactory guidance to federal agencies 

regarding how to comply with P.L. 104-113. On those occasions when additional 

clarification is needed, the Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP) has 

proven to be an effective forum in which agencies can work toward resolution. For 

example, the committee discussed again in FY 2003 uncertainties regarding what is 

meant by the phrase "federal agency 'use' of voluntary consensus standards". As a result 

of those discussions, the ICSP Chair issued a guidance memo to federal agencies for the 

purpose of clarifying the ways agencies should identify and report their use of standards 

more consistently. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCB) Program 

In May 2000, NIST initially evaluated American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI’S) 

Conformity Assessment Program for compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 61 and the Federal 

Communications Commission (FCC) requirements for its Telecommunications 

Certification Bodies (TCB) program. Upon successful completion of an on-site 

assessment and two witness audits, NIST recognized ANSI’s Conformity Assessment 

Program for a period of two years. In May 2002, NIST re-evaluated ANSI and extended 

its recognition for two more years. 

ANSI evaluates prospective TCBs for compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 65 and FCC 

requirements for the TCB program. FCC requires that a TCB must have core testing 

capability and that the testing laboratory must be accredited to ISO/IEC Standard 17025. 

NIST recommends thus accredited organizations to FCC for designation as TCBs. As of 

December 2003, NIST recommended 17 TCBs and confirmed by the FCC. The number 

of TCBs may increase or decrease according to the market demand. 

Asia-Pacifica Economic Cooperation for Telecommunications and Information, 

Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APEC Tel MRA) 

Under Phase-II of the APEC Tel MRA, NIST is responsible for qualifying and 

designating Certification Bodies (CBs) or U.S. Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) 

for a specific economy’s technical requirements. As a part of this process, NIST in 2003 

expanded ANSI’s scope for certification bodies to include Canadian Government 

(Industry Canada) requirements. On behalf of NIST, ANSI will qualify CBs/CABs to 

ISO/IEC Guide 65 and Industry Canada’s technical requirements. The CBs/CABs will 

provide product certification services to U.S. manufacturers and facilitate trade. As of 

December 2003, ANSI qualified 7 CBs/CABs. In January 2004, NIST reviewed CAB 

qualifications and nominated 7 U.S. CABs to Industry Canada for their recognition. 
E-10 

Under Phase-I of the APEC Tel MRA, NIST is responsible for qualifying and designating 

U.S. CABs for a specific economy’s technical requirements. Under NIST-NACLA 

memorandum of understandings (MOU), NACLA evaluates and recognize accreditors of 

testing laboratories for compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 58 and importing APEC 

economy’s technical requirements. As a part of this MOU, NACLA recognized The 

American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and National Voluntary 

Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). Both A2LA and NVLAP qualify 

laboratories for compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17025 and importing APEC 

economy’s technical requirements. In Phase-I, NIST designated 114 testing laboratories 

(U.S. CABs) to four APEC economies which were accredited by A2LA and NVLAP. 

These CABs test products for foreign requirements and facilitate trade. The number of 

U.S. CABs may increase or decrease according to the market demand. 

NIST Committee Participation 

NIST's Standards Services Division (NIST/SSD) participates in the ANSI International 

Conformity Assessment Committee (ICAC), which serves as the U.S. Technical 

Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO's Council Committee on Conformity Assessment 

(CASCO). SSD staff also participates in CASCO Working Group 25 on alignment of 

ISO/IEC 17025 with ISO 9000/2000, Working Group 22 on a code of good practice for 

conformity assessment, and Working Group 20 on the revision of ISO/IEC Guide 7 on 

the inclusion of conformity assessment requirements in standards. Further, SSD staff is 

active in a CASCO ad hoc group on Regulators Interface and in working groups of the 

International Accreditation Forum (IAF). 

NIST/SSD personnel serve on the ANSI committee that is responsible for accrediting 

certification bodies and on the U.S. National Committee to the IECEE (IEC System for 

Conformity testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment). The latter is a worldwide 

scheme that allows manufacturers to obtain a test certificate from an approved U.S. 

National Certification Body (NCB) and to use this test report to obtain certification marks 

in other participating countries. 

NIST/SSD also participates in the U.S Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 176, 

the ISO committee responsible for the development and maintenance of the ISO 9000 

standards series, and in American Society for Quality (ASQ) Z-1, the U.S. committee 

responsible for adoption of the ISO 9000 series as U.S. national standards. 

The Director, Standards Services Division serves as the Chair of the ANSI-Registrar 

Accreditation Board (RAB) National Accreditation Program (NAP) Environmental 

Management Systems (EMS) Council. The Council is responsible for accrediting 

registrars that assess facilities for conformance to the ISO 14001 standard. 

Finally, NIST/SSD has published a number of directories and reports on conformity 

assessment-related issues and maintains a Web site (http://www.ts.nist.gov/ca) that 

provides a one-stop-shopping source for information on various conformity assessment 
E-11 

issues. 

National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA) 

Section 12b of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) of 

1995 directed NIST to coordinate conformity assessment activities of federal, state, and 

local entities to eliminate any unnecessary duplication of conformity assessment 

activities. In response, NIST has been a driving force behind the creation of NACLA. 

NACLA is composed of organizations in the United States, with observers from Mexico 

and Canada that actively support development of a system for recognizing the 

competence of testing and calibration laboratories leading to worldwide acceptance of 

test and calibration reports from those laboratories. Concerned with costly, multiple, 

duplicate assessments, and the lack of domestic or international recognition of laboratory 

accreditations, the group has explored solutions that could lead the United States, and 

perhaps eventually its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, toward 

the goal of having only one assessment of a laboratory in a given field of testing, based 

on internationally accepted procedures. The NACLA vision is for a U.S. laboratory 

accreditation system that achieves the following goals: 

• For the testing laboratory, a single accreditation in a given field of testing, with 

worldwide recognition of the laboratory's competence. 

• For the manufacturer/supplier, a test performed once, with worldwide acceptance. 

• For the acceptance body (that is a government agency or an industry specifier); an 

accreditation based on uniform criteria and intended to ensure that a laboratory is 

qualified to provide data of consistent quality. 

In the past year, NACLA took a number of steps to continue to improve its system for 

evaluating U.S. accrediting bodies and to increase the public's understanding of that 

system. 

• Revised the protocols for appointment of Lead Evaluators, individuals who play a 

crucial role in the evaluation of applicant accreditation bodies. Two key Board decisions 

were: to use the services of Lead Evaluators from international accreditation 

cooperations, like APLAC; and to pay a per diem stipend to these all Lead Evaluators. 

The modifications will help to expand the pool of qualified Lead Evaluators and increase 

the efficiency of the NACLA system. 

• Revised and updated the terms and conditions of the NACLA Mutual Recognition 

Arrangement (MRA). This is the document that is signed by all accreditation bodies that 

are recognized by NACLA. Among other obligations, it requires all signatory bodies to 

accept test and calibration data from laboratories accredited by other MRA signatories. 

• Published - and posted on the NACLA web site (www.nacla.net) - an information 

White Paper entitled, NACLA's Important Mission and Current Status: How NACLA 
E-12 

Evaluates and Recognizes Laboratory Accreditation Bodies. The document has helped to 

educate stakeholders about the NACLA evaluation-recognition process and to clarify 

misperceptions about NACLA in the marketplace. 

• Held a two-day planning retreat of the NACLA Board of Directors-Operations Council. 

The result of the retreat is a series of strategies and tactics to enhance NACLA's 

operational effectiveness and financial stability. 

• Most importantly, NACLA and NIST revised and renewed the memorandum of 

understanding (MOU) between the two organizations. Under the renewed MOU, NIST 

will continue to recognize NACLA as a suitable private-sector alternative to NIST's 

National Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation (NVCASE) program. 

NIST relies on NACLA recognition of qualified accreditation bodies in support of NIST 

responsibilities as a designating authority under the U.S.-European Union Mutual 

Recognition Agreement (MRA), the APEC Telecommunications MRA, and the InterAmerican Telecommunications Commission (CITEL MRA. A total of more than 100 

laboratories have been designated as Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) under the 

provisions of the U.S.-EU and APEC MRA’s, pursuant to this MOU. 

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program – NIST/SSD’s National Voluntary 

Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) operates in conformance with ISO Guide 58 

and accredits calibration and testing laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025. NVLAP operates 

programs in support of several federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, the 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of 

Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Communications 

Commission, and in support of state and local governments. 

National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) – NIST and the National Security 

Agency have established a program under the National Information Assurance 

Partnership (NIAP) to evaluate IT product conformance to international standards. The 

program, officially known as the NIAP Common Criteria Evaluation and Validation 

Scheme for IT Security or Common Criteria Scheme, is a partnership between the public 

and private sectors. NIAP assessment programs are based on national and international IT 

security standards and criteria. Present IT product testing programs include the NIAP 

Common Criteria Evaluation and Validation Program (see more at http://niap.nist.gov/ccscheme/) and the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (see 

http://csrc.nist.gov/cryptval/) 

. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

FREE CD DEMYSTIFIES COMPLEX STANDARDS SYSTEM 

A new CD from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can help 

steer engineers, novice trade-association representatives and new government staffers 

through the thicket of organizations, activities, policies and laws related to standards and 

measurement in the United States. 
E-13 

With an easily digested helping of technical detail, the free electronic primer* provides 

an integrated view of major public and private-sector components of the nation’s 

measurement and standards system. These elements are sized up from several key 

perspectives, including global trade and regulatory affairs. 

Capsulated descriptions are supplemented by pointers to copies of trade agreements, 

federal laws and other background documents. Links to relevant Internet resources, such 

as Web sites of standards development organizations and regional measurement alliances, 

are found throughout. For example, the section on conformity assessment (the umbrella 

term for testing and other means of assessing whether a product meets regulatory and 

customer requirements) contains pointers to copies of international agreements and other 

efforts to harmonize such formal requirements. It also features links to multinational 

organizations working to eliminate duplication or needless variation in the standards and 

regulations of trading partners. 

Five major sections survey relevant topics and activities in the areas of measurements, 

standards, conformity assessment, regulations and global activities. An additional section 

describes NIST, its programs, and it’s supporting technical roles and services. 

To get a copy of the compendium-like CD, contact the editor, Elisabeth Parker, at (301) 

975-3089; or elisabeth.parker@nist.gov. 

NEW STANDARD HELPS MAKE SOFTWARE EASIER TO USE 

Nothing drives people more crazy than software programs that are poorly designed, 

inappropriate for specific tasks and, in general, difficult to use. Employee frustration, 

wasted work time and decreased productivity attributable to software that isn’t usable can 

be costly for both businesses and individuals. 

To help remedy the problem, computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST) teamed with U.S. companies to develop a standard way to test 

and evaluate software usability. The product of the team’s effort, the Common Industry 

Format (CIF) for Usability Test Reports, recently was approved by the American 

National Standards Institute (ANSI). 

Several pilot studies by companies such as The Boeing Co., Oracle Corp. and Microsoft 

Corp. have verified the new standard’s usefulness. In fact, aerospace manufacturer 

Boeing partnered with Oracle, a large supplier of database products, to conduct joint tests 

of the CIF. This has resulted in software that both companies agree is more effective. 

Now that the value of the CIF has been demonstrated, NIST is considering expanding its 

work to focus on improving usability of next-generation computer devices such as 

handhelds. 

STANDARDS TO HELP MANUFACTURERS MEASURE MICRO-MACHINE 
E-14 

PROPERTIES 

When a car collides with another car, a tiny device called an accelerometer detects the 

change in motion and sets off an air bag, an innovation that has saved many lives. 

The accelerometer is one of the most common uses of micro-electromechanical systems 

(MEMS), but scientists and engineers also are starting to use them in devices ranging 

from angioplasty pressure sensors and pacemakers to optical disk drives. 

MEMS, also known as micro-machines, are a relatively new technology that uses existing 

microelectronics manufacturing methods to create complex machines with micrometer 

feature sizes. MEMS devices represent a rapidly growing component of the 

semiconductor industry. Many micro-machines contain moving parts that are combined 

with integrated circuits. Like most high-tech devices, they must be made with precise 

dimensions and materials properties to operate properly. To help manufacturers ensure 

that their devices meet these exacting specifications, National Institute of Standards and 

Technology scientists and engineers helped develop three ASTM International standard 

test methods for the thin films used to make micro-machines. 

The test procedures, which are the first such standards in the world, will be published in 

The Annual Book of ASTM International Standards this month. The standards are 

expected to facilitate global commerce in MEMS technologies by enabling measurements 

that will lead to the development of more reliable and reproducible MEMS devices. The 

three standards provide detailed instructions for measuring thin-film dimensions and 

"strain," a property related to the stress in the thin film. NIST researchers have created a 

Web site to help semiconductor manufacturers perform the complex mathematical 

calculations required by the new standard test methods. For further information, see 

www.eeel.nist.gov/812/test-structures. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

DOC STANDARDS COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION

 

The Department of Commerce encourages its staff to participate in standards committee 

activities relating to the mission of the Department, subject to resource availability. 

Agency employees participate in the standards development activities of U.S. private 

sector standardization bodies; local, state, and federal governments; and both private and 

governmental (treaty and non-treaty) international standardization organizations. 

Standards of interest to the Department cover a broad range of technical areas including: 

(1) energy conservation, (2) information and computer technology, (3) 

telecommunications, (4) environmental safety and health, (5) meteorological work, and 

(6) a variety of other product sectors and fields of technology. 

The Standards Committee Participation (SCP) database maintained by the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) collects and disseminates information on 

DOC staff participation in standards development activities. 
E-15 

Four hundred forty three DOC staff participated in the standards writing activities of 118 

(89 national and 37 international) standards developing organizations. Because of the 

volume of NIST participants relative to the remaining DOC agencies, the DOC standards 

participant information contained in the SCP database is divided into two parts -- NIST 

and other (non-NIST) DOC agencies. Therefore, the data presented below is separated 

accordingly. 

NIST Participation 

NIST had 391 participants in the activities of 117 standards development organizations. 

NIST participated on 446 committees and held 1,304 memberships on these committees. 

Ten of the standards organizations in which NIST staff members participated had 20 or 

more memberships (see below). These organizations accounted for 70 percent (908) of 

the 1,304 memberships: 

Organizations with NIST Memberships: 

ASTM 459 

American National Standards Institute 91 

International Organization for Standardization 76 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers 73 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 59 

International Electrotechnical Commission 44 

International Commission on Illumination 29 

Telecommunications Industry Association 27 

General Council on Weights and Measures 27 

American Concrete Institute 23 

Total 908 

Other Department of Commerce Participation 

Fifty-two staff members of other (non-NIST) DOC agencies participated in the activities 

of 26 standards development organizations. They participated on 51 committees and held 

94 memberships on these committees. Nine of those standards organizations in which 

DOC staff members participated had five or more memberships (see below). These 

organizations/agencies accounted for 66 percent (62) of the 94 DOC committee 

memberships: 

Organizations with DOC Memberships 

American National Standards Institute 11 

International Committee for Information Technology 8 

International Organization for Standardization 8 

Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 7 
E-16 

Dept. of Defense/Federal Aviation Administration/Dept. of Commerce 6 

International Telecommunications Union - Radio 6 

Telecommunications Industry Association 6 

Dept. of State 5 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 5 

Total 62 

NATIONAL CENTER FOR STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION INFORMATION 

(NCSCI) 

NCSCI is the U.S. source for standards and standards-related information at home and 

abroad. The Center provides information on U.S., foreign, regional, and international 

voluntary standards, mandatory government regulations, and conformity assessment 

procedures for nonagricultural products. Resources include an extensive collection of 

reference materials, including U.S. military and other Federal Government specifications, 

U.S. industry and national standards, international standards, and selected foreign 

national standards. NCSCI responds to requests for specialized standards information, 

provides contact points for translations of foreign standards and regulations, and 

disseminates information to U.S. industry concerning proposed foreign regulations and 

general standards issues. 

In fulfillment of U.S. obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement 

on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement 

(NAFTA), NCSCI serves as the U.S. national Inquiry Point and national Notification 

Authority. Signatories to the WTO TBT Agreement are required to notify the WTO 

Secretariat in Geneva of proposed technical regulations that could affect world trade and 

provide a 60-day comment period for review and comment by other WTO Members. 

NCSCI disseminates the WTO summary notifications at no charge through a web-based 

email subscription service, Export Alert! NCSCI also acquires the full text of the 

proposed technical regulations from the relevant foreign inquiry point and distributes it to 

interested U.S. industries. 

NCSCI is the U.S. member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 

Information Network (ISONET). NCSCI networks with other national standards 

organizations to exchange standards-related information and share access to foreign 

trade-related standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures. 

FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS (FIPS) 

Under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), TITLE III of the EGovernment Act of 2002, the Secretary of Commerce approves standards and guidelines 

that are developed by NIST for federal computer systems. This includes standards and 

guidelines needed to ensure the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive 

information in federal computer systems, when there are compelling federal requirements 

and there are no existing voluntary industry standards. These standards and guidelines are 
E-17 

issued by NIST as FIPS for use Government-wide. FIPS address federal requirements for 

the interoperability of different systems, for the portability of data and software, and for 

computer security. When FIPS are considered necessary, NIST announces proposed FIPS 

in the Federal Register for public review and comment. 

During FY2003, NIST made the following FIPS announcements: 

On March 4, 2003, NIST announced in the Federal Register the proposed withdrawal of 

17 FIPS. Some of these FIPS adopt voluntary industry standards for Federal government 

use, but the FIPS documents have not been updated to reference current or revised 

voluntary industry standards. Other FIPS adopt data standards that are developed and 

used by other federal government agencies. These FIPS have not been updated to reflect 

changes and modifications in the data representations. The remaining FIPS provide 

advisory guidance to federal agencies on computer security issues. This advisory 

guidance, which has no requirements for compulsory and binding use, has been updated 

by NIST and issued in more recent recommendations and publications. The FIPS 

proposed for withdrawal are: 

FIPS 8-6, Metropolitan Areas (Including MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs, and NECMAs) 

FIPS 9-1, Congressional Districts of the U.S. 

FIPS 31, Guidelines for Automatic Data Processing Physical Security and Risk 

Management 

FIPS 48, Guidelines on Evaluation of Techniques for Automated Personal Identification 

FIPS 55-3, Codes for Named Populated Places, Primary County Divisions, and Other 

Location Entities of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Outlying Areas 

FIPS 66, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes 

FIPS 73, Guidelines for Security of Computer Applications 

FIPS 83, Guideline on User Authentication Techniques for Computer Network Access 

Control 

FIPS 87, Guidelines for ADP Contingency Planning 

FIPS 92, Guideline for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes 

FIPS 95-2, Codes for the Identification of Federal and Federally Assisted Organizations 

FIPS 102, Guideline for Computer Security Certification and Accreditation 

FIPS 112, Password Usage 

FIPS 127-2, Database Language SQL (ANSI X3.135-1992) 

FIPS 159, Detail Specification for 62.5-um Core Diameter/125-um Cladding Diameter 

Class 1A Multimode, Graded-Index Optical Waveguide Fibers 

FIPS 171, Key Management Using ANSI X9.17 

FIPS 173-1, Spatial Data Transfer Standard 

After a 90-day public review period, NIST addressed all comments received from the 

public, and the withdrawal of the 17 FIPS now awaits final approval by the Secretary of 

Commerce. 

In a Federal Register notice dated May 16, 2003, NIST announced the first draft of FIPS 

199, Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information 
E-18 

Systems. After a 90-day public review period, NIST revised the document based on 

comments received, and it now awaits final approval by the Secretary of Commerce. 

SUMMARY OF STANDARDS-RELATED ACTIVITIES - DOC BUREAUS 

(EXCLUDING NIST): 

International Trade Administration (ITA) – The ITA participates in four CODEX 

committees, one ICAO committee and one committee of the U.S.-Russia Working Group 

Standards for Chemicals. This year, ITA’s work in standards furthered toy safety 

standardization and international civil aviation standards adoption and acceptance 

worldwide. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Standardization of data 

acquisition and data management practices are vital to the mission at NOAA. NOAA 

seeks to establish voluntary standards with selected industrial associations, academia, and 

national organizations of state and local governments (e.g., the American Association of 

State Climatologists), as well as through participation in professional societies (e.g., 

American Meteorological Society). All NOAA line organizations participate in standards 

development activities. In general, standards used in many NOAA activities are 

established in conjunction with other federal agencies (e.g., DOD, Federal Aviation 

Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Geographic Data 

Committee) either through joint participation in international organizations such as the 

World Meteorological Organization, or by means of bilateral and multilateral agreements 

with other nations. These standardization activities apply to all phases of environmental 

data acquisition, processing, and distribution. 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) – The NTIA 

contributes to the development and application of national and international 

telecommunication standards by participating and holding leadership roles in various 

voluntary standards committees at the national and international levels (e.g., 

Telecommunications Industry Association, International Telecommunication Union). 

These standards enhance the quality and reliability of the domestic telecommunications 

infrastructure, promote healthy competition in telecommunications products and services, 

and expand international trade opportunities for U.S. telecommunications firms. 

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - The USPTO participates and 

contributes to the resolution of identified requirements for international standards, 

primarily through the Standing Committee on Information Technologies of the World 

Intellectual Property Organization. USPTO staff also participates in standardization 

activities of the International Patent Classification Union and the ANSI-Accredited 

Committee on Patent Standards. 

Bureau of the Census – DOC’s Bureau of the Census is active in the development of 

standards and specifications for: (1) the capture and storage of geographic information in 

computer-readable formats along with metadata documenting the characteristics of those 
E-19 

data; and (2) the definitions of statistical, economic, and geographic terms. The Census 

Bureau participated in the following groups in FY 2000: Federal Geographic Data 

Committee -- various subcommittees and working groups; ANSI/NCITS-L1 Geographic 

Information Systems; ISO Technical Committee 211; Ad hoc Baseline Committee on the 

U.S. International Boundary; U.S.G.S. Spatial Data Transfer Standards (SDTS) Technical 

Review Board; International Cartographic Association, Commission on National and 

Regional Atlases; U.S.G.S. National Atlas of the United States Steering Committee; and 

the Open GIS Consortium (OGC). 
E-20 

Department of Defense

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

This agency reports voluntary consensus standards usage on a categorical basis. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

156 

Voluntary Standard Government Standard 

ASTM-B221 QQ-A-200 

ASTM-B221/1 QQ-A-200/1 

ASTM-B221/2 QQ-A-200/2 

ASTM-B221/3 QQ-A-200/3 

ASTM-B221/4 QQ-A-200/4 

ASTM-B24 QQ-A-200 

ASTM-B24/1 QQ-A-200/1 

ASTM-B241 QQ-A-200 

ASTM-B241/10 QQ-A-200/10 

ASTM-B241/2 QQ-A-200/2 

ASTM-B241/3 QQ-A-200/3 

ASTM-B241/4 QQ-A-200/4 

ASTM-B308 QQ-A-200 

ASTM-B308/1 QQ-A-200/1 

ASTM-B308/2 QQ-A-200/2 

ASTM-B308/3 QQ-A-200/3 

ASTM-B308/4 QQ-A-200/4 

ASTM-B42 MS14302 

ASTM-F104 HH-C-576 

AWS-C2.25 MIL-W-6721 
E-21 

MIL-R-83485 MIL-R-83485 

MIL-R-83485/1 MIL-R-83485/1 

NASM45595 MIL-W-45595 

PIA-PS22014 MS22014 

PIA-PS22040 MS22040 

PIA-PS22042 MS22042 

PIA-PS22043 MS22043 

PIA-PS22045 MS22045 

PIA-PS24553 MS24553 

PIA-PS27762 MS27762 

PIA-PS27763 MS27763 

PIA-PS27764 MS27764 

PIA-PS27765 MS27765 

PIS-PS22046 MS22046 

PIS-PS22047 MS22047 

SAE-AMS-6444 MIL-S-7420 

SAE-AMS-C-26074 MIL-DTL-26074 

SAE-AMS-H-81200 MIL-H-81200 

SAE-AMS-P-5516 MIL-P-5516 

SAE-AMS-QQ-A-200 QQ-A-200 

SAE-AMS-QQ-A-200/1 QQ-A-200/1 

SAE-AMS-QQ-A-200/2 QQ-A-200/2 

SAE-AMS-QQ-A-200/3 QQ-A-200/3 

SAE-AMS-QQ-A-200/4 QQ-A-200/4 

SAE-AMS-R-83285 MIL-R-83285 

SAE-AMS-R-83412 MIL-R-83412 

SAE-AMS-R-83412/1 MIL-R-83412/1 

SAE-AMS-T-6736 MIL-T-6732 
E-22 

SAE-AMS6322 MIL-S-6049 

SAE-AMS6325 MIL-S-6049 

SAE-AMS6327 MIL-S-6049 

SAE-AMS6470 MIL-S-6709 

SAE-AMS6472 MIL-S-6709 

SAE-AMS6747 MIL-S-7420 

SAE-AS15000 MS15000 

SAE-AS15001 MS15001 

SAE-AS15003 MS15003 

SAE-AS15721 MS15721 

SAE-AS21440 MS21440 

SAE-AS21924 MS21903 

SAE-AS24461 MS24461 

SAE-AS24462 MS24462 

SAE-AS27444 MIL-N-27444 

SAE-AS5201 MS3367A 

SAE-AS7413 MIL-C-7413 

SAE-AS81934 MS21240 

SAE-AS81934/2 MS21241 

SAE-AS81935/2 MS21243 

SAE-AS85049/1 MIL-C-85049/1 

SAE-AS85049/10 MIL-C-85049/10 

SAE-AS85049/11 MIL-C-85049/11 

SAE-AS85049/14 MIL-C-85049/14 

SAE-AS85049/15 MIL-C-85049/15 

SAE-AS85049/16 MIL-C-85049/16 

SAE-AS85049/17 MIL-C-85049/17 

SAE-AS85049/18 MIL-C-85049/18 
E-23 

SAE-AS85049/19 MIL-C-85049/19 

SAE-AS85049/2 MIL-C-85049/2 

SAE-AS85049/20 MIL-C-85049/20 

SAE-AS85049/21 MIL-C-85049/21 

SAE-AS85049/218 MIL-C-85049/28 

SAE-AS85049/22 MIL-C-85049/22 

SAE-AS85049/23 MIL-C-85049/23 

SAE-AS85049/24 MIL-C-85049/24 

SAE-AS85049/25 MIL-C-85049/25 

SAE-AS85049/26 MIL-C-85049/26 

SAE-AS85049/27 MIL-C-85049/27 

SAE-AS85049/29 MIL-C-85049/29 

SAE-AS85049/3 MIL-C-85049/3 

SAE-AS85049/30 MIL-C-85049/30 

SAE-AS85049/31 MIL-C-85049/31 

SAE-AS85049/32 MIL-C-85049/32 

SAE-AS85049/33 MIL-C-85049/33 

SAE-AS85049/34 MIL-C-85049/34 

SAE-AS85049/35 MIL-C-85049/35 

SAE-AS85049/36 MIL-C-85049/36 

SAE-AS85049/37 MIL-C-85049/37 

SAE-AS85049/38 MIL-C-85049/38 

SAE-AS85049/39 MIL-C-85049/39 

SAE-AS85049/4 MIL-C-85049/4 

SAE-AS85049/40 MIL-C-85049/40 

SAE-AS85049/41 MIL-C-85049/41 

SAE-AS85049/42 MIL-C-85049/42 

SAE-AS85049/43 MIL-C-85049/43 
E-24 

SAE-AS85049/44 MIL-C-85049/44 

SAE-AS85049/45 MIL-C-85049/45 

SAE-AS85049/46 MIL-C-85049/46 

SAE-AS85049/47 MIL-C-85049/47 

SAE-AS85049/48 MIL-C-85049/48 

SAE-AS85049/49 MIL-C-85049/49 

SAE-AS85049/5 MIL-C-85049/5 

SAE-AS85049/50 MIL-C-85049/50 

SAE-AS85049/51 MIL-C-85049/51 

SAE-AS85049/52 MIL-C-85049/52 

SAE-AS85049/53 MIL-C-85049/53 

SAE-AS85049/54 MIL-C-85049/54 

SAE-AS85049/55 MIL-C-85049/55 

SAE-AS85049/56 MIL-C-85049/56 

SAE-AS85049/57 MIL-C-85049/57 

SAE-AS85049/58 MIL-C-85049/58 

SAE-AS85049/59 MIL-C-85049/59 

SAE-AS85049/6 MIL-C-85049/6 

SAE-AS85049/60 MIL-C-85049/60 

SAE-AS85049/61 MIL-C-85049/61 

SAE-AS85049/62 MIL-C-85049/62 

SAE-AS85049/63 MIL-C-85049/63 

SAE-AS85049/64 MIL-C-85049/64 

SAE-AS85049/65 MIL-C-85049/65 

SAE-AS85049/69 MIL-C-85049/69 

SAE-AS85049/7 MIL-C-85049/7 

SAE-AS85049/74 MIL-C-85049/74 

SAE-AS85049/75 MIL-C-85049/75 
E-25 

SAE-AS85049/76 MIL-C-85049/76 

SAE-AS85049/77 MIL-C-85049/77 

SAE-AS85049/78 MIL-C-85049/78 

SAE-AS85049/79 MIL-C-85049/79 

SAE-AS85049/8 MIL-C-85049/8 

SAE-AS85049/80 MIL-C-85049/80 

SAE-AS85049/81 MIL-C-85049/81 

SAE-AS85049/82 MIL-C-85049/82 

SAE-AS85049/83 MIL-C-85049/83 

SAE-AS85049/84 MIL-C-85049/84 

SAE-AS85049/85 MIL-C-85049/85 

SAE-AS85049/86 MIL-C-85049/86 

SAE-AS85049/87 MIL-C-85049/87 

SAE-AS85049/88 MIL-C-85049/88 

SAE-AS85049/89 MIL-C-85049/89 

SAE-AS85049/9 MIL-C-85049/9 

SAE-AS85049/90 MIL-C-85049/90 

SAE-AS85049/91 MIL-C-85049/91 

SAE-AS85049/92 MIL-C-85049/92 

SAE-AS85049/93 MIL-C-85049/93 

SAE-AS85049/94 MIL-C-85049/94 

SAE-AS85049/95 MIL-C-85049/95 

SAE-AS85049/96 MIL-C-85049/96 

SAE-AS8879 MIL-S-8879 

SSPC-PAINT 30 MIL-P-46105 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

207 
E-26 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

450 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

55 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Aerospace Industries Association of America AIA 

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions ATIS 

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists AATCC 

American Bearing Manufacturers Association ABMA 

American Boat and Yacht Council ABYC 

American Concrete Institute ACI 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ACGIH 

American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA 

American Leather Chemists Association ALCA 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Petroleum Institute API 

American Railway Engineering & Maintenance-of-Way 

Association 

AREMA 

American Society for Nondestructive Testing ASNT 

American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTMI 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers ASHRAE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Society of Quality Control ASQC 

American Water Works Association AWWA 

American Welding Society AWS 

Canadian General Standards Board CGSB 

Cordage Institute CI 

Data Interchange Standards Association, Inc. DISAI 

Electronic Commerce Code Management Association ECCMA 

Electronic Components Assemblies & Materials Association ECAMA 

Electronic Industries Alliance EIA 

Electrostatic Discharge Association EDA 

Government Electronics & Information Technology 

Association 

GEITA 

High Frequency Industry Association HFIA 

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America IES 

Information Technology Industry Council ITI 
E-27 

Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits IPEC 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

International Committee for Information Technology Standards INCITS 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Organization for Standardization/International 

Electrotechnical Commission 

ISO/IEC 

Internet Engineering Task Force IETF 

Joint Electron Device Engineering Council JEDEC 

Master Painters Institute MPI 

NACE International NACE 

National Association of Relay Manufacturers NARM 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Institute of Building Sciences NIBS 

Parachute Industry Association PIA 

Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization SISO 

Society for Protective Coatings SSPC 

Society of Allied Weight Engineers SAWE 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Telecommunications Industry Association TIA 

The Open Group TOG 

UN Centre for Facilitation of Procedures & Practices for 

Administration, Commerce, & Transport 

UNCFPPA 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

Workflow Management Coalition WMC 

World Wide Web Consortium W3C 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

The Department of Defense reports voluntary consensus standards usage on a categorical 

basis. 

The total number of voluntary consensus standards contained in our document database is 

8803. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 
E-28 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The A-119 policy does mandate that government agencies review at least once a year 

their respective voluntary consensus standards programs. This mandate is an excellent 

means of determining if agencies are relying on government-unique standards to a greater 

extent than is necessary. While the ICSP members made great strides at determining the 

exact meaning of the term "usage" the Department believes that confusion regarding 

reporting still persists. The Department reiterates again this year the necessity for OMB 

to include language explaining the term "usage" in a future revision of A-119. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

The Department has opted out of reporting conformity assessment activities. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

The following are Department of Defense FY03 Case Studies: 

Army Battery Standardization - Rechargeable Batteries Power the Future Force 

The case study illustrates how the U.S. Army slashed operational support costs while 

improving performance of portable power for military vehicles and communicationselectronics devices through standardization and improved technology. 

Hull Mechanical and Electronic Equipment Standardization Program 
E-29 

This case describes how the Navy is dramatically increasing standardization of hull 

mechanical and electrical equipment across Navy ships, thereby conserving money, 

manpower, and time, while improving the operational readiness and availability of the 

fleet. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
E-30 

Department of Education

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

17 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

2 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

1 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-31 

C 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

 
E-32 

Department of Energy

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

1187 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

674 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

85 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Air Movement and Control Association AMCA 

Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute ARI 

American Architectural Manufacturers Association AAMA 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials 

AASHTO 

American Chemical Society ACS 

American Concrete Institute ACI 

American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA 

American Institute of Steel Construction AISC 

American Iron and Steel Institute AISI 

American Medical Association AMA 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Nuclear Society ANS 

American Petroleum Institute API 

American Public Health Association APHA 

American Railway Engineering & Maintenance-of-Way 

Association 

AREMA 

American Society for Nondestructive Testing ASNT 
E-33 

American Society For Quality ASQ 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers ASHRAE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Trucking Association ATA 

American Water Works Association AWWA 

American Welding Society AWS 

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association ARMA 

Associated Air Balance Council AABC 

Association for Information and Image Management AIIM 

Building Officials and Code Administrators International BOCA 

Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association CISCA 

Chemical Manufacturers Association CMA 

Compressed Gas Association CGA 

Construction Safety Association of Ontario CSAO 

Cooling Tower Institute CTI 

Crane Manufacturing Association of America CMAA 

Electronic Industries Alliance EIA 

Factory Mutual Research Corporation FMRC 

Glass Association of North America GANA 

Gypsum Association GA 

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America IES 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Institute of Makers of Explosives IME 

Institute of Transportation Engineers ITE 

Insulated Steel Door Systems Institute ISDSI 

International Air Transport Association IATA 

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical OfficialsIAPMO 

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA 

International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO 

International Commission on Radiation Protection ICRP 

International Commission on Radiation Units and 

Measurements, Inc. 

ICRU 

International Conference of Building Officials ICBO 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Organization for Standardization Case Postale 56 ISO 

Metal Building Manufacturers Association MBMA 

Metal Lath/Steel Framing Association A Division of NAAMM MLSFA 

National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers NAAMM 

National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling NAPHCC 

National Concrete Masonry Association NCMA 

National Conference of Standards Laboratories NCSL 

National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRPM 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA 
E-34 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Ground Water Association NGWA 

National Information Standards Organization NISO 

National Roofing Contractors Association NRCA 

National Safety Council NSC 

National Window and Door Association NWDA 

Painting and Decorating Contractors of America PDCA 

Portland Cement Association PCA 

Post-Tensioning Institute PTI 

Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute PCI 

Resilient Floor Covering Institute RFCI 

Scaffolding, Shoring, and Forming Institute, Inc. SSFI 

Screen Manufacturers Association SMA 

Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors National 

Association 

SHACCNA 

Single Ply Roofing Institute SPRI 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Society of Fire Protection Engineers SFPE 

Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. SBCCI 

Steel Deck Institute SDI 

Steel Door Institute SDI 

Steel Joist Institute SJI 

Steel Window Institute SWI 

The Brick Industry Association BIA 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

Water Environment Federation WEF 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

For DOE reporting purposes, “use” means that a VCS has been cited, referenced, applied, 

or otherwise incorporated into DOE requirements, operations and activities for the first 

time, or in continued use. For Fiscal Year 2003, DOE documented the use of 1,187 

different VCSs. A VCS that is used by several different organizations or in different 

versions is reported as a single use by DOE. DOE also internally tracks the use of 

consortia standards (about 35 – all information technology), but these are not reported. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-35 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use or 

as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

OMB A-119 continues to be adequate. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

FISCAL YEAR 2003 

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET 

- STANDARDS USE AND PARTICIPATION - 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Standards Management: The Department of Energy (DOE) implements the federal 

guidance and requirements of OMB Circular A-119 (OMB A-119) and the statutory 

requirements of Public Law (PL) 104-113 (15 USC 272) regarding the use of voluntary 

consensus standards (VCSs) through specific Departmental directives (policies, orders, 

requirements, guides, and technical standards) and supporting programs and management 

systems. The Department’s Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS - Internet 

address is http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ism/) establishes the overall business processes for DOE 

and its contractors to incorporate management of DOE's environment, health and safety 

matters for workers, the public and the environment as an integral part of our technical 
E-36 

and business management, using standards as one of its primary tools. 

The Department’s overall standards activities are managed through the DOE-wide 

Technical Standards Program (TSP), established under the DOE Standards Executive 

within the Office of Environment, Safety and Health. (The TSP Internet address is 

http://tis.eh.doe.gov/techstds/). The TSP provides the means for DOE to fully implement 

the policy and requirements of PL 104-113 and OMB A-119, and establishes a focus 

from which to promote the use of VCSs across DOE and to support active participation 

with Standards Development Organizations (SDOs). 

The TSP also manages the development and maintenance of DOE internal standards, 

where SDO standards are not available to meet unique DOE technical needs and cannot 

be readily developed by an SDO. The TSP has procedures for converting DOE Technical 

Standards to VCSs, and has active interfaces and initiatives with ASCE, ANS and ASTM 

at present. 

The TSP also charters “Topical Committees” (TCs) that coordinate standards 

development activities in specific technical areas across DOE, and with counterparts in 

other federal agencies, industry, academia, and national and international SDOs. The TCs 

are comprised of subject matter experts from across the DOE community, and encompass 

such diverse areas as laboratory accreditation, metrology, fire protection, environmental 

management systems, meteorology, biota dose assessment, chemical safety, emergency 

management, and nuclear safety training. DOE TCs may include observers and 

participants from other federal agencies, industry, academia, and SDOs. 

The DOE Standards Executive actively participates with the Interagency Committee on 

Standards Policy (ICSP), with support from the DOE TSP. The DOE, Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conduct 

standards coordination meetings with key SDOs to review common standards needs and 

activities, identify issues, and coordinate development efforts. The DOE, NRC, and NIST 

also continue to cooperate in sponsoring U.S. participation with ISO’s TC85 Nuclear 

Energy committees and working groups (presently under ASTM administration). 

The DOE Information Technology (IT) Standards Program, in coordination with the 

DOE TSP, tracks IT standards development, coordinates with subject matter experts, 

adopts new or retires outdated standards, and maintains a Profile of Adopted Standards - 

primarily international and national standards (at 

http://cio.doe.gov/ITReform/ArchitectureStandards/repository_info.htm). 

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Codes and 

Standards Program (Internet address is 

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes_standards/aboffmsn.htm) also conducts a 

legislatively mandated, multi-year effort to improve the energy efficiency in the Nation’s 

buildings through energy efficiency standards, codes and guidelines for buildings, 

building equipment, and appliances. The Department is required to promulgate amended 

energy efficiency standards designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy 
E-37 

efficiency that the Secretary determines are technically feasible and economically 

justified. The Department’s codes and standards development efforts in these areas are 

closely coordinated with SDOs and include early involvement of industry and state 

stakeholders and relevant federal agencies. 

Under the President's National Energy Policy, DOE’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & 

Infrastructure Technologies Program in EERE integrates activities in hydrogen 

technologies, including codes and standards (Internet address is: 

http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/codes/ ). The Program’s objectives 

include working with national and international code and standards development 

organizations, code officials, industry experts, and national laboratory scientists to draft 

new model codes and equipment standards that cover emerging hydrogen technologies 

for consideration by the various code enforcing jurisdictions, and helping coordinate 

codes and standards activities to avoid duplication of effort. 

Standards Use: DOE “uses” VCSs extensively in managing, operating, and regulating our 

diverse sites, laboratories, operations, facilities, and activities – over a range that includes 

nuclear weapons production, energy research, oil storage, hydroelectric power, 

accelerator operations, nuclear facility decommissioning, and fusion experiments. VCSs 

are consulted, referenced and applied in mission-related design, procurement, 

construction, operations, maintenance, emergency operations, and decommissioning 

efforts; in environment, safety and health management; in DOE research and 

development activities; and in security and safeguards programs. 

For DOE reporting purposes, “use” means that a VCS has been cited, referenced, applied, 

or otherwise incorporated into DOE requirements, operations and activities for the first 

time, or in continued use, as noted below. For Fiscal Year 2003, DOE documented the 

use of 1,187 different VCSs. A VCS that is used by several different organizations or in 

different versions is reported as a single use by DOE. DOE also internally tracks the use 

of consortia standards (about 35 – all information technology), but these are not reported. 

The VCSs reported “used” by DOE in the annual review are compiled from several 

sources that cite VCSs as acceptable means to meet requirements, as guidance, or as 

essential references for DOE and DOE contractors. These sources include: DOE 

Regulations (as an acceptable means to meet specific DOE requirements or as a 

reference); DOE Directives - Policy, Orders, Manuals, Guides (as an acceptable means to 

meet specific DOE requirements or as a reference; DOE Contracts (Management and 

Operations, Management and Integration - as a committed means to carry out contracted 

DOE missions and functions); and DOE safety basis documents (stated as a commitment 

or applied reference in DOE documented safety analyses, including safety analysis 

reports, standards/requirements identification documents, “work smart” standards sets, 

process safety management, and hazards analyses). 

Other extensive uses of VCSs at DOE that are not documented and reported include: 

procedures writing; establishing safety criteria (e.g., for worker job task analyses, fire 

protection, nuclear criticality safety, nuclear facility safety); as supporting references or 
E-38 

cites in internal DOE Technical Standards; and personal or contractor uses and 

participations that are not on behalf of DOE. 

Very few VCSs (none for this reporting period) are mandated through DOE rules, 

regulations or DOE Directives. However, DOE is an agent in the development and update 

of certain legislatively mandated building and appliance energy efficiency codes and 

standards, and in supporting and facilitating the development of hydrogen technology 

codes and standards. DOE more typically will cite specific VCSs as “acceptable means” 

for implementing requirements, and allow the use of equivalent alternatives. Very few, if 

any, VCSs are cited in DOE procurements (outside of Prime Contracts), since most 

procurements are “off-the-shelf.” DOE procurements for “Prime Contracts” (e.g., for 

operating a National Laboratory) are typically performance-based, and do not specify 

down to the standards level in their lists of requirements. 

Summary: OMB A-119 requires that federal agencies report certain standards use and 

standards participation information to OMB via NIST. The DOE report is provided as, 

“FISCAL YEAR 2003 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT 

AND BUDGET - STANDARDS USE AND PARTICIPATION”. The following 

information summarizes that report: 

DOE did not mandate the use of any government-unique standards in lieu of suitable 

voluntary consensus standards during FY 2003. DOE identified no additional voluntary 

consensus standards that have been substituted for government-unique standards. 

DOE participated with 85 non-government standards bodies. There were 674 agency 

employees participating in VCS activities (These individuals were involved in 1364 

activities due to multiple participations.) DOE used 1,187 VCSs on a continuing basis 

during FY 2003. 
E-39 

Department of Health and Human Services

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

4 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

FDA Guidelines on 

Asceptic Processing (1987) 

ISO 13408-1 - Aseptic 

Processing of Health Care 

Products, Part 1, General 

Requirements 

FDA/CBER is not using the 

ISO standard because the 

applicability of these 

requirements is limited to 

only portions of aseptically 

manufactured biologics and 

does not include filtration, 

freeze-drying, sterilization 

in place, cleaning in place, 

or barrier-isolator 

technology. There are also 

significant issues related to 

aseptically produced bulk 

drug substance that are not 

included in the document 

FR Notice dated June 17, 

1994 Tentative Final 

Monograph for Health Care 

Antiseptic Drug Products; 

Proposed Rule (1st Instance) 

ASTM Standard E1115 - 

Test Method for Evaluation 

of Surgical Hand Scrub 

Formulations; ASTM 

Standard E1173-93 - 

Standard Test Method of an 

Evaluation of Preoperative, 

pre-catheterization, or 

Preinjection Skin 

Preparations; ASTM 

Standard E1174-00 - 

Standard Test method for 

the Evaluation of the 

Effectiveness of Health Care 

Personnel or Consumer 

Handwash Formulations; 

Sensitivity and bias of the 

ASTM Standard has not 

been established. 

FR Notice dated June 17, 

1994 Tentative Final 

Monograph for Health Care 

Antiseptic Drug Products; 

ASTM Standard E1173-93 Sensitivity and bias of the 

ASTM Standard has not 

been established. 
E-40 

Proposed Rule (2nd 

Instance) 

FR Notice dated June 17, 

1994 Tentative Final 

Monograph for Health Care 

Antiseptic Drug Products; 

Proposed Rule (3rd 

Instance) 

ASTM Standard E1174-00 Sensitivity and bias of the 

ASTM Standard has not 

been established. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

11 

Voluntary Standard Government Standard 

AAMI/ANSI SW68:2001 FDA Guidance 

ANSI/UL Software in Programmable 

Components 

FDA Guidance 

GL 22: Studies to Evaluate the Safety of 

Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Human 

Food: Reproduction Toxicity Testing 

Various 

GL 23: Studies to Evaluate the Safety of 

Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Human 

Food: Genotoxicity Testing 

Various 

GL 31: Studies to Evaluate the Safety of 

Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Human 

Food: Repeat-dose (90-day) Toxicity 

Testing 

Various 

IEEE 1012:1998 FDA Guidance 

IEEE 1074:1997 FDA Guidance 

IEEE/EIA 12207.0:1996 FDA Guidance 

ISO 14644-1 Federal Standard 209E 

ISO 14644-2 Federal Standard 209E 

ISO/IEC 12207:1995 FDA Guidance 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 
E-41 

663 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

623 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

165 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Acoustical Society of America ASA 

Almond Board of California ABC 

American Academy of Pediatrics AAP 

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation A2LA 

American Association of Blood Banks AABB 

American Association of Cereal Chemists AACC 

American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians AAFHV 

American Association of Physicists in Medicine AAPM 

American Association of Tissue Banks AATB 

American College of Nuclear Physicists ACNP 

American College of Radiology ACR 

American College of Surgeons ACOS 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ACGIH 

American Dental Association ADA 

American Foundation for the Accreditation of Haematopoietic 

Cell Therapy 

FAHCT 

American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA 

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine AIUM 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Oil Chemists Society AOCS 

American Public Health Association APHA 

American Society for Gene Therapy ASGT 

American Society for Photobiology ASP 

American Society for Reproductive Medicine ASRM 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Agricultural Engineers ASAE 

American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers ASHRAE 

American Society of Mass Spectrometry ASMS 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Society of Sanitary Engineering ASSE 

American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA 
E-42 

AOAC International AOACI 

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory 

Animal Care, International 

AAALAC 

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation AAMI 

Association of Food and Drug Officials AFDO 

Baking Industry Sanitary Standards Committee BISSC 

British Pharmacopoeia BP 

California Strawberry Commission CSC 

Cantaloupe Board of California CBC 

Chocolate Manufacturers Association CMA 

Codex Alimentarius CODEX 

Collaborative Committee on the Validation of Alternative 

Methods 

CCVAM 

College of American Pathologists CAP 

Commercial Refrigerator Manufacturers Association CRMA 

Conference for Food Protection CFP 

Corn Refiners Association CRA 

Cosmetic Ingredient Review CIR 

Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association CTFA 

Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences CIOMS 

Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards CIRMS 

Designated Standards Maintenance Organizations DSMO 

Deutsches Institut fur Nomung - German Institute for 

Standardization 

DIN 

Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM 

European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods ECVAM 

European Committee for Standardization CEN 

European Pharmacopoeia EP 

Eye Bank Association of America EBAA 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO 

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association FFVA 

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas FPAA 

Gelatin Manufacturers of America GMA 

Global Harmonization Task Force GHTF 

Health Level Seven HL7 

Health Physics Society HPS 

Health Protection Branch, Health Canada HPB 

Honey Board HB 

Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors ICMAD 

Industrial Safety and Equipment Association ISEA 

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements IRMM 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Institute of Food Technologists IFT 

Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of 

Alternative Methods 

ICCVAM 

International Association for Food Protection IAFP 
E-43 

International Association of Cancer Registrars IACR 

International Association of Color Manufacturers IACM 

International Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies IAEMS 

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA 

International Bottled Water Association IBWA 

International Commission on Harmonization of Technical 

Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for 

Veterinary Use 

VICH 

International Commission on Illumination CIE 

International Committee for Cosmetic Harmonization and 

International Cooperation 

CHIC 

International Conference on the Harmonization of Technical 

Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human 

Use 

ICH 

International Crystal Foundation ICF 

International Dairy Federation IDF 

International Dairy Foods Association IDFA 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Federation of Fruit Juice Producers IFFJP 

International Fragrance Association IFRA 

International Fresh-cut Produce Association IFPA 

International Life Sciences Institute ILSI 

International Natural Sausage Casing Association INSCA 

International Nomenclature Committee INC 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

International Organization for Standardization in Microbiology ISOB 

International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council IPEC 

International Regulatory Alternatives Group IRAG 

International Society for Analytical Cytology ISAC 

International Society for Blood Transfusion ISBT 

International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery ISCVS 

International Society for Cell Therapy ISCT 

International Society for Measurement and Control ISA 

International Sprout Growers Association ISGA 

International Testing Services ITSETL 

International Union Against Cancer UICC 

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry IUPAC 

International Workshop on Genetic Toxicology IWGT 

Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference ISSC 

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives JECFA 

Lead Industries Association LIA 

Life Sciences Research Organization LSRO 

Logical Observation Identifier Name Codes LOINC 

National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure to 

Hazardous Substances 

NACAEHS 

National Association of Photographic Manufacturers NAPM 
E-44 

National Automatic Merchandising Association NAMA 

National Bison Association NBA 

National Cancer Registrar Association NCRA 

National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards NCCLS 

National Committee on vital and Health Statistics NCVHS 

National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments NCIMS 

National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation NACLA 

National Coordinating Council for Cancer Surveillance NCCCS 

National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRPM 

National Dialog on Cancer NDC 

National Egg Regulators Association NERO 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA 

National Environmental Health Association NEHA 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Food Processors Association NFPA 

National Oilseed Processors Association NOPA 

National Sanitary Foundation NSF 

National Skill Standards Board NSSB 

National Toxicology Program NTP 

National Uniform Billing Committee NUBC 

National Uniform Claims Committee NUCC 

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries NAACCR 

North American Deer Association NADA 

North American Elk Breeders Association NAEBA 

North American Millers Association NAMA 

Northwest Horticulture Council NHC 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD 

Pan American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization PANDRH 

Parenteral Drug Association PDA 

Produce Marketing Association PMA 

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society 

of North America 

RESNA 

Research Institute for Fragrance Materials RIFM 

Society for Glassware and Ceramic Decorations SGCD 

Society for Toxicology SOT 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Society of Cosmetic Chemists SCC 

Society of Toxicological Pathologists STP 

Strategic National Implementation Process subgroups for 

HIPPA Standards Implementation 

SNIP 

Tea Association of America TAA 

Technical Committee for Juice and Juice Products TCJJP 

Tuft's Conference on Modified Fats CMF 

U.S. Adopted Names Council USAN 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

United Egg Producers UEP 
E-45 

United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association UFFVA 

United States Pharmacopoeia USP 

US Animal Health Association USAHA 

US Egg and Poultry Association USEPA 

Western Growers Association WGA 

Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange WEDI 

World Health Organization WHO 

World Trade Organization WTO 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

Regarding Question 6.2, FDA's reported numbers reflect the number of citations of 

voluntary consensus standards in FDA regulations and/or product specifications. FDA 

currently has no mechanism for reporting the use of these voluntary consensus standards 

by the regulated industry in product approval applications or for other regulatory 

purposes. The definition of "uses" should be strengthened to differentiate between 

standards referenced as part of procurement documents vs. standards referenced in 

regulatory guidance or regulations. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 
E-46 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - The policy and recommendations contained in 

Circular A-119 are consistent with FDA's framework for standards management as 

announced in the Federal Register on October 11, 1995, and enhanced by the Food and 

Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA). Resource constraints oblige the 

agency to focus attention on the highest priority activities and to strive to make its 

participation in those activities very effective. FDA participates in several hundred 

standards development activities (the exact number is not known as there is not 

established procedure to gather this information) within 165 voluntary consensus 

standards bodies. 

The central purpose for FDA involvement in the development and use of standards is to 

assist the agency in fulfilling its domestic public health and regulatory missions. The 

agency participates widely in the development of standards, both domestic and 

international, and adopts or uses standards when this action enhances its ability to protect 

consumers and increases the effectiveness or efficiency of its regulatory efforts. Further, 

using standards, especially international ones, is a means to facilitate the harmonization 

of FDA regulatory requirements with those of foreign governments, and thus to improve 

domestic and global public health protection. Therefore, FDA encourages participation in 

the development of standards as a useful adjunct to regulatory controls. 

FDA has been involved in standards activities for more than twenty years. In January 

1977 the agency promulgated a final regulation now found at 21 CFR 10.95 covering 

participation by FDA employees in standards development activities outside the agency. 

This regulation encourages FDA participation in standards activities that are in the public 

interest, and specifies the circumstances under which FDA employees can participate in 

various types of standards bodies. The agency built upon that rule with a final policy 

statement published in the Federal Register on October 11, 1995, entitled International 

Harmonization; Policy on Standards. It provides the agency's overall policy on 

development and use of standards for all product areas regulated by the agency. 

For FDA, voluntary consensus standards are most relevant for medical devices, where 

they are used extensively in the agency's regulatory work and where the majority of the 

agency's standards activities are centered. In the areas of human and veterinary 

pharmaceuticals, biological products and foods, voluntary consensus are generally not 

available nor being developed Here FDA works within other national and international 

organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture 

Organization (FAO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 

(OECD), the United States Pharmacopeia, and the International Conference on 

Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for 

Human Use (ICH) to develop standards. 
E-47 

FDA/Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) - The Food and Drug 

Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA) enabled the agency to "recognize" 

voluntary consensus standards established by international and national standards 

development organizations that may be used to satisfy identified portions of device premarket review submissions or other regulatory requirements. CDRH has available a 

standards relevant document on their web-site. The document, "CDRH Standard 

Operating Procedures for the Identification and Evaluation of Candidate Consensus 

Standards for Recognition," establishes internal CDRH procedures for the identification 

and evaluation of consensus standards for recognition through publication of a notice in 

the Federal Register. CDRH continues to maintain a database to track the standards 

activities of its employees and has established and uses searchable ROM databases of 

voluntary consensus standards to facilitate reference to current voluntary consensus 

standards by agency reviewers. CDRH continues to participate in Steering Committee 

and Study Group Activities of the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF), an 

intergovernmental consortium to foster medical device regulatory harmonization. During 

FY 2001, FDA published draft guidance on a pilot program that will be used to evaluate 

the feasibility of using the Summary Technical Document (STED) and an Essential 

Principles Document instead of standard CDRH procedures for certain premarket 

submissions. Finally, the GHTF has a Memorandum of Understanding with ISO TC 210, 

the ISO Committee responsible for many regulatory aspects of device standards. 

FDA/Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research (CDER) / Center for Biologics 

Evaluation and Research (CBER)- As noted previously, few voluntary consensus 

standards are applicable to pharmaceutical and biological products. CDER and CBER, 

therefore, have limited involvement in such activities, but do participate on relevant 

committees of a number of voluntary consensus standards bodies. FDA supports the 

concept of working within our agency, with other government agencies, the private 

sector, and other governments to avoid duplication in standards setting activities. Within 

FDA, Centers coordinate in the development of Guidances to Industry. We also 

coordinate our activities with other agencies such as the Environmental Protection 

Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Drug 

Enforcement Agency, and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). 

CDER is currently exploring opportunities for expanded standards development within 

ASTM. Finally, a majority of our standards setting activities are focused on interactions 

with national and international standards setting bodies such as U. S. Pharmacopeia 

(USP), International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), Organization for Economic 

Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Health Organization (WHO), and Pan 

American Health Organization (PAHO). An innovative approach to harmonizing 

international standards is being undertaken with PAHO. We are providing them with 

training based on our current standards in hopes that they will elect to adopt our 

standards. 

Both CDER and the CBER participate in the ICH. This ongoing project, begun in 1989, 

has been undertaken by government agencies responsible for regulation of 

pharmaceuticals and by industry trade organizations. The European Union (EU), Japan, 

and the U.S. bring together regulatory authorities and experts from the pharmaceutical 
E-48 

industry in the three regions to discuss scientific and technical aspects of new product 

registration. The work products, created in working groups of experts from the regulatory 

agencies and industry, consist of a series of consensus guideline documents to harmonize 

pharmaceutical testing guidelines. 

FDA officials also participate in a consensus standards development activity sponsored 

by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences that is aimed at 

standardizing the safety-related terminology used in adverse experience reporting. 

FDA/CBER and FDA/CDER actively participate with the WHO in developing 

international standards for ensuring the quality of pharmaceutical and biological 

products. ICH, OECD, USP and WHO do not meet the definition of voluntary consensus 

standard bodies under the Circular A-119. However, substantial agency resources are 

devoted to the development of standards with these organizations. This work is the core 

part of FDA's overall standards activities for pharmaceutical and biological products. 

FDA/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) / Center for Veterinary 

Medicine (CVM)- The principal international standards activities in the areas of food and 

veterinary medicine fall under the activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of 

the FAO and the WHO, as well as the Office of International Epizootics (for veterinary 

medicine). FDA experts from CFSAN, CVM, and other parts of the agency are actively 

involved in Codex Alimentarius activities, and in activities of methods validation 

organizations on which Codex Alimentarius relies, such as ISO, the Association of 

Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International and the International Dairy 

Federation (IDF). CFSAN has provided the U.S. Delegate or Alternate Delegate to 80% 

(17 out of 21) of the technical committees and task forces and also provided technical 

experts to assist on the work of developing more that 90 Codex standards and guidelines. 

CVM has also provided numerous technical experts to assist on Codex task forces, 

especially those related to the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs and 

Foods (CCRVDF). Currently, the Director of CVM serves as the chair of the CCRVDF. 

Voluntary consensus standards have limited relevance to food and veterinary medicine 

products. However, since the standards activities of multilateral organizations such as the 

WHO, FAO, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the OECD are important in these 

areas, CFSAN and CVM are actively engaged in standards and policy development with 

these organizations. CFSAN is also engaged in standards review in the International 

Organization for Standardization in Microbiology. 

CVM is active in a harmonization initiative similar to the ICH for human 

pharmaceuticals, that is, developing harmonized requirements for the registration of 

veterinary pharmaceuticals and biological veterinary medicinal products. It is known as 

VICH, for Veterinary ICH. Agency employees participate on numerous committees that 

are drafting VICH guidelines related to veterinary pharmaceuticals. 

International/Treaty Standards-Related Activities - FDA takes part in a variety of 

international standards activities that fall under treaty organizations, and thus are not 
E-49 

reportable under the provisions of Circular A-119. These standards activities are 

nonetheless important to the agency in fulfilling its public health regulatory mission. 

Some of these are referred to above, i.e. WHO, FAO, and OECD. 

The agency participates in international trade discussions within the WTO, specifically 

with committees on the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), and the 

Agreement on the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures; with the 

implementation of the counterpart committees of the North American Free Trade 

Agreement (NAFTA); and with the negotiation of an upcoming trade agreement by 2005 

for the Free Trade Area of the Americas where sanitary and phytosanitary measures fall 

within the scope of the negotiations. FDA is engaged in these negotiations to ensure that 

the agency's requirements are preserved and its regulatory practices can remain focused 

on fulfilling the agency's mission to protect the public health while being supportive of 

emerging, broader U.S. government obligations and policies. FDA has participated in 

several initiatives that are part of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. 

Centers for Disease Control - All areas of CDC work extensively with outside partner 

organizations for routine work. The Circular wording constrains our reporting to just that 

activity with Standard Development Organizations as formally defined by the circular. 

The effect of this constraint is an under-reporting of our activity with outside partners. 

Complete reporting of our activities with outside partners, however, would be 

burdensome and impossible to obtain as essentially all professional staff interacts with a 

diverse group of partners on a daily basis. If the main intent of the circular is to report the 

use of outside SDO developed standards for commerce, the data in this report reflects that 

information. If the intent of the Circular is to reflect government interactions with all 

non-government organizations involved in policy decisions our data reflects severe 

under-reporting. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - FDA inspects manufacturers of regulated products 

(pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, medical devices, biologicals) for compliance with 

current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)and/or Quality System (QSR)Regulations 

requirements. FDA inspects laboratories that provide pivotal animal studies for drug 

approvals for compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). FDA participates on the 

ANSI Accreditation Committee, the ANSI International Conformity Assessment 

Committee, ANSI Board Committee on Conformity Assessment, and ASTM Committee 

E-36 on Conformity Assessment. Within FDA, the Center for Devices and Radiological 

Health allows a medical device manufacturer to submit a Declaration of Conformity to a 

"recognized standard" as described in ISO/IEC Guide 22 in its standards recognition 

program and has developed an MRA with the European Union on mutual recognition of 

each other's conformity assessment procedures related to manufacture and marketing of 

medical devices. The FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs (FDA/ORA) actively participates 

with the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA), serving as a 
E-50 

member of the NACLA Executive Board of Directors and participating in the NACLA 

Recognition Committee for Accrediting Bodies who apply for mutual recognition. Other 

FDA officials participate with NACLA in the evaluation of accrediting bodies under 

ISO/IEC 58 and ISO/IEC 17025 and sit on NACLA technical committees. 

 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

Centers for Disease Control - The Agency is very involved in the voluntary standards 

process and has been for a number of years. See http://www.cdc.gov/phin/ for an example 

of a current system using voluntary consensus standards. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - CMS is participating with the National 

Quality Forum (NQF) in the endorsement of standards for performance measures of 

quality among various providers. This effort brings all stakeholders together to make a 

determination founded in a membership-driven NTTAA-compliant consensus process. 

The endorsements that occurred in CY 2003 included Nursing Home quality Measures 

and Hospital Quality Measures. Regarding Nursing Home measures, now that NQF has 

established a set of standard measures, in January 2004, we will be conforming the 

measures we portray on our website to those. Regarding Hospital quality measures, CMS 

selected 10 measures from the NQF list to use in a National Hospital Voluntary 

Reporting Imitative. The CMS Administrator has a permanent seat on the Board of 

Directors of the NQF and participates in the endorsement of the consensus driven 

standards (measures) through a voting process. CMS also has membership and voting 

seat on the Purchaser Council. 

Food and Drug Administration FDA/CBER - The overwhelming majority of CBER’s 

standards setting activities with outside organizations, are with groups which do not meet 

all of the requirements of the OMB Circular No. A-119 definition of a voluntary 

consensus standards body. CBER interactions with these organizations have resulted in 

development of several standards that affect a variety of products CBER regulates. These 

groups include, International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), Global Harmonization 

Task Force (GHTF), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health 

Organization (WHO), United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), International Society For 

Blood Transfusion (ISTB), and United States Adopted Names Council (USAN). CBER 

also collaborates with the National Institute for Biological Sciences and Controls 

(NIBSC), a United Kingdom Institute, to develop standards and reference materials for 

biological products. These materials are often presented to WHO for their consideration 

as international standards. In addition CBER has recently initiated activities with a 

variety of organizations that may result in the development of standards mostly for 

cellular therapies and tissue products. These organizations include, American Society for 

Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) 

Association Society for Cell and Gene Therapy and Eye Bank Association of America 

(EBAA). CBER is a participant in a collaborative effort with other international 

governmental organizations to develop standards to be used in evaluating the potency for 

select blood derived products including vonWillebrand factor. CBER also organized an 

Adenovirus Reference Materials Working Group that developed an adenoviral virus 
E-51 

reference material that was released in August 2002. This material was developed in a 

unique collaborative effort with donations from multiple organizations and institutions. 

The reference material is used to define the particle unit and infectious units for 

adenovirus vectors used in gene therapy. A similar effort is also underway for an 

adenovirus-associated vector in this reporting year. 

FDA/CDER - The data provided earlier in this report indicate only limited involvement 

with voluntary consensus standard setting organizations. However, they are not reflective 

of CDER’s true involvement with standard setting organizations. The majority of 

CDER’s standards setting activities are with groups which do not meet the OMB A119 

definition of a voluntary consensus standards body: United States Pharmacopeia (USP), 

International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), Organization for Economic 

Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The 

primary standards setting organization for CDER is the United States Pharmacopeia 

(USP). The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act recognize USP and mandates CDER’s 

involvement with the USP. CDER is also active with the ICH, the OECD, and the WHO. 

FDA/CVM - CVM staff members participate in the activities of the Codex Alimentarius 

Commission of the FAO and the WHO, as well as the Office of International Epizootics 

(for veterinary medicine). Experts from CVM and other parts of the agency are actively 

involved in activities, and in activities of methods validation organizations on which 

Codex Alimentarius relies, such as ISO and AOAC International. Voluntary consensus 

standards have limited relevance to veterinary medicine products. However, since the 

standards activities of multilateral organizations such as the WHO, FAO, and the OECD 

are important in these areas; CVM is engaged in standards and policy development with 

these organizations. CVM publishes significant approvals in the Federal Register and 

includes information on chemical tolerance levels. This can be compared to the tolerance 

levels established by CODEX. CVM requests that sponsors submitting antimicrobial 

susceptibility data use the methods described in the NCCLS for generating their data. 

CVM is active in the VICH, a harmonization initiative similar to the ICH initiative for 

human pharmaceuticals. CVM publishes as FDA guidance all VICH guidelines. Through 

VICH, CVM has finalized 30 harmonized guidelines and is developing several more for 

the registration of veterinary pharmaceuticals. 

FDA/ORA - The Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) actively participates with the 

National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA). An ORA official is a 

member of the NACLA Executive Board of Directors and has the role of participating in 

the NACLA Recognition Committee for Accrediting Bodies who apply for mutual 

recognition. Other FDA officials participate with NACLA in the evaluation of accrediting 

bodies under ISO/IEC 58 and ISO/IEC 17025 and sit on NACLA technical committees. 

An ORA official is the FDA Liaison to the Board of Directors of the American 

Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). 

ORA officials are also involved with Codex Alimentarius activities, especially in the area 

of pesticide residues, which relies on methods development by ISO and AOAC. Other 
E-52 

activities include participation and the coordination of Federal-State conferences to 

develop uniformity in the reporting of food testing results. The ISO/IEC 17025 standard 

is the foundation in this coordination effort. 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - AHRQ funds and participates with the 

National Quality Forum (NQF) in the endorsement of standards for performance 

measures of quality among various providers. This effort brings all stakeholders together 

to make a determination founded in a membership-driven NTTAA-compliant consensus 

process. In 2003, AHRQ incorporated NQF standards in its National Quality Report that 

was mandated by Congress and is in clearance within HHS. The AHRQ Director has a 

permanent seat on the Board of Directors of NQF and participates in the endorsement of 

the consensus driven standards (measures) through a voting process. AHRQ provides 

support to NQF. 

AHRQ is a member and supports the meetings of the ANSI Health Informatics Standards 

Board, a board that coordinates the U.S. standards developing organizations for health 

information exchange. Other federal agencies, professional health organizations, and 

vendors are members. Duplication and overlap of health data standards domains and 

other issues are voluntarily resolved through ANSI HISB. 

AHRQ is a member and supports the meetings of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to 

ISO Technical Committee 215, Health Informatics. The U.S. TAG formulates and 

reaches consensus on the U.S. position on health data issues taken at ISO TC 215 

meetings. 

AHRQ supported the Institute of Medicine's letter report recommending eight functions 

be included in the definition of an electronic health record. These functions were used by 

Health Level 7 to produce a balloted standard on the functional definition of an EHR in 

September 2003. The ballot failed to reach consensus. Currently the negative ballots are 

being address in anticipation of another ballot on the standard. 

AHRQ participates as a liaison to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics 

(NCVHS), an advisory committee that advises the Secretary of HHS on health 

information policy. NCVHS recommended adoption of four ANSI standards to the 

Secretary for use in federal health program information exchange. On February 21, 2003, 

the Secretary adopted these messaging standards. In FY 2004, NCVHS will recommend a 

core set of terminology standards to the Secretary for adoption. 

AHRQ participates in one of the administration's 24 eGovernent initiatives-the 

Consolidated Health Informatics (CHI) initiative. In 2003, CHI recommended four 

messaging standards and one terminology standard to the Secretary of HHS for adoption. 

He adopted all five. CHI is working selecting voluntary consensus standards for a total of 

24 domain areas. 

AHRQ supported the founding of the Health Level 7 Special Interest Group on Patient 
E-53 

Safety to begin the process of developing standards for reporting patient safety events 

across the nation in a uniform format. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

Food and Drug Administration - As noted in the response to Question 6, this survey is 

not very instructive regarding the way that regulatory agencies use standards. HHS, in 

addition to using standards for procurement purposes, uses standards to describe 

characteristics of products and manufacturing processes which help insure the safety and 

efficacy of products manufactured to those standards. The survey does not reflect this 

latter use accurately. 

Centers for Disease Control - All areas of CDC work extensively with outside partner 

organizations for routine work. The Circular wording constrains our reporting to just that 

activity with Standard Development Organizations as formally defined by the circular. 

The effect of this constraint is an under-reporting of our activity with outside partners. 

Complete reporting of our activities with outside partners, however, would be 

burdensome and impossible to obtain as essentially all professional staff interacts with a 

diverse group of partners on a daily basis. If the main intent of the circular is to report the 

use of outside SDO developed standards for commerce, the data in this report reflects that 

information. If the intent of the Circular is to reflect government interactions with all 

non-government organizations involved in policy decisions our data reflects severe 

under-reporting. 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - AHRQ has supported voluntary consensus 

standards development and processes for many years because uniform information 

exchange can lead to better research data having more powerful findings and because 

informatics tools can better access the knowledge to improve patient safety, quality of 

care, the cost of care, and access to care. 
E-54 

Department of Homeland Security

DHS did not submit a report for 2003. 
E-55 

Department of Housing and Urban Development

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

2 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

24 CFR 200.935 - 

Administrator qualifications 

and procedures for HUD 

building products and 

certification programs 

ANSI A119.1 N - 

Recreation Vehicles 

HUD Building-Product 

Standards & Certification 

Programs. HUD was 

required by legislation to 

“establish Federal 

construction and safety 

standards for manufactured 

homes and to authorize 

manufactured home safety 

research and development”. 

Recently, HUD retained a 

private consensus body 

(NFPA) to update and 

modernize the 

Manufactured Home 

Standards. At the conclusion 

of the development process, 

NFPA will submit the 

revised standard to HUD for 

regulatory adoption. 

24 CFR 3280 - 

Manufactured Home 

Construction and Safety 

Standards 

ANSI A119.1 - Recreation 

Vehicles and NFPA 501C - 

Standard on Recreational 

Vehicles 

HUD-Unique Manufactured 

Home Construction & 

Safety Standards. HUD was 

required by legislation to 

“establish Federal 

construction and safety 

standards for manufactured 

homes and to authorize 

manufactured home safety 

research and development”. 

Recently, HUD retained a 

private consensus body 

(NFPA) to update and 

modernize the 

Manufactured Home 
E-56 

Standards. At the conclusion 

of the development process, 

NFPA will submit the 

revised standard to HUD for 

regulatory adoption. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

1 

Voluntary Standard Government Standard 

NFPA 501 24 CFR 3280 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

300 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

10 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

5 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC 

International Committee for Information Technology Standards INCITS 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

No response was given for 6.1 to 6.5 so the not applicable choices were used. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 
E-57 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-4 Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

This policy continues to be effective in replacing Federal Standards with public-domain 

standards. This has resulted in more timely, up-to-date, and technically accurate 

standards. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suggests Circular 

A-119 use stronger language to encourage agencies to be more active in determining 

which standards are applicable to the agency's activities and when standards are 

identified, motivate the agency to be more assertive in enforcing their use. 

8 Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

All of HUD's 25 conformity assessment (CA) programs, under the HUD BuildingProducts Standards & Certification Programs, are in compliance with the ISO guidelines 

& procedures. These are the same standards used by ANSI and other nationally 

recognized third-party certification agencies. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

I. Office of Policy Development and Research 

Department/Agency 
E-58 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 

Office of Policy Development & Research 

451 Seventh Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20410 

Phone: (202) 755-4370 

FAX: (202) 708-5873 

URL address: http://www.hud.gov/progdesc/pdrindx.cfm 

The HUD Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R) has recently completed an 

assessment of HUD’s own Minimum Property and Technical Suitability of Products 

program. This major study recommends that the Department extend its reliance on 

voluntary standard in two ways. First, the study recommends that HUD totally abandon 

the MPS for single-family housing in all aspects totally relying on the model codes, 

especially the ICC & IRC codes and remove all remaining references to the MPS in HUD 

regulations. This would clarify the reality of HUD not using its own standards in any 

way, shape or form. Second the study recommends that HUD abandon its own 

“Technical Suitability of Products” program relying instead on the National Evaluation 

Service to review al innovative or other products that do not meet the prescriptive 

standards of the model codes. This major study is now under review by the assistant 

Secretary for Housing. If adopted this major reform will further strengthen our reliance 

on the voluntary and private consensus process in lieu of HUD developed standards and 

criteria 

Second, HUD’s Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is continuing 

to encourage private industry to develop standard XML definitions for use in Internet 

based home construction commercial transactions. These will be used amongst specific 

home construction entities. One of the group's objectives is to improve the speed of 

construction in order to make houses more affordable. Sharing the same technical 

language and being able to speak quickly and accurately is a big challenge. Applying 

Information Technology (IT) seemed to be one solution. However, the group didn't know 

how to implement it. 

The first industry based group from the timber manufacturing industry approached PATH 

to assist them in convening hearings and task groups to develop such a common language 

(in this case, through XML tag sets) so that it would become an industry de facto 

"standard". PATH is now working with the window industry to develop similar XML 

tags for window industry tags will be used internally by the window industry and down 

through the distribution chain by wholesalers and homebuilders for the just in time 

ordering of products through web-based tools 

These efforts have stimulated the first industry-based attempts to posit these standard 

definitions (most attempts have been top-down and unsuccessful). Also, because 

government served only in a facilitation capacity: industry did all the work! We plan to 

continue this work under PATH with different groups in the construction industry; we 

currently have three lined up. 
E-59 

II. MANUFACTURED HOUSING 

Department/Agency 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 

Office of Housing 

Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 

Manufactured Housing and Standards Division 

HSCM Room 9152 

451 Seventh Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20410-8000 

Hotline for complaints: 1-800-927-2891 

Phone: (202) 708-6409 

FAX: (202) 708-4213 

e-mail: mhs@hud.gov 

URL address: http://www.hud.gov/fha/sfh/mhssht3.html 

Initiated 1976 

Compliance Mandatory 

Authority National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, P.L. 

93-382, 42 U.S.C. 5407. 24 CFR Part 3280. 

Aim: 

To reduce the number of personal injuries and deaths, cost of insurance, and property 

damage resulting from manufactured home accidents and to improve the quality and 

durability of manufactured homes. 

Benefits: 

Uniform nationwide certification program has accomplished the stated purposes of the 

Act and improved interstate commerce in manufactured housing. 

Methodology: 

As required by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, HUD is now 

relying on a private consensus committee administered - by the National Fire Protection 

Association (NFPA) to develop new regulations for revising HUD’s Manufactured 

Housing Standards. As required by law, this change moves towards greater reliance on a 

formal consensus committee. In the past, HUD consulted with an Advisory Committee, 

which had a very limited role. By law this new committee must follow ANSI standards 

and also apply to ANSI for accreditation. In addition, this consensus committee is 

developing, for the first time, model installation standards which must be completed this 

year. The consensus committee held its second full meeting in December 2002 and 

established its structure and committees. The installation subcommittee is making good 
E-60 

progress using NFPA 225 Model Installation standards as its initial starting document. 

Term: 

Indefinite term 

Reciprocity: 

Other federal agencies and State agencies 

Standards, Codes: Agency references standards prepared by others and or Regulations 

incorporates requirements in the Federal Manufactured Home Construction Safety 

Standards (24 CFR Part 3280). Enforcement is in accordance with Procedural and 

Enforcement Regulations (24 CFR Part 3282). 

Keywords: 

Design approval; housing requirements; inspection; manufactured housing; product 

safety 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reports the continued use of 

two government-unique standards in lieu of voluntary consensus standards. HUD reports 

that it uses 24 CFR 200.935 in lieu of ANSI A 119.1 for its Building Product Standards 

and Certification Program. HUD also uses 24 CFR 3280 in lieu of ANSI 119.1 and 

NFPA 501C for its Manufactured Home and Construction Safety Standards. A recent 

study proposing eliminating the Building Products Standards and Certification Program 

(and relying on other existing standards) is under consideration. HUD is working with 

NFPA to revise and update the Manufactured Home and Construction Safety Standards 

through a consensus process. 

HUD's ten participants in Standards Developing Organizations (SDO's) are from HUD's: 

Office of Policy, Research, and Development (R); 

Office of Healthy Homes & Lead-Hazard Control (L); 

Office of Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner (H); and, 

Office of the Chief Information Officer (Q) 

Following are some acronyms used in this and similar reports: 

STANDARDS-RELATED ACRONYMS 

ACRONYM: DESCRIPTION 

A-119: OMB's Circular that posits presidential-mandated standards activities for U.S. 

Government Agencies 

ACM: Association of Computing Machinery 

ASC: Accredited Standards Committee 

ANSI: American National Standards Institute 
E-61 

ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers 

ASQC: American Society for Quality Control 

ASTM: American Society for Testing & Materials 

ATIS: Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions 

CA: Conformity Assessment 

CCITT: Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (now ITU- T) 

CD: Committee Draft 

CE: European Community (mark), an icon required for products sold in the European 

Union (Dubbed an 800-lb gorilla) 

CE: Consumer Electronics 

CEN: European Committee for Standardization (Comite European de Normalisation) 

CENELEC: Comite European de Normalisation ELECtrotechnique [European 

Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization] 

CS: Central Secretariat 

DIN: Deutsches Institut fur Normung (German Standardization Institute) 

DIS: Draft International Standard Dresden Agreement (See the definition in the ANSI 

NSS brochure 

EC: European Commission 

ECI: Environmental Condition Indicator 

EFTA: European Free Trade Association 

EIA: Electronics Industries Association 

ENV: European Pre-standard 

EPE: Environmental Performance Evaluation 

ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute 

EU: European Union 

FDIS: Final Draft International Standard 

FTCA: Federal Trade & Communications Act 

GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade 

GMC: ANSI's Government Member Council 

ICSP: InterAgency Committee for Standards Policy 

IEC: International Electro-technical Commission 

IEEE: Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers 

INCITS: International Committee on Information Technology Standards 

IPC: Institute for Interconnecting & Packaging Electronic Circuits 

IPR: International Property Rights 

IS: International Standard 

ISO: International Organization for Standardization (Fr) 

ITI: Information Technology Industry (Council) 

ITU-T: International Telecommunication Union- (Standardization Division), formerly 

CCITT 

JTC/: Joint (ISO/IEC) Technical Committee (for Information Technology) 1 

LCA: Lifecycle Assessment 

MPI: Management Performance Indicator 

NC: National Committee 

NCITS (EN cites): National Committee for Information Technology Standards [obsolete; 

see INCITS] 
E-62 

NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association 

NIST: National Institute of Standards & Technology 

NP: New Work-Item Proposal 

NSS: National Standards Strategy (ANSI) 

NSSN: National Standards System Network (An email-based source for Global 

Standardization: www.ansi.org) 

NTTAA: National Technology Transfer & Advancement Act (PL 104-113) 

OPI: Operational Performance Indicator 

OSI: Open Systems Interconnection 

PCMCIA: Personal Computer Memory Card International Association 

PrEN: Preliminary European Standard 

PL: Public Law 

RI: Regulatory Interface 

SAE: Society of Automotive Engineers 

SAGE (ISO): Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment 

SC: Subcommittee 

SDO: Standards Developing Organization 

SES: Standards Engineering Society 

SI: International System of Units 

SME: Subject Matter Expert 

SSM: Strategic Standardization Management 

TA: Technical Advisor 

TAG: Technical Advisory Group 

TC: Technical Committee 

TMB: ISO Technical Management Board 

TSP: Proposal for a New Field of ISO Technical Activity (Fr) 

USITACS: United States International Telecommunications Advisory Committee for 

Standardization (DOS) 

USNC: United States National Committee 

VA: Vienna Agreement (See the definition in NSS) 

WD: Working Draft 

WG: Working Group 

WTO: World Trade Organization 

Questions re HUD's standards may be directed to Dana Bres (PH: 202-708-4370 ext 5919 

or email: Dana_B._Bres@hud.gov. 
E-63 

Department of the Interior

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

242 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

645 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

25 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Concrete Institute ACI 

American Institute of Steel Construction AISC 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Petroleum Institute API 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing ASPRS 

American Water Works Association AWWA 

American Welding Society AWS 

Computer Security Institute CSI 

Computer Security Response Network CSRN 

Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Board FASAB 

Financial Accounting Standards Board FASB 

Generally Accepted Accounting Standards GAAP 

Ground Water Protection Council GWPC 

Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

International Committee for Information Technology Standards INCITS 
E-64 

International Standards Organization ISO 

National Association of Corrosion Engineers NACE 

National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST 

North American Weeds Management Association NAWMA 

Petrotechnical Open Standards Consortium, Inc. POSC 

SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security Institute SANS 

World Wide Web Consortium W3C 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The following comments are provided from various DOI organizations: 

 

Minerals Management Service (MMS): As a result of A-119, MMS has increased its 

participation in voluntary standards groups, both domestic and international. 
E-65 

 

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): The guidance in the A-119 appears to be sufficient in 

the terms of outlining the basic functions and responsibilities of Federal agency standards 

activities. However, some simplification and clarification of the reporting process appears 

necessary. Further, many of the definitions provided in the circular reference each other 

without fully defining the word or its implication in operational activities. 

Bureau of Reclamation (BOR): Circular A-119 guidance is adequate for our needs. 

 

US Geological Survey (USGS): Since its issuance, A-119 has worked in a straightforward 

manner to encourage the use of voluntary consensus standards. A-119 allows exemptions 

where existing voluntary consensus standards are inconsistent with law or otherwise 

impractical and if each exemption is reported to OMB. The nature of the scientific 

research the USGS performs makes the use of national voluntary consensus standards a 

required tool. The USGS has not requested any exemptions, nor is the recommendations 

for changes to the Circular. 

National Parks Service (NPS): OMB Circular A-119 should be broken down into 

circulars that are more focused in scope. This will improve the changes that the right 

information will be reported and minimize the burden to agencies - if the goal is to 

improve the effectiveness of standards reporting. Furthermore, rather than reporting use 

and non-use of standards, standards can be more effectively monitored and controlled 

through other processes. For example, all proposed investments in information and 

technology must demonstrate conformance with the enterprise and federal architecture in 

the Exhibit 300 to be successful in the funding process. This is a very effective way to 

control use of standards in contract to the report required by A-119. 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The BLM has attempted to enlist support for the 

development of its data standards both from other agencies and from the public. It is still 

unclear if there are advantages to developing voluntary consensus standards at the 

expense of government standards that can be used across the Departments. We recognize 

that Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-119 does not endorse the use of 

voluntary standards at the expense of governmental standards (except, of course, where 

the governmental standard does not exist) but the recognition of interagency efforts in 

promoting standards seems to be lost in this data call. The reporting should address 

attempts by agencies to get agreements on adopting standard and not concentrate on the 

process to determine whether or not a standard is through voluntary consensus or some 

other means. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

Active participation in the FGDC Coordination Work Group and the Geospatial OneStop (GOS) initiative. A subgroup of the FGDC's Standards Work Group has been 

formed to develop a process for approving/endorsing voluntary consensus standards 
E-66 

consistent with OMB Circular A-119 directive. One major GOS objective is to develop 

geographic information standards and services for multiple applications through 

identification of common data requirements and use of structures from voluntary 

consensus standards. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating in a number of efforts to 

standardize its data. Major efforts to include other federal and state partners are included 

below: 

The FGDC: The BLM is a member with representation on the FGDC steering committee, 

its Standards Working Group, and subcommittees developing standards for geospatial 

data. The BLM maintains a node on the World Wide Web to document the FGDC 

metadata used to support its Land Use Plan and other land management activities. 

The FGDC establishes standards for Federal agencies as mandated by the Congress and 

the President. At some point in the standards process, the FGDC standards apply only to 

federal agencies. Efforts are underway (and continuing), to get FGDC standards adopted 

as ANSI standards or International Standards Organization standards. 

Inter-Organization Resource Information Coordinating Council (IRICC): The Oregon 

State Office of the BLM participates in voluntary standards that are developed by IRICC, 

an outgrowth of the North West Forest Plan, which include the BLM, the USFS, and state 

natural resource partners, particularly in the area of hydrology, fisheries, and related 

categories. 

State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO): The BLM has been cooperating with SHPO 

and other agencies to standardize it cultural resource data with the States. 

Trails Data: The BLM also participates as a member of the Interagency Trails Data 

Standards Team developing data standards for trails of all kinds for National Park Service 

(NPS), BLM and US Forest Service. These will affect all BLM lands, all national forests 

and all national park units and special areas. The team is currently refining some 

attributes common to all and some attributes that relate specifically to national historic 

trails with a goal of producing a draft product for review within the next couple of 

months. We are beginning to devise a strategy for review both internally and eternally, as 

data for trails is gathered by staff and by volunteers. The team will be meeting to see how 

this might mesh with electronic government on February 27, 2004, in Washington, DC. 

GEOMAC: The data elements for fire perimeter information began to be developed in the 

summer of 2000 and have gained widespread acceptance in the wildland fire community. 

The data was developed through the cooperation of DOI agencies and is available on the 

national websites http://geomac.usgs.gov. 

Hydrologic Unit Boundaries: The BLM, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and 
E-67 

the Bureau of Reclamation have used the Federal Standards for delineation of Hydrologic 

Unit Boundaries to perform detailed Geographic Information Systems mapping. The 

standard has been submitted to the FGDC and is currently listed in the proposal stage. 

The BLM also participates in the National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP) and the 

National Digital Orthophoto Program, both of which involve sharing information among 

federal agencies. The NDEP was established to promote the exchange of accurate digital 

land elevation data among government, private, and nonprofit sectors and the academic 

community and to establish standards and guidance that will benefit all users. The NDEP 

is composed of agencies from DOI, Commerce, and Agricultures, as well as the National 

Imagery and Mapping Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US 

Army Corp of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 

representation from state governments through the National States Geographic 

Information Council. 

The National Digital Orthophoto Program (NDOP) was established to promote the 

cooperative production of digital orthophoto quads (DOQ) among participating Federal 

agencies. Over the years the focus has broadened to include orthophotography acquired 

by State and local governments. Members include BLM participants as well as the 

following agencies; (USDA) Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, USFS, US Geological Survey, BLM Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Census and the National States Geographic 

Information Council. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
E-68 

Department of Justice

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

1 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

5 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

1 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative GLOBAL 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-69 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

In some cases the use of standards overlaps with Information Technology Enterprise 

Architecture and the standards derived from that process. External entities needing to 

interoperate with government agencies must conform to interface criteria specified as 

government standards. In the case of the Department of Justice we collaborate with local 

and state law enforcement agencies to develop standards for communications but it is 

unclear as to how this aspect of Enterprise Architecture relates to standards use in 

general. 

8 Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

The Department is participating in activities seeking to standardize the format and 

content of law enforcement and public safety data in order to facilitate information 

sharing among state, local, and federal organizations. Currently, a Global Justice XML 

Data Model specifies a collaboratively developed set of standard data elements data 

elements that can be used to facilitate interoperability among compliant systems. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

None 
E-70 

Department of Labor

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

2 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

Exit Routes, Emergency 

Action Plans, and Fire 

Prevention Plans, 29 CFR 

1910, Subpart E 

Life Safety Code, NFPA 

101-2000 

The OSHA standard 

addresses only workplace 

conditions whereas the 

NFPA Life Safety Code 

goes beyond workplaces. 

However, in the final rule 

OSHA stated that it had 

evaluated the NFPA 

Standard 101, Life Safety 

Code, (NFPA 101-2000) 

and concluded that it 

provided comparable safety 

to the Exit Route Standards. 

Therefore, the Agency 

stated that any employer 

who complied with the 

NFPA 101-2000 instead of 

the OSHA Standard for Exit 

Routes would be in 

compliance. 

Sanitary Toilets in Coal 

Mines, 30 CFR 71, Subpart 

E 

Non-Sewered Waste 

Disposal Systems--

Minimum Requirements, 

ANSI Z4.3-1987 

The ANSI standard was not 

incorporated by reference 

because certain design 

criteria allowed in the ANSI 

standard, if implemented in 

an underground coal mine, 

could present health or 

safety hazards. For instance, 

combustion or incinerating 

toilets could introduce an 

ignition source which would 

create a fire hazard. For 

certain other design criteria 

found in the ANSI standard, 

sewage could seep into the 

groundwater, or overflow 
E-71 

caused by rain or run-off 

could contaminate portions 

of the mine. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

117 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

61 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

16 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ACGIH 

American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA 

American Institute of Mining and Metallurgic Engineers AIMME 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Welding Society AWS 

Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance CMVSA 

Federal Laboratory Consortium FLC 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

International Society for Measurement and Control ISA 

International Society of Explosive Engineers ISEE 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 
E-72 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

OSHA is working with a number of Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) as it 

attempts to update over 200 national consensus standards that were incorporated by 

reference in the early years of OSHA's existence. Many of the incorporated-by-reference 

standards, which are cited in over 500 OSHA provisions, are over 30 years old. Several 

SDOs have provided technical assistance to the Agency as it develops side-by-side 

comparative analysis to ascertain the differences between the incorporated standard and 

the most current version that will be necessary to meet legal and statutory obligations 

before the Agency can complete the updating process. 

 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
E-73 

The reporting tool makes it much easier to complete the report--excellent idea and 

excellent tool. 
E-74 

Department of State

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

0 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

0 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

No response was given for 6.1 to 6.5 so the not applicable choices were used. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-75 

D 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

No response 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

No response 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

No response 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

The Department of State has a major policy role in telecommunications standards as 

obligated by international treaty, and coordination roles in other areas. The Bureau of 

Economic and Business Affairs (EB) represents the Department of State on the 

Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP), the Government Member Council, 

and the Information Infrastructure Standardization Panel (IISP) and its steering 

committee at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Department is not 

involved in the actual development of technical standards. 

The Department represents the United States of America administration under the treaty 

obligations found in the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union 

(ITU), Minneapolis, 1998, and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission 

(CITEL) of the Organization of American States (OAS). The Department of State, 

through the EB Communications and Information Policy Deputate (CIP), provides the 

forum for development of positions and contributions for presentation at ITU and CITEL 

meetings where international telecommunication recommendations (voluntary standards) 

and telecommunication standardization policies are written. The Department authorizes 

and/or hosts public meetings under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, where advice 
E-76 

on telecommunication standardization and policy issues is offered by the private sector 

telecommunications industry. The Department also bases its decisions on advice from 

other public sector agencies (DoD, the National Institute of Standards and Technology 

[NIST], the National Telecommunications and Information Administration [NTIA], the 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], and the Federal 

Communications Commission [FCC]). The Department coordinates, leads, and/or 

accredits United States delegations to ITU and CITEL technical and policy meetings. 

More than 100 U.S. corporations are participating members of the ITU; more than 30 are 

associate members of CITEL’s permanent Consultative Committee, under the 

sponsorship of the State Department. Those companies and interested government 

agencies participate and play major roles in the ITU and CITEL Study Groups and 

Working Parties that actually write the standards. Within that process, a great deal of 

interaction takes place with other standards setting organizations, such as the 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ANSI, ANSI-accredited Committee 

T1, and the Telecommunications Industry Association. 

In addition to accrediting and supporting delegations to the ITU and CITEL, the 

Department’s International Organization Affairs Bureau (IO) accredits and funds 

participation by relevant specialized agencies (the Departments of Agriculture, 

Commerce, Transportation, and NIST) and private sector groups in the deliberations of 

the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Working Party on Standardization, 

especially where they have a direct bearing on U.S. commercial interests. While the 

standards developed in the ECE are not officially adopted for use in the United States 

they serve as guides for adjusting product design and are widely taken into account in 

manufacturing plans. 
E-77 

Department of Transportation

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

1 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

Brake Performance, 49 CFR 

393.52 - FMCSA's 

Performance-Based Brake 

Testers (PBBTs) 

Requirement 

SAE J667 - Brake Test 

Code Inertia Dynamometer 

(cancelled February 2002) 

and SAE J1854 - Brake 

Force Distribution 

Performance Guide - Trucks 

and Buses 

FMCSA used governmentunique standards in lieu of 

voluntary consensus 

standards when it 

implemented its final rule to 

allow inspectors to use 

performance-based brake 

testers (PBBTs) to check the 

brakes on large trucks and 

buses for compliance with 

federal safety standards and 

to issue citations when these 

vehicles fail (67 FR 51770, 

August 9, 2002). The 

FMCSA evaluated several 

PBBTs during a round robin 

test series to assess their 

functional performance and 

potential use in law 

enforcement. The standard, 

a specific configuration of 

brake forces and wheel 

loads on a heavy-duty 

vehicle, was used to 

evaluate the candidate 

PBBTs and their operating 

protocols. The agency’s 

rationale for use of the 

government-unique 

standards was to verify that 

these measurements and 

new technology could be 

used by law enforcement as 

an alternative to stopping 

distance tests or on-road 

deceleration tests. PBBTs 
E-78 

are expected to save time 

and their use could increase 

the number of commercial 

motor vehicles that can be 

inspected in a given time. 

Only PBBTs that meet 

specifications developed by 

the FMCSA can be used to 

determine compliance with 

the Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Regulations. The 

final rule represents a 

culmination of agency 

research that began in the 

early 1990s. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

323 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

167 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

30 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Acoustical Society of America ASA 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials 

AASHTO 

American Gas Association AGA 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Petroleum Institute API 

American Public Transportation Association APTA 

American Railway Engineering & Maintenance-of-Way 

Association 

AREMA 
E-79 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

Association of American Railroads AAR 

Canadian General Standards Board Tank Car Committee CGSBTCC 

Compressed Gas Association CGA 

Gas Technology Institute GTI 

Groupe de Travail Brussels 1958 GTB 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Institute of Transportation Engineers ITE 

Intelligent Transportation Society of America ITS 

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA 

International Maritime Organization IMO 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and 

Fittings Industry, Inc. 

MSS 

NACE International NACE 

National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors NBBPVI 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

North American Transport of Dangerous Goods Standard 

Working Group 

NATDGS 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

U.N. Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods UNCTDG 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

DOT's modal agencies seem to vary as to reporting, but generally follow the above 

criteria. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 
E-80 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

DOT believes that Circular A-119 is working effectively and that the use of voluntary 

standards can save both time and money for regulatory agencies. We have no 

recommendation to change the Circular at this time. 

This following comment submitted in response to question number 10 (General 

Comments) is more appropriate here and has been added. 

I can't help to be concerned about the additional time it takes our regulatory agencies to 

report this information. Regulatory agencies from time to time, in order to better provide 

for the safety of our constituency, must enhance industry developed consensus standards. 

When these government unique standards are applied they are thoroughly vetted in the 

rulemaking process and all those involved have an opportunity to voice their concerns. It 

seems superfluous to have to repeat that activity here. Clearly, agencies will use 

voluntary consensus standards whenever possible, and resort to unique standards--which 

we believe are tough, but reasonable--for the protection of the public when the involved 

industry is reluctant to adopt more stringent protections. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) conformity assessment activities are visible 

internationally through expanded efforts in the area of safe, uniform international 

transport of hazardous materials by participation in the Canadian General Standards 

Board Tank Car Committee and the ASME Transportation Pressure Vessel Committee, 

as well as continuing to participate in the North American Transport of Dangerous Goods 

Standard (NATDGS) Working Group and the AAR Tank Car Committee, as reported last 

year. 

Participation in voluntary consensus standards bodies as well as in numerous committees 

and sub-committees of those bodies gives FRA access to the developmental stages of 

private sector conformity assessment standards to make sure the agency viewpoint is 
E-81 

considered in the development of their standards. During data collection for this FY 2003 

report at least eight additional standards, recommended practices, and regulations were 

identified which are being jointly developed through FRA-industry cooperation and are 

expected to be issued during FY 2004. 

 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) elected to use the 

recommendations of the accepted leaders in cardiovascular disease - NIH, American 

Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, to define medically acceptable 

blood pressure in commercial motor vehicle drivers. This accomplishes several things: It 

makes the recommendations less arbitrary or capricious, it gives the recommendations 

credibility, it makes it easier for the practicing doctor to remember and accept the 

guidelines, since it is consistent with what they are hearing from other organizations. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

I can't help to be concerned about the additional time it takes our regulatory agencies to 

report this information. Regulatory agencies from time to time, in order to better provide 

for the safety of our constituency, must enhance industry developed consensus standards. 

When these government unique standards are applied they are thoroughly vetted in the 

rulemaking process and all those involved have an opportunity to voice their concerns. It 

seems superfluous to have to repeat that activity here. Clearly, agencies will use 

voluntary consensus standards whenever possible, and resort to unique standards--which 

we believe are tough, but reasonable--for the protection of the public when the involved 

industry is reluctant to adopt more stringent protections. 
E-82 

Department of the Treasury

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

99 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

3 

5 . Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

3 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

Data Interchange Standards Association, Inc. DISAI 

Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange WEDI 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 
E-83 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

We believe that the guidance prescribed in Circular A-119 are effective. Circular A-119 

has placed the focus on using voluntary standards as opposed to the development of 

government unique standards. Wide use of voluntary consensus standards promotes the 

development of an increased number of standards compliant products facilitating the use 

of new technology and increasing flexibility to meet new requirements. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

None 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

I found the reporting tool to be very user friendly. I applaud the improvements made to 

this year's on-line reporting. 
E-84 

Department of Veterans Affairs

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

4 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

17 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA 

American Institute of Timber Construction AITC 

American National Metric Council ANMC 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers ASHRAE 

American Society of Hospital Engineers ASHE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

Architecture and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board ATBCB 

Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association BHMA 

Federal Facilities Council FFC 

Interagency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction ICSS 

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare 

Organizations 

JCAHO 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH 

National Institute of Building Sciences NIBS 
E-85 

Uniform Building Code UBC 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The Veterans Health Administration accepts and conforms to standards developed by the 

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) for Veterans 

Affairs (VA) health care facilities. Voluntary consensus standard requirements are 

utilized in the regulatory, contractual and grants determinations executed by the Veterans 

Health Administration. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities 

: 
E-86 

The VA does not engage in conformity assessments activities. VA strives to use industry 

based standards and commercial off-the-shelf products. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

No Comment 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

Federal regulations prescribe standards that must be used (e.g., OSHA 

monitoring/sampling standards and EPA laboratory standards). Regardless of what may 

be developed by conformity assessment, VA is not relieved of its obligation to use 

standards prescribed by regulations. When not obligated to use prescribed regulatory or 

other (e.g., JCAHO) standard, VA organizations must retain the flexibility to use the 

standard that best meets its programmatic needs. 
Appendix F – Non-Cabinet Department 

and Commissions
F-2 

Agency for International Development

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

0 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

0 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 
F-3 

6- 4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

USAID has no recommendations for changing Circular A-119. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

USAID participates in the Contractor Performance Reporting system developed and 

managed by the National Institutes for Health, including participating as a member of the 

committee that determines information requirements. This may be considered a 

conformity assessment activity since it is standardizing the way that the participating 

agencies assess contractors' performance. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

Nothing to report for FY 2003. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

No general comments about this reporting tool. 
F-4 

Consumer Product Safety Commission

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

1 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

FR/Vol. 68, No. 75/Friday, 

April 18, 2003, pp. 19142-

19147, "Metal-Cored 

Candlewicks Containing 

Lead and Candles With 

Such Wicks" 

Voices of Safety 

International (VOSI) 

standard on lead in candle 

wicks 

The U.S. Consumer Product 

Safety Commission found 

that "the VOSI standard is 

technically unsound, and 

thus would not result in the 

elimination or adequate 

reduction of the risk, and 

that substantial compliance 

with it is unlikely." See 

FR/Vol. 68, No. 75/Friday, 

April 18, 2003, pp. 19145-

19146, paragraph H2, 

"Voluntary Standards" for 

further information on this 

finding. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

31 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

7 
F-5 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTMI 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

Canadian Standards Association CSA 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

Specialty Vehicle Institute of America SVIA 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) each instance 

where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) both the total number and each 

instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use or 

as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

During FY 2003, the Commission's efforts to enhance voluntary safety standards 

development was complemented by the overall Federal policy set forth in the Circular. 

There are no recommendations for changes in the Circular at this time. 
F-6 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

The CPSC staff provided technical support to the development of 22 new, revised, or 

reaffirmed voluntary consumer product safety standards which were completed in FY 

2003. The Commission staff participated in 65 voluntary standards development projects 

during FY 2003. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), as amended, requires the Commission to 

defer to issued voluntary standards, rather than promulgate mandatory standards, when 

the voluntary standards will eliminate or adequately reduce the risk of injury addressed 

and it is likely that there will be substantial compliance with the voluntary standards. In 

addition, the Commission is required, after any notice or advance notice of proposed 

rulemaking, to provide technical and administrative assistance to persons or groups who 

propose to develop or modify an appropriate voluntary standard. Additionally, the 

Commission is encouraged to provide technical and administrative assistance to groups 

developing product safety standards and test methods, taking into account Commission 

resources and priorities. 

Since its inception in 1973, the Commission has promoted the development of voluntary 

product safety standards. Policy statements in support of voluntary standards were 

published by the CPSC in 1975 and 1978. These policy statements were updated in 1988 

(16 U.S.C. 1031), and a staff directive on implementation of portions of these policy 

statements was promulgated in 1989 and updated in October 2001. 

Since the principles set forth in the OMB Circular A-119 Rev. were published, the 

Commission has consistently supported them. The CPSC Voluntary Standards 

Coordinator, who also serves as the CPSC's Standards Executive for the purpose of 

implementing OMB Circular A-119 Rev., provides general oversight for staff 

involvement in existing standards projects. The Voluntary Standards Coordinator 

establishes agency views on standards issues and decisions through Commission response 

to staff briefing packages and recommendations. These views are reflected in the 

Commission's Operating Plan and Budget. Coordinating participation within the 

Commission and with others in voluntary standards activities is the responsibility of the 

Voluntary Standards Coordinator. 

Likewise the Voluntary Standards Coordinator is responsible for meeting reporting 

requirements applicable to voluntary standards involvement of Commission staff. For 

further information please contact the CPSC's Standards Executive: 
F-7 

Mr. Colin B. Church, Voluntary Standards and International Activities Coordinator, 

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 

Room 702, 4330 East West Highway, 

Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel. 301-504-7245, Fax. 301-504-0407, E-mail: 

cchurch@cpsc.gov 

December 1, 2003 
F-8 

Environmental Protection Agency

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

25 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

EPA Method 1 – Traverse 

Points, Stationary Sources 

[1] ASTM D3154-00, 

Standard Method for 

Average Velocity in a Duct 

(Pitot Tube Method) 

[2] ASTM D3154-91 

(1995), "Standard Method 

for Average Velocity in a 

Duct (Pitot Tube Method)" 

[1] 1. The standard appears 

to lack in quality control 

and quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

[2] Is too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 10 - Carbon 

Monoxide, NDIR 

[1] ASTM D3162 (1994) 

Standard Test Method for 

Carbon Monoxide in the 

Atmosphere (Continuous 

Measurement by Nondispersive Infrared 

[1] This ASTM standard, 

which is stated to be 

applicable in the range of 

0.5-100 ppm CO, does not 

cover the range of EPA 

Method 10 (20-1,000 ppm 
F-9 

Spectrometry) 

[2] CAN/CSA Z223.21-

M1978, Method for the 

Measurement of Carbon 

Monoxide: 3—Method of 

Analysis by NonDispersive Infrared 

Spectrometry; 

CO) at the upper end (but 

states that it has a lower 

limit of sensitivity). Also, 

ASTM D3162 does not 

provide a procedure to 

remove carbon dioxide 

interference. Therefore, this 

ASTM standard is not 

appropriate for combustion 

source conditions. In terms 

of non-dispersive infrared 

instrument performance 

specifications, ASTM 

D3162 has much higher 

maximum allowable rise 

and fall times (5 minutes) 

than EPA Method 10 

(which has 30 seconds). 

[2] 1. This standard is 

lacking in the following 

areas: (1) Sampling 

procedures; (2) procedures 

to correct for the carbon 

dioxide concentration; (3) 

instructions to correct the 

gas volume if CO2 traps are 

used; (4) specifications to 

certify the calibration gases 

are within 2 percent of the 

target concentration; (5) 

mandatory instrument 

performance characteristics 

(e.g., rise time, fall time, 

zero drift, span drift, 

precision); (6) quantitative 

specification of the span 

value maximum as 

compared to the measured 

value: The standard 

specifies that the 

instruments should be 

compatible with the 

concentration of gases to be 

measured, whereas EPA 
F-10 

Method 10 specifies that 

the instrument span value 

should be no more than 1.5 

times the source 

performance standard. 2. Is 

too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

EPA Method 10A – Carbon 

Monoxide for Certifying 

CEMS 

CAN/CSA Z223.21-

M1978, Method for the 

Measurement of Carbon 

Monoxide: 3—Method of 

Analysis by NonDispersive Infrared 

Spectrometry. 

1. It is lacking in the 

following areas: (1) 

Sampling procedures; (2) 

procedures to correct for 

the carbon dioxide 

concentration; (3) 

instructions to correct the 

gas volume if CO2 traps are 

used; (4) specifications to 

certify the calibration gases 

are within 2 percent of the 

target concentration; (5) 

mandatory instrument 

performance characteristics 

(e.g., rise time, fall time, 

zero drift, span drift, 

precision); (6) quantitative 

specification of the span 

value maximum as 

compared to the measured 

value: The standard 

specifies that the 

instruments should be 

compatible with the 

concentration of gases to be 

measured, whereas EPA 

Method 10 specifies that 

the instrument span value 

should be no more than 1.5 

times the source 

performance standard. 2. Is 

too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 
F-11 

requirements. 

EPA Method 12 – Inorganic 

Lead, Stationary Sources 

[1] ASTM D4358-94 

(1999), "Standard Test 

Method for Lead and 

Chromium in Air 

Particulate Filter Samples 

of Lead Chromate Type 

Pigment Dusts by Atomic 

Absorption Spectroscopy" 

[2] ASTM E1741-95 

(1995), "Standard Practice 

for Preparation of Airborne 

Particulate Lead Samples 

Collected During 

Abatement and 

Construction Activities for 

Subsequent Analysis by 

Atomic Spectrometry" 

[3] ASTM E1979-98 

(1998), "Standard Practice 

for Ultrasonic Extraction of 

Paint, Dust, Soil, and Air 

Samples for Subsequent 

Determination of Lead"; 

[1] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

[2] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 
F-12 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

[3] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 
F-13 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

EPA Method 2 – Velocity 

and S-type Pitot 

[1] ASTM 3796-90 (1998), 

"Standard Practice for 

Calibration of Type S Pitot 

Tubes" 

[2] ASTM D3464-96 

(2001, Standard Test 

Method Average Velocity 

in a Duct Using a Thermal 

Anemometer 

[3] ISO 10780:1994, 

Stationary Source 

Emissions-- Measurement 

of Velocity and Volume 

Flowrate of Gas Streams in 

Ducts 

[4] ASTM D3154-00, 

Standard Method for 

Average Velocity in a Duct 

(Pitot Tube Method) 

[5] ASTM D3154-91 

(1995), “Standard Method 

for Average Velocity in a 

Duct (Pitot Tube Method); 

[1] They are too general, 

too broad, or not 

sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

[2] Applicability 

specifications are not 

clearly defined, e.g., range 

of gas composition, 

temperature limits. Also, 

the lack of supporting 

quality assurance data for 

the calibration procedures 

and specifications, and 

certain variability issues 

that are not adequately 

addressed by the standard 

limit EPA's ability to make 

a definitive comparison of 

the method in these areas. 

[3] The standard 

recommends the use of an 

L-shaped pitot, which 

historically has not been 

recommended by EPA. The 

EPA specifies the S-type 

design, which has large 

openings that are less likely 

to plug up with dust. 

[4] 1. The standard appears 

to lack in quality control 

and quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 
F-14 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

[5] Is too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 23 – Dioxin and 

Furan (PCDD and PCDF) 

European Committee for 

Standardization (CEN) EN 

1948-3 (1997), 

"Determination of the Mass 

Concentration of 

PCDD'S/PCDF'S--Part 3: 

Identification and 

Quantification" 

Is too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

EPA Method 24 – Surface 

Coatings, Volatile Matter 

Content 

[1] ISO 11890-1 (2000) 

part 1, "Paints and 

Varnishes--Determination 

of Volatile Organic 

Compound (VOC) ContentDifference Method" 

[2] ISO 11890-2 (2000) 

Part 2, "Paints and 

Varnishes--Determination 

of Volatile Organic 

Compound (VOC) ContentGas Chromatographic 

[1] Measured nonvolatile 

matter content can vary 

with experimental factors 

such as temperature, length 

of heating period, size of 

weighing dish, and size of 

sample. The standard ISO 

11890-1 allows for 

different dish weights and 

sample sizes than the one 

size (58 millimeters in 

diameter and sample size of 

0.5 gram) of EPA Method 
F-15 

Method" 24. The standard ISO 

11890-1 also allows for 

different oven temperatures 

and heating times 

depending on the type of 

coating, whereas EPA 

Method 24 requires 60 

minutes heating at 110 

degrees Celsius at all times. 

Because the EPA Method 

24 test conditions and 

procedures "define" volatile 

matter, ISO 11890-1 is 

unacceptable as an 

alternative because of its 

different test conditions. 

[2] ISO 11890-2 only 

measures the VOC added to 

the coating and would not 

measure any VOC 

generated from the curing 

of the coating. The EPA 

Method 24 does measure 

"cure" VOC, which can be 

significant in some cases, 

and, therefore, ISO 11890-2 

is not an acceptable 

alternative to this EPA 

method. 

EPA Method 25 – Gaseous 

Nonmethane Organic 

Emissions 

[1] EN 12619:1999 

Stationary Source 

Emissions--Determination 

of the Mass Concentration 

of Total Gaseous Organic 

Carbon at Low 

Concentrations in Flue 

Gases--Continuous Flame 

Ionization Detector Method 

[2] ISO 14965:2000(E) Air 

Quality--Determination of 

Total Nonmethane Organic 

Compounds--Cryogenic 

Preconcentration and Direct 

[1] The standards do not 

apply to solvent process 

vapors in concentrations 

greater than 40 ppm (EN 

12619) and 10 ppm carbon 

(ISO 14965). Methods 

whose upper limits are this 

low are too limited to be 

useful in measuring source 

emissions, which are 

expected to be much 

higher. 

[2] The standards do not 

apply to solvent process 
F-16 

Flame Ionization Method vapors in concentrations 

greater than 40 ppm (EN 

12619) and 10 ppm carbon 

(ISO 14965). Methods 

whose upper limits are this 

low are too limited to be 

useful in measuring source 

emissions, which are 

expected to be much 

higher. 

EPA Method 25A – Gaseous 

Organic Concentration, 

Flame Ionization 

[1] EN 12619:1999 

Stationary Source 

Emissions--Determination 

of the Mass Concentration 

of Total Gaseous Organic 

Carbon at Low 

Concentrations in Flue 

Gases--Continuous Flame 

Ionization Detector Method 

[2] ISO 14965:2000(E) Air 

Quality--Determination of 

Total Nonmethane Organic 

Compounds--Cryogenic 

Preconcentration and Direct 

Flame Ionization Method; 

[1] The standards do not 

apply to solvent process 

vapors in concentrations 

greater than 40 ppm (EN 

12619) and 10 ppm carbon 

(ISO 14965). Methods 

whose upper limits are this 

low are too limited to be 

useful in measuring source 

emissions, which are 

expected to be much 

higher. 

[2] The standards do not 

apply to solvent process 

vapors in concentrations 

greater than 40 ppm (EN 

12619) and 10 ppm carbon 

(ISO 14965). Methods 

whose upper limits are this 

low are too limited to be 

useful in measuring source 

emissions, which are 

expected to be much 

higher. 

EPA Method 26 – Hydrogen 

Chloride, Halides, Halogens 

Emissions 

EN 1911-1,2,3 (1998), 

"Stationary Source 

Emissions-- Manual 

Method of Determination 

of HCl--Part 1: Sampling of 

Gases Ratified European 

Text--Part 2: Gaseous 

Compounds Absorption 

Ratified European Text-- 

Part 3 of this standard 

cannot be considered 

equivalent to EPA Method 

26 or 26A because the 

sample absorbing solution 

(water) would be expected 

to capture both HCl and 

Cl2 gas, if present, without 

the ability to distinguish 
F-17 

Part 3: Adsorption 

Solutions Analysis and 

Calculation Ratified 

European Text" 

between the two. The EPA 

Methods 26 and 26A use an 

acidified absorbing solution 

to first separate HCl and 

Cl2 gas so that they can be 

selectively absorbed, 

analyzed, and reported 

separately. In addition, in 

EN 1911 the absorption 

efficiency for Cl2 gas 

would be expected to vary 

as the pH of the water 

changed during sampling. 

EPA Method 26A – 

Hydrogen Halide and 

Halogen, Isokinetic 

EN 1911-1,2,3 (1998), 

"Stationary Source 

Emissions-- Manual 

Method of Determination 

of HCl--Part 1: Sampling of 

Gases Ratified European 

Text--Part 2: Gaseous 

Compounds Absorption 

Ratified European Text-- 

Part 3: Adsorption 

Solutions Analysis and 

Calculation Ratified 

European Text" 

Part 3 of this standard 

cannot be considered 

equivalent to EPA Method 

26 or 26A because the 

sample absorbing solution 

(water) would be expected 

to capture both HCl and 

Cl2 gas, if present, without 

the ability to distinguish 

between the two. The EPA 

Methods 26 and 26A use an 

acidified absorbing solution 

to first separate HCl and 

Cl2 gas so that they can be 

selectively absorbed, 

analyzed, and reported 

separately. In addition, in 

EN 1911 the absorption 

efficiency for Cl2 gas 

would be expected to vary 

as the pH of the water 

changed during sampling. 

EPA Method 28 (Section 

10.1) – Wood Heaters, 

Certificate and Auditing 

[1] ASME Power Test 

Codes, "Supplement on 

Instruments and Apparatus, 

part 5, Measurement of 

Quantity of Materials, 

Chapter 1, Weighing 

Scales" 

[2] ASTM E319-85 

[1] It does not specify the 

number of initial calibration 

weights to be used nor a 

specific pretest weight 

procedure. 

[2] This standard is not a 

complete weighing 

procedure because it does 
F-18 

(Reapproved 1997), 

"Standard Practice for the 

Evaluation of Single-Pan 

Mechanical Balances" 

not include a pretest 

procedure. 

EPA Method 29 – Metals 

Emissions from Stationary 

Sources 

[1] CAN/CSA Z223.26-

M1987, "Measurement of 

Total Mercury in Air Cold 

Vapour Atomic Absorption 

Spectrophotometeric 

Method" 

[2] ASTM D4358-94 

(1999), "Standard Test 

Method for Lead and 

Chromium in Air 

Particulate Filter Samples 

of Lead Chromate Type 

Pigment Dusts by Atomic 

Absorption Spectroscopy" 

[3] ASTM E1741-95 

(1995), "Standard Practice 

for Preparation of Airborne 

Particulate Lead Samples 

Collected During 

Abatement and 

Construction Activities for 

Subsequent Analysis by 

Atomic Spectrometry" 

[4] ASTM E1979-98 

(1998), "Standard Practice 

for Ultrasonic Extraction of 

Paint, Dust, Soil, and Air 

Samples for Subsequent 

Determination of Lead"; 

[1] It lacks sufficient 

quality assurance and 

quality control 

requirements necessary for 

EPA compliance assurance 

requirements. 

[2] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

[3] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 
F-19 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

[4] These ASTM standards 

do not require the use of 

glass fiber filters as in EPA 

Method 12 and require the 

use of significantly 

different digestion 

procedures that appear to be 

milder than the EPA 

Method 12 digestion 

procedure. For these 

reasons, these ASTM 

standards cannot be 

considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 12. Also, the 

subject ASTM standards do 
F-20 

not require the use of 

hydrogen fluoride (HF) as 

in EPA Method 29 and, 

therefore, they cannot be 

used for the preparation, 

digestion, and analysis of 

Method 29 samples. 

Additionally, Method 29 

requires the use of a glass 

fiber filter, whereas these 

three ASTM standards 

require cellulose filters and 

other probable non-glass 

fiber media, which cannot 

be considered equivalent to 

EPA Method 29. 

EPA Method 2C – Velocity 

and Flow Rate, Standard 

Pitot 

ASTM D3154-00, Standard 

Method for Average 

Velocity in a Duct (Pitot 

Tube Method) 

1. The standard appears to 

lack in quality control and 

quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 3 – Molecular 

Weight Carbon Dioxide, 

Oxygen 

[1] ASME C00031 or PTC 

19-10-1981--part 10, "Flue 

and Exhaust Gas Analyses" 

[2] ASTM D3154-00, 

[1] Is too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 
F-21 

Standard Method for 

Average Velocity in a Duct 

(Pitot Tube Method) 

[2] 1. The standard appears 

to lack in quality control 

and quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 320 – Vapor 

Phase Organic and Inorganic 

Emissions, FTIR 

ASTM D6348-98, 

"Determination of Gaseous 

Compounds by Extractive 

Direct Interface Fourier 

Transform (FTIR) 

Spectroscopy" 

Suggested revisions to 

ASTM D6348-98 were sent 

to ASTM by the EPA that, 

would allow the EPA to 

accept ASTM D6348-98 as 

an acceptable alternative. 

The ASTM Subcommittee 

D22-03 is currently 

undertaking a revision of 

ASTM D6348- 98. Because 

of this, we are not citing 

this standard as an 

acceptable alternative for 

EPA Method 320 in the 

final rule today. However, 

upon successful ASTM 

balloting and demonstration 

of technical equivalency 

with the EPA FTIR 

methods, the revised ASTM 

standard could be 
F-22 

incorporated by reference 

for EPA regulatory 

applicability. In the interim, 

facilities have the option to 

request ASTM D6348-98 

as an alternative test 

method under 40 CFR 

63.7(f) and 63.8(f) on a 

case-by-case basis. 

EPA Method 3A – Carbon 

Dioxide and Oxygen 

Concentrations, IAP 

[1] ASTM D5835-95, 

Standard Practice for 

Sampling Stationary Source 

Emissions for Automated 

Determination of Gas 

Concentration 

[2] CAN/CSA Z223.2-

M86(1986), Method for the 

Continuous Measurement 

of Oxygen, Carbon 

Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, 

Sulphur Dioxide, and 

Oxides of Nitrogen in 

Enclosed Combustion Flue 

Gas Stream 

[3] ISO 10396:1993, 

Stationary Source 

Emissions: Sampling for 

the Automated 

Determination of Gas 

Concentrations 

[4] ISO 12039:2001, 

Stationary Source 

Emissions-- Determination 

of Carbon Monoxide, 

Carbon Dioxide, and 

Oxygen--Automated 

Methods 

[1] 1. They lack in detail 

and quality 

assurance/quality control 

requirements. Specifically, 

these two standards do not 

include the following: (1) 

Sensitivity of the method; 

(2) acceptable levels of 

analyzer calibration error; 

(3) acceptable levels of 

sampling system bias; (4) 

zero drift and calibration 

drift limits, time span, and 

required testing frequency; 

(5) a method to test the 

interference response of the 

analyzer; (6) procedures to 

determine the minimum 

sampling time per run and 

minimum measurement 

time; and (7) specifications 

for data recorders, in terms 

of resolution (all types) and 

recording intervals (digital 

and analog recorders, only). 

2. Is too general, too broad, 

or not sufficiently detailed 

to assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

[2] 1. It does not include 

quantitative specifications 

for measurement system 

performance, most notably 

the calibration procedures 
F-23 

and instrument performance 

characteristics. The 

instrument performance 

characteristics that are 

provided are nonmandatory 

and also do not provide the 

same level of quality 

assurance as the EPA 

methods. For example, the 

zero and span/calibration 

drift is only checked 

weekly, whereas the EPA 

methods requires drift 

checks after each run. 2. Is 

too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

[3] 1. They lack in detail 

and quality 

assurance/quality control 

requirements. Specifically, 

these two standards do not 

include the following: (1) 

Sensitivity of the method; 

(2) acceptable levels of 

analyzer calibration error; 

(3) acceptable levels of 

sampling system bias; (4) 

zero drift and calibration 

drift limits, time span, and 

required testing frequency; 

(5) a method to test the 

interference response of the 

analyzer; (6) procedures to 

determine the minimum 

sampling time per run and 

minimum measurement 

time; and (7) specifications 

for data recorders, in terms 

of resolution (all types) and 

recording intervals (digital 

and analog recorders, only). 
F-24 

2. Is too general, too broad, 

or not sufficiently detailed 

to assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

[4] This ISO standard is 

similar to EPA Method 3A, 

but is missing some key 

features. In terms of 

sampling, the hardware 

required by ISO 

12039:2001 does not 

include a 3-way calibration 

valve assembly or 

equivalent to block the 

sample gas flow while 

calibration gases are 

introduced. In its 

calibration procedures, ISO 

12039:2001 only specifies a 

two-point calibration while 

EPA Method 3A specifies a 

three-point calibration. 

Also, ISO 12039:2001 does 

not specify performance 

criteria for calibration error, 

calibration drift, or 

sampling system bias tests 

as in the EPA method, 

although checks of these 

quality control features are 

required by the ISO 

standard. 

EPA Method 3B – Oxygen, 

Carbon Dioxide, Carbon 

Monoxide, Emission Rate 

Correction Factor 

[1] ASTM D3154-00, 

Standard Method for 

Average Velocity in a Duct 

(Pitot Tube Method) 

[2] ASTM D3154-91 

(1995), "Standard Method 

for Average Velocity in a 

Duct (Pitot Tube Method)" 

[1] 1. The standard appears 

to lack in quality control 

and quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 
F-25 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

[2] Is too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 4 – Moisture 

Content in Stack Gases 

[1] ASTM E337-84 (1996), 

"Standard Test Method for 

Measuring Humidity with a 

Psychrometer (the 

Measurement of Wet- and 

Dry-Bulb Temperatures)" 

[2] ASTM D3154-00, 

Standard Method for 

Average Velocity in a Duct 

(Pitot Tube Method) 

[3] ASTM D3154-91 

(1995), "Standard Method 

for Average Velocity in a 

Duct (Pitot Tube Method)" 

[1] They are too general, 

too broad, or not 

sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

[2] 1. The standard appears 

to lack in quality control 

and quality assurance 

requirements. It does not 

include the following: (1) 

Proof that openings of 

standard pitot tube have not 

plugged during the test; (2) 

if differential pressure 

gauges other than inclined 

manometers (e.g., 

magnehelic gauges) are 

used, their calibration must 

be checked after each test 

series; and (3) the 

frequency and validity 

range for calibration of the 

temperature sensors. 2. 

They are too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 
F-26 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

[3] Is too general, too 

broad, or not sufficiently 

detailed to assure 

compliance with EPA 

regulatory requirements. 

EPA Method 5 – Particulate 

Matter, Stationary Sources 

[1] ASME PTC-38-80 R85 

or C00049, "Determination 

of the Concentration of 

Particulate Matter in Gas 

Streams" 

[2] ASTM 

D3685/D3685M-98, “Test 

Methods for Sampling and 

Determination of 

Particulate Matter in Stack 

Gases.” 

[3] ISO 9096:1992, 

"Determination of 

Concentration and Mass 

Flow Rate of Particulate 

Matter in Gas Carrying 

Ducts-- Manual 

Gravimetric Method" 

[1] It lacks sufficient 

quality assurance and 

quality control 

requirements necessary for 

EPA compliance assurance 

requirements. 

[2] It lacks sufficient 

quality assurance and 

quality control 

requirements necessary for 

EPA compliance assurance 

requirements. 

[3] It lacks sufficient 

quality assurance and 

quality control 

requirements necessary for 

EPA compliance assurance 

requirements. 

EPA Method 515.4 – 

Chlorinated Acids in DW by 

LL Fast CG/ECD 

[1] ASTM D5317-98 -- 

Standard Test Method For 

Determination of 

Chlorinated Organic Acid 

Compounds in Water by 

Gas Chromatography With 

an Electron Capture 

Detector 

[2] Standard Method 6640 

B for the chlorinated acids 

[1] ASTM D5317-98 

specifies acceptance 

windows for the initial 

demonstration of 

proficiency for laboratory 

fortified blank samples that 

are as small as 0 percent to 

as large as 223 percent 

recovery for picloram, with 

tighter criteria for other 

regulated contaminants. 

Therefore, this method 

permits unacceptably large 

control limits, which 

include 0 percent recovery. 
F-27 

[2] The use of this 

voluntary consensus 

standard would have been 

impractical due to 

significant shortcomings in 

the sample preparation and 

quality control sections of 

the method instructions. 

Section 1b of Method SM 

6640 B states that the 

alkaline wash detailed in 

section 4b2 is optional. The 

hydrolysis that occurs 

during this step is essential 

to the analysis of the esters 

of many of the analytes. 

Therefore, this step is 

necessary and cannot be 

optional. In addition, the 

method specifies that the 

quality control limits for 

laboratory-fortified blanks 

are to be based upon plus or 

minus three times the 

standard deviation of the 

mean recovery of the 

analytes, as determined in 

each laboratory. Therefore, 

this method permits 

unacceptably large control 

limits, which may include 0 

percent recovery. 

EPA Method 531.2 – NMethylcarbamoylozimes/ates, 

Aqueous In/HPLC 

[1] Standard Method 6610, 

20th Edition 

[2] Standard Method 6610, 

20th Supplemental Edition 

[1] Standard Method 6610, 

20th Edition has recently 

been approved for 

compliance monitoring. 

Standard Method 6610, 

20th Supplemental Edition 

permits the use of a strong 

acid, hydrochloric acid 

(HCL), as a preservative. 

The preservatives in all of 

the other approved EPA 

and Standard Methods 
F-28 

procedures for these 

analytes are weak acids that 

adjust the pH to a specific 

value based upon the pKa 

of the preservative. The use 

of HCL would require 

accurate determinations of 

the pH of the sample in the 

field and could be subject 

to considerable error and 

possible changes in pH 

upon storage. Although not 

specifically observed for 

oxamyl or carbofuran 

during the development of 

similar methods, 

structurally similar 

pesticides have been shown 

to degrade over time when 

kept at pH 3. Therefore, 

approval of this method is 

impractical because it 

specifies the use of a strong 

acid (HCL) when positive 

control of the pH is critical. 

[2] Standard Method 6610, 

20th Edition has recently 

been approved for 

compliance monitoring. 

Standard Method 6610, 

20th Supplemental Edition 

permits the use of a strong 

acid, hydrochloric acid 

(HCL), as a preservative. 

The preservatives in all of 

the other approved EPA 

and Standard Methods 

procedures for these 

analytes are weak acids that 

adjust the pH to a specific 

value based upon the pKa 

of the preservative. The use 

of HCL would require 

accurate determinations of 
F-29 

the pH of the sample in the 

field and could be subject 

to considerable error and 

possible changes in pH 

upon storage. Although not 

specifically observed for 

oxamyl or carbofuran 

during the development of 

similar methods, 

structurally similar 

pesticides have been shown 

to degrade over time when 

kept at pH 3. Therefore, 

approval of this method is 

impractical because it 

specifies the use of a strong 

acid (HCL) when positive 

control of the pH is critical. 

EPA Method GG – (Title not 

found in index) 

ASTM D3031-81 – Method 

of Test for Total Sulfur in 

Natural Gas 

(Hyrogenation), Withdrawn

This method has been 

deleted from the final rule 

because it was discontinued 

by the ASTM in 1990 with 

no replacement. If the total 

sulfur content of the fuel 

being fired in the turbine is 

less than 0.4 weight 

percent, we are adding a 

provision that the following 

methods may be used to 

measure the sulfur content 

of the fuel: ASTM D4084-

82 or 94, D5504-01, 

D6228-98, or the Gas 

Processors Association 

Method 2377-86. This 

provision is consistent with 

the provision in 40 CFR 

60.13(j)(1) allowing 

alternatives to reference 

method tests to determine 

relative accuracy of CEMS 

for sources with emission 

rates demonstrated to be 

less than 50 percent of the 

applicable standard. 
F-30 

EPA Performance 

Specification 2 (nitrogen 

oxide portion only) 

ISO 10849:1996, 

"Determination of the Mass 

Concentration of Nitrogen 

Oxides--Performance 

Is too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

EPA Performance 

Specification 2 (sulfur 

dioxide portion only) 

ISO 7935:1992, "Stationary 

Source Emissions--

Determination of the Mass 

Concentration of Sulfur 

Dioxide--Performance 

Characteristics of 

Automated Measuring 

Methods" 

Is too general, too broad, or 

not sufficiently detailed to 

assure compliance with 

EPA regulatory 

requirements. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

109 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

44 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

21 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Chemical Society ACS 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Petroleum Business Federation APBF 

American Pharmoecopia Association APHA 

American Society for Quality ASQ 

American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTMI 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Water Works Association AWWA 

Association of Analytical Communities International AOAC 

Environmental Data Standards Council EDSC 
F-31 

Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols MARLAP 

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Council NELAC 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Sanitation Foundation International NSF International 

Open GIS Consortium Open-GIS 

Registrar Accreditation Board RAB 

Water Environment Federation WEF 

World Wide Web Consortium W3C 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

No recommendations at this time. 
F-32 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
F-33 

Federal Communications Commission

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003?\ 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

5 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

7 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association CTIA 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation 

Protection 

ICNIRP 

National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRPM 

National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST 

Telecommunications Industry Association TIA 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable?\ 

B 
F-34 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each instance 

where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and each 

instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The policies of OMB Circular A-119 are clearly stated for application to the activities of 

the FCC, and the Commission recognizes the benefit of using voluntary consensus 

standards when applicable. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

This web-based procedure for reporting works well. 
F-35 

Federal Trade Commission

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

0 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

0 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

All of the questions 6.1 to 6.5 are not applicable to the FTC standards program. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

D 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 
F-36 

D 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

See response to question 10. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

See response to question 10. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

See response to question 10. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States 

Government charged with enforcing competition and consumer protection laws. The 

Commission's only contact with voluntary consensus standards and the organizations that 

produce them is in connection with the enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission 

Act, which prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or 

practices affecting commerce. The Commission does not promulgate its own standards or 

engage in other standards activities pertinent to OMB Circular A-119. 
F-37 

General Services Administration

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

3 

Government Standard Voluntary Standard Rationale 

Federal Specification A-A1925 - Shield, Expansion 

(Nail Anchors) 

ASTM E488 - Standard Test 

Methods for Strength of 

Anchors in Concrete and 

Masonry Elements 

This government-unique 

standard is prepared & 

maintained by the Defense 

Logistics Agency (DLA). 

Both the GSA & DLA 

contract for products that 

reference A-A-1925. In 

order to maintain product 

continuity in the Federal 

marketplace, we must cite 

the standard as the DLA. 

Federal Specification KKKA-1822E - Federal 

Specification for 

Ambulances 

ASTM F2020 - Standard 

Practice for Design, 

Construction, and 

Procurement of Emergency 

Medical Services 

Ambulances 

The ASTM “Standard 

Practice for Design, 

Construction, and 

Procurement of Emergency 

Medical Services (EMSS) 

Ambulances” (ASTM 

F2020) is not practical for 

use, and therefore GSA uses 

the Federal Specification for 

Ambulances (KKK-A1822E). GSA has 

determined the ASTM 

document is not practical for 

use for the following 

reasons: 

1) GSA has determined that 

ASTM F2020 contains 

specific practices that are 

technically and 

economically impractical to 

use for the acquisition of 

commercial based vehicles 

because the document is 
F-38 

financially burdensome and 

technically ineffective. 

Specifically at issue is the 

ASTM Standard 

Specification for Medical 

Oxygen Delivery Systems 

for EMS Ground Vehicles, 

F1949-99 which is inclusive 

to ASTM F2020. 

2) GSA has determined that 

ASTM F2020 is impractical 

because it is defined as a 

“standard practice” which is 

ambiguous and an 

ineffective substitution for 

specifications or 

requirements for use in GSA 

contract documents. ASTM 

F1949-99, a Standard 

Specification for Medical 

Oxygen Delivery Systems 

for EMS Ground Vehicles is 

included in ASTM F2020. 

ASTM F1949-99 is defined 

as a “standard 

specification”. 

3) GSA has determined that 

ASTM F2020 is impractical 

because ASTM 

International does not 

provide interpretations and 

written guidance to their 

publications which is 

inadequate and less useful. 

ASTM members may only 

offer personal opinions. 

ASTM offers no mechanism 

to support timely resolution 

of conflicts between 

contractor and procurement 

organizations on technical 

subject matter. GSA 

provides interpretations, 
F-39 

clarifications and 

engineering determinations 

when required. This is one 

of the most important 

concerns presented by the 

Ambulance Manufacturers 

Division (AMD). 

4) The AMD has 

determined through 

consensus that it is 

impractical to replace the 

Federal Specification for 

Ambulances, KKK-A1822E with the ASTM 

Standard Practice, F2020. 

GSA initiated a survey to 

collect public responses 

from a wide range of 

constituent users of the 

Federal Ambulance 

Specification. The National 

Association of Emergency 

Medical Technicians 

(NAEMT), the International 

Association of Fire Chiefs 

(IAFC), the National 

Association of State EMS 

Directors (NASEMSD) and 

the National Association of 

EMS Physicians universally 

accept and support the 

continued use of the Federal 

Specification. The AMD 

and constituent users have 

determined that it is 

impractical to replace the 

Federal Specification for 

Ambulances, KKK-A1822E with the ASTM 

Standard Practice, F2020 

because rule promulgation is 

burdensome and costly. 

Staff and administration 

resources would need to be 
F-40 

diverted in each state EMS 

office to implement the 

change in statutes, public 

health codes, rules and 

regulations. 

5) GSA has determined that 

ASTM F2020 is impractical 

because it is burdensome to 

GSA procurement efforts. 

While the current ASTM 

document recites many of 

the requirements from the 

Federal Specification, a 

future ASTM document 

would likely have diverging 

requirements unacceptable 

to the Government. This 

was verified by a member of 

the ASTM F2020 

subcommittee at the 

September 4, 2003 meeting 

of the Federal Interagency 

Committee on Emergency 

Medical Services. 

MIL-G-9954 - Glass Beads 

for Cleaning and Peening 

SAE/AMS 2431 - Peening 

Media, General 

Requirements 

This government-unique 

standard contains specific 

size & performance required 

for Air Force critical 

applications that are not 

present in the voluntary 

standards. 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

391 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 
F-41 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

26 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Aerospace Industries Association of America AIA 

Ambulance Manufacturers Division, National Truck 

Association 

AMD/NTEA 

American Gas Association AGA 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers ASHRAE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

Automotive Lift Institute - ALOIM ALI 

Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association BHMA 

Building Products Pre-Approval Program BPPAP 

Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association BIFMA 

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association GAMA 

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association HPVA 

International Building Codes IBC 

Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations TMC/ATA 

National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation 

Program 

NADCAP 

National Building Codes NBC 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

National Institute of Building Sciences NIBS 

National Sanitation Foundation NSF 

Performance Review Institute PRI 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Steel Door Institute SDI 

Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry TAPPI 

The Society for Protective Coatings SSPC 

Underwriters Laboratories UL 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 
F-42 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

No 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

No comments 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

The Unified Facilities Guide Specification 09900, US Army Corps of Engineers, Air 

Force Office of Civil Engineering and Naval Facilities Engineering Command, adopted 

Master Painters Institute (MPI) standards for all coatings used in new construction and 

maintenance. Approved coatings listed in the MPI Approved Products List can only be 

used for facilities applications. 6FEE requires solicitation offers comply with this Guide 

Specification, referencing the MPI Approved Products List as the approved vendor's list. 

USDA Forest Service 

Joint meeting (May 2003) with representatives from the USDA Forest Service Missoula 

and San Dimas Technology & Development Centers. Discussed new requirements for 

wildland fire suppression equipment and abolishing the practice of allowing third-party 

certification to NFPA standards for protective clothing and equipment. Discussed 

procedures for first article testing and acceptance for water-handling fire suppression 

equipment. 
F-43 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee on Wildland Fire 

Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment 

Committee meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (January 2003) to continue work on revision of 

NFPA Standard 1977. As part of the revision process of NFPA Standard 1977 (Protective 

Clothing & Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting), the government-unique requirements 

for the fire shelter will be dropped from the standard. A performance based standard will 

be developed for inclusion in the following revision of NFPA 1977. A new government 

(Forest Service) specification for a new, improved design of the fire shelter is just now 

being implemented and it was determined that adequate performance data could not be 

developed in time for the upcoming revision of NFPA 1977. 

 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

None 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

Full Rationale for retention of KKK-A-1822E in lieu of ASTM F2020 

GSA used The Federal Specification for Ambulances, KKK-A-1822E in lieu of the 

ASTM “Standard Practice for Design, Construction, and Procurement of Emergency 

Medical Services (EMSS) Ambulances” (ASTM F2020). 

Background: 

GSA developed and issued the Federal specification in 1974 at the request of the 

Department of Transportation (NHTSA). It was to be for mandatory usage by the states 

for the purchasing of ambulances with Federal funding under the Highway Safety Act. At 

the same time GSA started to use the specification for the purchase of ambulances for 

Federal civilian agencies. In the early 1980’s, GSA started purchasing the military’s nontactical ambulances using a military specification. Subsequently this military 

specification was cancelled, and the military ambulances were also purchased with the 

Federal Ambulance Specification. Also starting in the early 1970’s many of the states 

began mandating the use of the Federal specification regardless of the source of funding, 

and to this day, the states continue to use the Federal specification even though Federal 

funding is no longer available. 

Rationale for use 

The ASTM “Standard Practice for Design, Construction, and Procurement of Emergency 

Medical Services (EMSS) Ambulances” (ASTM F2020) is not practical for use, and 

therefore GSA uses the Federal Specification for Ambulances (KKK-A-1822E). GSA has 

determined the ASTM document is not practical for use for the following reasons: 
F-44 

1. GSA has determined that ASTM F2020 contains specific practices that are technically 

and economically impractical to use for the acquisition of commercial based vehicles 

because the document is financially burdensome and technically ineffective as detailed 

below. Specifically at issue is the ASTM Standard Specification for Medical Oxygen 

Delivery Systems for EMS Ground Vehicles, F1949-99 which is inclusive to ASTM 

F2020. 

Both the KKK and ASTM requirements are functionally equivalent as they are related to 

the design, performance and installation for the medical oxygen delivery systems. The 

deviation exists between the GSA Federal Standard KKK-A-1822E and ASTM 

F2020/F1949-99 in the testing requirements. Specifically, ASTM F1949-99 requires 

additional destructive testing to validate conformance. The Ambulance Manufacturers 

Division (AMD) of the National Truck Equipment Association, representing the entire 

domestic and Canadian ambulance manufacturing industry, estimates this additional 

testing requirement will be in excess of five times the cost to certify an entire ambulance 

under the current Federal Specification. 

GSA is not aware of any safety, reliability or performance issues associated with oxygen 

delivery systems installed, tested and certified in accordance with KKK-A-1822. The 

AMD Standard 015- Ambulance Main Oxygen System Test was voluntarily developed 

through consensus, adopted and used by industry as the testing method to obtain 

independent third party validation. The AMD Standard 015, adopted by GSA and 

included within the Federal specification KKK-A-1822, has not been proven to be 

inadequate or ineffective. GSA and the AMD are not aware that the ASTM F1949-99 

specification has ever been adopted and used for procurement of any type of commercial 

vehicle. The benefits of the ASTM F1949-99 are unproven, and therefore are ineffective, 

relative to a predictable cost burden. 

2. GSA has determined that ASTM F2020 is impractical because it is defined as a 

“standard practice” which is ambiguous and an ineffective substitution for specifications 

or requirements for use in GSA contract documents. ASTM F1949-99, a Standard 

Specification for Medical Oxygen Delivery Systems for EMS Ground Vehicles is 

included in ASTM F2020. ASTM F1949-99 is defined as a “standard specification”. 

Specifically in the ASTM publication “Form and Style for ASTM Standards”, under Part 

F entitled, “CAVEATS AND OTHER LEGAL ASPECTS IN STANDARDS” the 

following paragraph is provided regarding the ASTM “standard practices”. 

Standard Practice—This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more 

specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be 

used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be 

applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or 

replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must 

be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many 

unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only that the document has been 

approved through the ASTM consensus process. 
F-45 

If GSA were to cite the ASTM document as our contract specification, the above 

paragraph would allow any manufacturer to make their own “judgment” as to how they 

would be in compliance with our contract. This is because ASTM states that the 

“document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction 

with professional judgment” [refer to ASTM publication “Form and Style for ASTM 

Standards”, under Part F]. As a result, the ASTM document (practices) cited in a contract 

would be subject to different interpretations by both the contractor and the government. 

Under contract law this is defined as an “ambiguity” and therefore must be avoided or the 

government will suffer the consequences. Conversely, GSA writes and is clearly the 

responsible authority on all details of the Federal Ambulance Specification. Whenever an 

issue surfaces with our contractor, it is easily defined and settled without legal conflict. 

The ASTM document states that “nor should this document be applied without 

consideration of a project’s many unique aspects” [refer to ASTM publication “Form and 

Style for ASTM Standards”, under Part F]. GSA and the AMD have given careful 

consideration to the “many unique aspects” of ambulances, their varied applications, and 

their procurement. As a result, GSA has determined that the ASTM document (practices) 

is ineffective for citation in contract documents. 

3. GSA has determined that ASTM F2020 is impractical because ASTM International 

does not provide interpretations and written guidance to their publications which is 

inadequate and less useful. ASTM members may only offer personal opinions. ASTM 

offers no mechanism to support timely resolution of conflicts between contractor and 

procurement organizations on technical subject matter. GSA provides interpretations, 

clarifications and engineering determinations when required. This is one of the most 

important concerns presented by the AMD. ASTM’s position is stated in their letter dated 

30 July 2002 [ See Attachment 1]. ASTM will not provide an interpretation of a technical 

requirement, a position which GSA has determined is inadequate and less useful. GSA 

constantly makes determinations of whether or not our contractors are in compliance with 

the Federal Ambulance Specification cited in our contracts. If GSA used the ASTM 

document, and a contractual issue arose as to a definition there would be no authority to 

make a binding determination. In the event of a dispute, GSA is concerned that it would 

take both time and expense to settle, which may have to be solved through litigation 

which would result in unacceptable delays in deliveries of ambulances to customer 

agencies. 

4. The AMD has determined through consensus that it is impractical to replace the 

Federal Specification for Ambulances, KKK-A-1822E with the ASTM Standard Practice, 

F2020 as noted in their letter, dated July 31, 2003 [See Attachment 2]. GSA initiated a 

survey to collect public responses from a wide range of constituent users of the Federal 

Ambulance Specification. The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians 

(NAEMT), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Association 

of State EMS Directors (NASEMSD) and the National Association of EMS Physicians 

universally accept and support the continued use of the Federal Specification. 

The AMD and constituent users have determined that it is impractical to replace the 
F-46 

Federal Specification for Ambulances, KKK-A-1822E with the ASTM Standard Practice, 

F2020 because rule promulgation is burdensome and costly. Staff and administration 

resources would need to be diverted in each state EMS office to implement the change in 

statutes, public health codes, rules and regulations. The AMD and the listed constituent 

users identified no benefits to be gained relative to the burdens and costs associated with 

replacing the Federal Specification for Ambulances, KKK-A-1822E with the ASTM 

Standard Practice, F2020. 

5. GSA has determined that ASTM F2020 is impractical because it is burdensome to 

GSA procurement efforts. While the current ASTM document recites many of the 

requirements from the Federal Specification, a future ASTM document would likely have 

diverging requirements unacceptable to the Government. This was verified by a member 

of the ASTM F2020 subcommittee at the September 4, 2003 meeting of the Federal 

Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services. 

Specifically, future ASTM changes may not be in GSA's or in the public’s interest. It 

would be a burden to GSA to stay abreast of activities of others and their special 

interests. The driving forces behind these diverging requirements are parochial business 

interests that may determine the direction of issues that relate to safety, function, 

reliability and cost. Conversely, GSA’s responsibility (without being driven by other 

interests) is to have a procurement specification that results in the safest, most functional 

and reliable ambulance at the lowest possible cost. The government’s ability to 

selectively exclude content of a voluntary consensus standard is not justifiable, is less 

useful and is ineffective as compared to using an established standard which wholly 

satisfies the agency mission. This also goes to the heart of the issue on the appropriate 

use of “consensus standards”. While GSA is not categorically against the use of 

consensus standards (which we successfully use in many areas), GSA clearly finds it 

impractical in this case, and certainly not in the government’s or publics best interest 

especially when lives are at stake. 

As required by OMB Circular No. A-119, GSA has made determination based upon the 

five reasons that the ASTM “Standard Practice for Design, Construction, and 

Procurement of Emergency Medical Services (EMSS) Ambulances” (ASTM F2020) 

would not be a suitable or a practical replacement for the Federal Specification for 

Ambulances, (KKK-A-1822E). GSA’s use of the ASTM F2020 in lieu of Federal 

Specification for Ambulances, (KKK-A-1822E) is impractical because it is ineffective, 

ambiguous, burdensome, inadequate and less useful to do so. 
F-47 

Government Printing Office

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

126 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

2 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

4 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

National Committee for Information Technology Standards NCITS 

Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry TAPPI 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1 Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 
F-48 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The Circular provides effective procedures for the transition to use of voluntary 

consensus standards in Government business. We have no recommendations for changes. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

We were not involved in any assessment activities in FY 2003 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

10 . Please provide any other comments: 

This format / reporting tool is great 
F-49 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

This agency reports voluntary consensus standards usage on a categorical basis 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

1 

Voluntary Standard Government Standard 

ASTM-MANL-36 NSS 1740.15 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

266 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

144 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

33 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Acoustical Society of America ASA 

Aerospace Industries Association of America AIA 

American Bearing Manufacturers Association ABMA 

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics AIAA 

American Society for Metals ASM 

American Society for Quality ASQ 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Agricultural Engineers ASAE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

American Society of Non-Destructive Testing ASNT 

American Welding Society AWS 

Association for Information and Image Management AIIM 

Committee on Earth Observing Satellites CEOS 
F-50 

Computational Fluid Dynamics General Notational System CGNS 

Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems CCSDS 

Electronic Industries Alliance EIA 

Electronic Industries Association/American National Standards 

Institute 

EIA/ANSI 

Government Electronics & Information Technology 

Association 

GEITA 

Industrial Technology Research Institute ITRI 

Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic CircuitsAssociation Connecting Electronics Industries IPC 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Institute of Environment Sciences and Technology IEST 

International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

International Organization for Standardization/International 

Electrotechnical Commission 

ISO/IEC 

National Association of Corrosion Engineers NACE 

National Conference of Standards Laboratories NCSL 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics RTCA 

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE 

Space Frequency Coordination Group SFCG 

The Internet Society ISOC 

Welding Research Council WRC 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4 Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 
F-51 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

OMB Circular A-119 continues to provide stimulus for NASA’s effort to enhance the use 

of Voluntary Consensus Standards, challenge the need for NASA-unique Technical 

Standards requirements, and improve its Technical Standards System. As a result, NASA 

has increased its participation with Voluntary Consensus Standards bodies in standards 

activities by 10% from FY2002 

. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

As an acquisition-oriented Agency, conformity assessment is an important element of our 

policies and procedures to assure the safety and mission success of NASA programs. 

NASA is continuously evaluating and improving its conformity assessment practices and 

procedures. NASA has a long-standing practice of working with other Government 

Agencies and the public sector to integrate best practices into its activities. NASA 

continues to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the aerospace industry to 

adopt and define consistent quality practices. NASA routinely utilizes other Government 

Agencies to assist us with Contract Administration Services (CAS), including substantial 

conformity assessment activities. The Defense Contract and Audit Agency, Defense 

Contract Management Agency, Office of Naval Research, and other activities continue to 

provide conformity assessment services for NASA programs. These are ongoing 

relationships that utilize the expertise and infrastructure that are resident within these 

agencies and allow NASA to limit NASA internal assessments to areas where external 

capabilities are not available. The management and monitoring processes established for 

these CAS activities provide a mechanism to continually exchange ideas and best 

practices related to conformity assessment. Finally, NASA continues to pursue Star 

Status in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary 

Protection Program (VPP). Participation in the VPP provides a mechanism for both 

improving internal safety practices and for utilizing the services of the OSHA programs 

to perform oversight inspections. NASA Centers not certified are in various stages of 

preparation for assessment by OSHA. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 
F-52 

NASA’s Agency-wide Full-Text Technical Standards System provides one-stop, easy 

access to technical standards required for use by the Agency’s programs and projects. In 

FY02, 31,093 Voluntary Consensus Standards (VCSs) and 21,149 Government standards 

were downloaded by NASA and its onsite support contractor personnel. In FY03, 41,831 

VCSs and 28,127 Government standards were downloaded. Based on these metrics, 

downloading of VCSs increased 34% from the previous year. NASA employees lead or 

participate in the development of 197 Voluntary Consensus Standards from 34 different 

Standards Developing Organizations’ Committees. 

NASA’s Standards Update Notification System (SUNS) provides update notification on a 

daily basis of changes to technical standards being utilized by programs and projects . 

Update notifications were requested for 2522 unique VCSs in FY02 and 799 in FY03, for 

a total of 3321 unique VCSs being tracked for changes. 

The linking of lessons learned to relevant technical standards continues to enhance and 

improve engineering practices across the Agency. During FY03, over 299 lessons learned 

have been electronically linked to technical standards. The results of this effort have 

afforded NASA programs and projects with greater utility and application, not only of the 

standards themselves, but of potentially key lessons learned from past programs and are 

now being passed on and utilized in a new generation of flight and ground hardware and 

software. An innovative electronic tool has been developed to assist in the linking of this 

critical information. The tool correlates keywords to develop relevancy rankings, 

resulting in a reduction of time taken to determine that a relationship exists between the 

technical standard and the lessons learned. In addition, 137 Application Notes have been 

identified to document individual experiences gained from the Agency’s application of 

specific technical standards. 

A sampling survey on how technical standards are being used within NASA was 

conducted. The July-September 2003 results were that almost 29% were used for inhouse research and development activities, approximately 23% were used to develop 

requirements for program and project development, and more than 18% were used for 

verification of a contractor’s design and development processes on programs and 

projects. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
F-53 

National Archives and Records Administration

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

16 

Voluntary Standard Government Standard 

IEEE Std. 1012-1998 IEEE Standard for 

Software Verification and Validation 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1016-1998 IEEE Recommended 

Practice for Software Design Descriptions 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1058-1998 IEEE Standard for 

Software Project Management Plans 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1061-1998 IEEE Standard for a 

Software Quality Metrics Methodology 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1062-1998 IEEE Recommended 

Practice for Software Acquisition 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1220-1998 IEEE Standard for 

Application and Management of the 

Systems Engineering Process 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1233 -1998 IEEE Guide for 

Developing System Requirements 

Specifications 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 1362-1998 IEEE Guide for 

Information Technology-System Definition 

- Concept of Operations - Document 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 2001-2002 IEEE Recommended 

Practice for the Internet – Web Site 

Engineering, Web Site Management, and 

Web Site Life Cycle 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 610.12 -1990 IEEE Standard 

Glossary of Software Engineering 

Terminology 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 
F-54 

IEEE Std. 730-1998 IEEE Standard for 

Software Quality Assurance Plans 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE Std. 828-1998 IEEE Standard for 

Software Configuration Management Plans 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE/EIA 12207.0-1996 Standard for 

Information Technology – Software life 

cycle processes 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE/EIA 12207.1-1997 Standard for 

Information Technology – Software life 

cycle processes-Implementation 

considerations (ISBN 0-7381-0429-9) 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE/EIA 12207.1-1997 Standard for 

Information Technology – Software life 

cycle processes-Life cycle data (ISBN 1-

5593-7990-1) 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

IEEE/EIA J-Std-016-1995 Trial Use 

Standard for Information Technology 

Software Life Cycle Processes Software 

Development Acquirer-Supplier Agreement 

NARA 805 Systems Development 

Lifecycle (SDLC) 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

52 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

13 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

10 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

Association for Information and Image Management AIIM 

Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems CCSDS 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

International Council on Archives ICA 

International Organization for Standardization ISO 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 
F-55 

National Information Standards Organization NISO 

Research Libraries Group RLG 

Society of American Archivists SAA 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

NARA uses the transaction basis for counting standards. We adhere to this definition of 

use: 

"Use" means incorporation of a standard in whole, in part, or by reference for 

procurement purposes, and the inclusion of a standard in whole, in part, or by reference in 

regulation(s). 

Therefore, although we cite in this report all uses of voluntary consensus standards in lieu 

of government standards (the response to question 2 for FY 2003), the total number of 

standards reported in the response to question 3 are only those falling within the "use" 

definition above. 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

C 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

Yes 
F-56 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

We believe the Circular is working effectively and have no recommendations for 

changes. 

8 . Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

None 

10. Please provide any other comments: 
F-57 

National Science Foundation

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

0 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

3 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

7 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

Advisory Committee on Anarctic Names ACAN 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC 

Global Grid Forum GGF 

Interagency Committee on Standards Policies ICSP 

International Code Council Federal Advisory Committee ICC FAC 

United States Board on Geographic Names USBGN 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 
F-58 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each 

instance where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and 

each instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

B 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

It's fine. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

None 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 

None 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

None 
F-59 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

1. Please provide the number of government unique standards used in lieu of voluntary 

standards during FY 2003? 

0 

2. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards substituted for 

government unique standards during FY 2003? 

0 

3. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards used during FY 2003? 

117 

4. Please provide the number of agency employees participating in voluntary consensus 

standards activities during FY 2003? 

136 

5. Please provide the number of voluntary consensus standards bodies in which your 

agency participated in during FY 2003? 

15 

Voluntary Consensus Standards Body Acronym 

American Concrete Institute ACI 

American Institute of Steel Construction AISC 

American National Standards Institute ANSI 

American Nuclear Society ANS 

American Society for Nondestructive Testing ASNT 

American Society For Quality ASQ 

American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM 

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME 

Health Physics Society HPS 

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE 

Institute of Nuclear Materials Management INMM 

Instrumentation Society of America ISA 

National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRPM 

National Fire Protection Association NFPA 

6. Please use this box to provide any additional comments on how your agency currently 

reports its use of voluntary consensus standards: 
F-60 

6-1. Does your agency report: (a) Only the first time use of standards; (b) Continued use 

of standards; (c) Both first-time and continued use of standards; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-2. Does your agency report: (a) The total number of standards it uses; (b) Each instance 

where the agency uses (i.e. references) a standard; (c) Both the total number and each 

instance; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-3. Does your agency report multiple editions of a single standard as one standard use 

or as multiple standards used: (a) Single; (b) Multiple; (c) Both; or (d) Not applicable? 

A 

6-4. Does your agency report standards that it uses for guidance purposes (as opposed 

compliance purposes): (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please select No) 

Yes 

6-5. Does your agency report use of standards from non-ANSI accredited standards 

developers including industry consortia: (a) Yes; (b) No? (Note: If not applicable please 

select No) 

No 

7. Please provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of Circular A-119 policy and 

recommendations for any changes: 

The NRC believes that the circular provides appropriate direction and encouragement for 

federal agencies to develop internal agency-wide guidelines. The circular also provides 

sufficient and reasonable flexibility for each agency to make an independent 

determination relative to participation on voluntary consensus standards bodies and use 

of developed standards. 

8. Please provide any conformity assessment activities in which your agency was 

involved in FY 2003 as described in the Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 155, Thursday 

August 10, 2000 - Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities: 

This question was not included in guidance provided by NIST in the October/November 

2003 timeframe. Thus, the NRC has not collected any information relative to conformity 

assessment activities. 

9. Please provide any examples or case studies of standards successes: 
F-61 

NRC staff are working closely with the ASME to develop guidance for risk-informing inservice inspection and testing activities at commercial nuclear power plants. The 

guidance is still under consideration, however, at this time. 

10. Please provide any other comments: 

I found this to be user-friendly and straight-forward. As previously mentioned, however, 

a few of the questions in this format were different from those transmitted by e-mail 

earlier in the year.