1

FY 2005 President’s Budget Request

Technology Administration

Office of the Under Secretary for Technology

Office of Technology Policy

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

National Technical Information Service

U.S. Department of Commerce
2

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request for TA

• Supports TA programs that promote U.S. technology 

industries to meet the President’s national priorities of 

economic growth, providing for a secure homeland 

defense, and winning the war on terrorism.

• Invests in the NIST core mission of measurements, 

standards, research, and services to industry.

• Provides NIST scientists with the laboratory equipment 

and facilities necessary for world-class research.

• Restructures Manufacturing Extension Partnership and 

eliminates the Advanced Technology Program in order to 

fund higher national needs.
3

Technology Administration

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request ($M)

Office of the Under Secretary /

Office of Technology Policy

National Institute of Standards

and Technology

National Technical Information 

Service

Total

FY 2004

Appropriation

FY 2005

Changes

FY 2005

Request

8.0 6.3 +2.0 8.3

496.8 610.7 −89.3 521.5

0 0 00

504.8 617.1 −87.3 529.8

FY 2004

Request
4

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request for US/OTP

• Serve as the primary advisor to the Secretary of Commerce for 

innovation, entrepreneurship, and competitiveness within the 

government and the private sector.

• Act as an interagency leader on the President’s National 

Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and within the 

Department on the Commerce Coordinating Council for 

Technology (C3T). 

• Provide analyses that maximize technology’s contribution to 

the economy and improve the environment for technological 

innovation leading to the creation of high-wage jobs and 

improvements in our quality of life.

• Identify strategies that facilitate technology-led economic 

growth, technology transfer, promote the competitiveness of 

the U.S. S&T workforce, homeland security, standards, and 

nanotechnology, among others.
5

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request ($M)

Appropriation:

Scientific & Technical Research &

Services (STRS):

NIST Laboratories

Baldrige National Quality Program

Subtotal, STRS

Industrial Technology Services (ITS):

Advanced Technology Program(ATP)

Manufacturing Extension Partnership(MEP)

Subtotal, ITS

Construction of Research Facilities(CRF)

Total

FY 2004

Enacted

FY 2005

Changes

FY 2005

Request

Numbers may not add due to rounding.

381.8 331.7 +85.7 417.5 

5.8 5.5 −0.1 5.4

387.6 337.2 +85.6 422.9

FY 2004

Request

27.0 170.5 −170.5 0

12.6 38.7 0.5 39.2

39.6 209.3 −170.1 39.2

496.8 610.7 −89.3 521.5

69.6 64.3 −4.9 59.4

National Institute of Standards and Technology
6

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request for NIST 

Compared to FY 2004 Enacted

Total FY 2005 Request: $521.5M Advanced Technology

Program

$0

(-$170.5M)

Manufacturing Extension

Partnership

$39.2M

(+0.5M)

NIST Laboratory

Programs

$417.5M

(+$85.7M)

Baldrige National 

Quality Program

$5.4M

(-$0.1M)

Construction of

Research Facilities

$59.4M

(-$4.9M)
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NIST Research and Services

Everywhere Industry And Consumers

Need Them To Be

• Paving the Way for Economic Growth

• “Excellence in measurement science, driven by NIST, 

positions U.S. industry and universities to more quickly 

solve problems.”—IRI

• “Consequently, additional research in metrology at NIST 

is critical to future chip development.”—SIA

• “NIST stimulates and supports the development of the 

cutting-edge technology infrastructure needed to 

strengthen and safeguard America’s economic 

foundations and security capabilities.”—BIO

NIST attends to the health and vigor of the science and 

technology infrastructure—the nation’s platform for discovery, 

innovation, and commercialization.

Its outputs are ubiquitous and pervasive—embedded in the 

economy and in society. The beneficiaries are numerous, 

although NIST’s contributions are often behind the scenes, 

unrecognized by lots of people.

Thankfully, NIST’s key customers recognize the agency’s 

essential role.

Here are excerpts from letters or statements by a few of these 

customers: the Industrial Research Institute, Semiconductor 

Industry Association, and Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Together, they convey much of the essence of NIST.
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NIST Research and Services

Integral to a Competitive, Productive Economy

Embedded Tools Essential to Commerce, Industry

y Consumer Trust—ultimate references for $5 trillion in annual 

sales based on measurement

y Secure Automated Banking—encryption technology embedded 

in nation’s 300,000+ ATMs

y Integrity of Financial Transactions—time-stamping of stock 

trades, etc., totaling hundreds of billions of dollars daily 

y Manufacturing Quality Control—U.S. automakers and suppliers 

rely on 350 NIST reference materials

y Reliable Data—more than 53,000 volumes of NIST/ACERS 

“phase diagrams” distributed to materials researchers & 

manufacturers

Permit me to take a moment to illustrate, beginning with examples of how 

NIST supports economic growth.

The first, NIST’s Weights and Measures function, is integral to the 

integrity of the marketplace—consumers are assured that they get what they 

pay for. In our economy, more than $5 trillion worth or sales are based on 

measurements of weight, volume etc.

Encryption technology developed by NIST and industry partners scrambles 

personal identification numbers (PINs) used to secure ATM transactions.

NIST’s time-keeping services, based on the world’s most accurate atomic 

clock, support a rich and growing diversity of activities—from timestamping stock trades to coordinating the electric power grid and 

telecommunications networks.

Virtually every facet of manufacturing—from automotive parts to zinc 

oxide particles for suncreen. After all, if you can’t measure, you can’t 

manufacture—at least not up to specfications.
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NIST Research and Services

Vital to Quality of Life

Practical, Indispensable Technical Contributions

y Diagnostic X Rays—Standards & tests underpin 30 million 

mammograms performed each year

y Prostate- and Breast-Cancer Treatment—Among 10 million 

medical procedures using radioactive materials traceable to NIST

measurements

y Smoke Detectors—Performance standards for devices now in 94% 

of U.S. homes 

y Drinking-Water Quality—Accreditation enables 55,000 community 

water systems to check, prove regulatory compliance

Some more examples, from the quality-of-life domain. I never ceased to be 

amazed by NIST’s usefulness—or maybe even helpfulness.

NIST X-ray standards and proficiency tests help to ensure proper radiation 

exposure levels in more than 9,000 facilities that perform more than 30 

million mammograms yearly. Similarly, the accuracy of cholesterol test 

has increased significantly over the years—thanks, in large part, to NIST’s

uncertainty-reducing Standard Reference Materials. 

NIST standards underpin the safety and effectiveness of about 10 million 

medical procedures that use radioactive materials—from prostate- and 

breast-cancer treatment to diagnostic imaging.

NISTand industry collaborators developed performance standards and 

placement recommendations for smoke detectors—a tremendously 

valuable technology. Half of home fire deaths occur in the 6% of homes 

with no smoke alarms

NIST-accredited organizations conduct proficiency tests of some 8,000 

water-analysis laboratories across the U.S.
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NIST Research and Services

Underpin Homeland Security, Public Safety

Critical Technical Contributions

y Standards for Ballistic-Resistant Armor—2,700 Casualties 

Prevented

y Advanced Encryption Standard—Secure electronic transactions 

for millions of Americans

y Standards for Metal Detectors—Improved safety in airports, 

courthouses

y Standards for DNA analyses—Accuracy goes up, costs go down

y Interoperability Standards for Fingerprint Databases—

FBI system can link to the rest of the world

My last set of examples. NIST has long been a key technical contributor to the 

nation’s security, its defense, and to public safety overall. Its role has increased 

significantly since 9/11.

Its highest-profile activity is its ongoing investigation of the collapse of the World 

Trade Center structures. One result will be recommendations for improving 

building and fire codes, standards, and practices.

NIST’s contributions to homeland security and public safety cut a broad swath, 

and are usually made in support of other agencies—such as the Departments of 

Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense.

These are just a few examples. There are more than 500 for the Defense 

Department, alone.

I should note that the private sector is a direct beneficiary of many of these 

efforts. A telling example is the Advanced Encryption Standard—the--

strongest-yet encryption standard for protecting sensitive, non-classified 

electronic information.

By the way, NIST’s involvement in developing encryption standards has been 

estimated to save private industry more than $1 billion
11

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request

for the NIST Laboratories

• Enhance NIST’s Measurement Science, Standards, and 

Services to anticipate the needs of the Nation’s scientific and 

industrial communities in rapidly developing technology areas 

($16.2M).

• Provide the Equipment ($25.5M) and Facilities ($36.3M) that the 

NIST Laboratories need to fulfill their mission in the 21st century. 

• Provide the measurement and standards infrastructure to support 

Advances in Manufacturing ($15.6M).

• Provide the measurement infrastructure necessary to improve 

Public Safety and Security ($18.6M).

• Increase the National Neutron Research Capability at the 

world’s premiere neutron research facility ($8.3M).
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Advances in Measurement Science, Standards, 

and Services ($16.2M)

Promoting innovation by ensuring that advanced 

measurements, standards, and services are available in 

rapidly developing technology areas:

• Expand the NIST Competence Program ($7.5M)

• Biosystems ($5.0M)

• Quantum Information Science ($3.0M)

• Time Scale and Time Dissemination Services ($0.725M)

The Nation’s scientific and industrial communities 

are challenged to keep pace with fast-breaking 

developments at the forefront of science and technology.

NIST solutions:
13

• The NIST Competence Program is NIST’s program of innovative 

high-risk research to ensure that measurements, standards, and data 

will be available in the future for the most advanced areas of science 

and engineering. This is NIST’s seed corn – it has led to two Nobel 

Prizes. 

• The initiative doubles this critical component of NIST’s work to nearly 

5% of the Laboratories’ overall program. 

• The initiative will allow NIST to create the new “state-of-the-art” 

capabilities and knowledge needed for NIST to meet future national 

measurement needs. 

Fundamental research and innovative 

tools to advance measurement science 

and engineering. 

The NIST Competence Program ($7.5M)

Measurement Science, Standards, and Services
14

• Measurement science, standards, and data for applications of 

biotechnology, including:

• gene and protein expression in medical and agricultural 

applications 

• nanobiotechnology for biosensors for threat detection 

and forensics 

• DNA and protein markers related to biological function 

• Addresses a wide range of contemporary needs and will give NIST 

a strong foundation to develop highly innovative and critically 

needed measurements for emerging biosystems technologies. 

Biosystems ($5.0M)

Measurement Science, Standards, and Services
15

• Leading edge research

• Key to unbreakable communications security

• Potential for tremendously powerful computing capabilities.

Measurements and standards for quantum-level 

communications and computing systems

Quantum Information Science ($3.0M)

Measurement Science, Standards, and Services
16

• Ensure continuity of time and frequency dissemination services 

during natural disasters or hostile activities.

• Enhance survivability of NIST’s time and frequency services.

• Improve dissemination of technology leading to substantial 

improvements in GPS (global positioning) and telecommunications 

networks.

Enhancement of capability and 

durability of NIST’S time dissemination 

infrastructure

Time Scale and Time Dissemination Services ($0.725M)

Measurement Science, Standards, and Services
17

Equipment and Facilities

AML Equipment ($25.5M)

• Advanced Measurement Laboratory: 

World’s leading measurement facility; 

starting occupancy in February 2004.

• Enhances NIST’s support for 

biotechnology, nanotechnology, 

semiconductors, telecommunications, 

advanced manufacturing, homeland 

security and other key areas. 

NIST solution:

• Equip the AML for success: the $25.5 million builds on one-time FY 2003 

appropriation of $11 million. 

State of the art equipment is needed to maximize return on 

investment in the AML
18

Construction and Major Renovations ($25.7M)

• Completion of Central Utilities Plant to provide stable environmental control and 

electric power, building on FY 2003 funding ($16.4M). 

• Design and limited renovation of laboratory Building 4, necessary prelude to 

renovation of Building 1 ($1.8M). 

• Design major renovation of Building 1, largest Boulder facility housing the atomic 

clock and other key lab activities ($6.5M).

NIST solutions:

World-class work is impeded by 

inadequate, 50-year-old 

Boulder facilities.

Equipment and Facilities
19

Safety, Capacity, Maintenance, and 

Major Repairs – SCMMR ($10.6 M)

• Bring maintenance and repair to $34 million, to avoid 

more costly deterioration and obsolescence issues such

as experienced in the Boulder labs.

• Most NIST buildings are more than 40 years old – past their planned useful life as 

laboratory facilities.

• Air handling equipment are particularly at risk; fire and safety systems need 

upgrades. 

• Increase productivity of NIST measurement and research programs.

• Strengthen security to protect staff and facilities.

NIST solutions:

Inadequate, aging facilities impede world 

class measurements and research.

Equipment and Facilities
20

Advances in measurement technology are needed to 

support sustained, superior innovation in 21st 

century manufacturing.

NIST solutions:

Research initiative focusing on four strategic measurement capabilities 

and activities with an emphasis on cooperative research with the

private sector 

• Nanomanufacturing Research ($8.0M)

• Nanometrology for Electronics and Semiconductor Industries 

($4.0M)

• Advanced Medical Technologies ($1.6M)

• Measurements and Standards for International Trade ($2.0M)

Advances in Manufacturing ($15.6M)
21

• Leverage the unique resource provided by the recently completed 

NIST Advanced Measurement Laboratory.

• Establish a National Nanofabrication and Nanometrology User 

Facility, to involve research universities, manufacturers, and other 

government laboratories.

• Develop nanoscale measurement and fabrication technologies.

• Develop measurements, standards, and data to support 

nanomanufacturing.

Nanomanufacturing Research ($8.0M)

Advances in Manufacturing

Research and partnerships to translate nanoscience

discoveries into manufacturing innovation:
22

• Develop new measurement and modeling tools for designing, 

fabricating and testing nanoelectronic devices.

• Develop measurements and modeling tools for nanomagnetic devices 

to enable increased data storage density and improved magnetic 

sensors.

• Develop measurement technologies for characterization of magnetic 

sensors with applications in power generation, health care, homeland 

security, and transportation.

• Enable the evaluation of nanostructured materials for a host of 

potential applications such as highly efficient thin-film, solid state 

lighting with consequent tremendous cost savings.

Nanometrology for Electronics and Semiconductor 

Industries ($4.0M)

Advances in Manufacturing
23

• In vitro diagnostics:

• medical devices used to gauge health or diagnose disease

• HIV test kits

• blood analyzers

• glucose or cholesterol monitors

• Regenerative tissue growth:

• Manufacture of biocompatible polymers and other materials as 

scaffolds to support and encourage regenerative tissue growth.

Advanced Medical Technologies ($1.6M)

Critical measurements and standards to advance medical 

technology development and commercialization of in vitro 

diagnostics and regenerative tissue growth

Advances in Manufacturing
24

• Expand and enhance NIST efforts to monitor and analyze the 

development of international technical standards.

• Develop an on-line searchable database of this information.

• Create an “early-warning system” of developing regulations and 

standards in the European Union.

• Disseminate U.S. documentary standards in key foreign markets.

• Work to establish global conformity in key standardization areas.

Measurements and Standards for International 

Trade ($2.0M)

International standards to enable U.S. manufacturers’ innovative

technology access to foreign markets

Advances in Manufacturing
25

NIST solutions:

• Standards, Technology, and Practices for Buildings and First 

Responders ($4.0M)

• Measurement Infrastructure for Homeland Security ($7.6M)

• Standards for Biometric Identification (USA PATRIOT Act) ($1.0M)

• Cybersecurity ($6.0M)

Public Safety and Security ($18.6M)

Traditional requirements for public safety 

now have the added dimension of 

human-engineered threats.
26

Standards, Technology, and Practices for Buildings 

and First Responders ($4.0M)

• Develop technical foundation for improved 

building and fire codes, standards, and practices to:

• Improve structural fire protection

• Enable faster, more effective emergency response

• Reduce building vulnerability

• Increase safety for building occupants and first responders

Typical U.S. building and fire codes 

are based on outdated research 

and may be inadequate for current 

building practices.

Public Safety and Security
27

• Provide measurements, standards, techniques, testbeds, and data for 

multicomponent CBRNE threats.

• Work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to assure 

widespread dissemination and implementation of advanced 

measurement technologies for CBRNE weapons detection and 

response.

Measurement Infrastructure for Homeland Security ($7.6M)

Successful response to chemical, 

biological, radiological, nuclear, 

or explosive (CBRNE) attacks 

requires more accurate and 

faster detection capabilities.

Public Safety and Security
28

Standards for Biometric Identification 

(USA PATRIOT Act) ($1.0M)

• To support the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act by developing

standards for testing the accuracy of fingerprint and facial biometrics 

for identification.

• Implement accuracy certification tests for multi-modal biometrics that 

use fingerprints simultaneously.

Mandated NIST roles in USA PATRIOT 

Act and Enhanced Border Security 

and Visa Entry Reform Act to certify 

technical performance standards.

Public Safety and Security
29

Cybersecurity ($6.0M)

• Develop improved protocols and standards for applications, communications, 

and cryptography for information systems, including wireless and industrial 

control systems for the power grid, water and fuel distribution systems, 

chemical plants, refineries, and buildings .

• Work closely with industry and the Department of Homeland Security to 

develop the necessary test methods, protocols, and standards to seal the 

holes in cybersecurity.

Attempts to compromise the Nation’s 

information infrastructure as well as 

networked industrial control systems 

must be prevented and combated. 

Public Safety and Security
30

National Neutron Research Capability Improvements 

($8.3M)

• Fund increased expenses to enable continued operation, including reactor fuel 

costs; expand capabilities with new instrumentation and analysis methods ($3.3M).

• Expand capacity to leverage 400 new strategic collaborations with U.S. industrial and 

academic researchers ($5.0M). 

• With more than 1600 users, the NCNR serves nearly twice the number of 

users compared to the nation’s other three neutron sources combined.

• A unique, indispensable research tool in materials science, biotechnology, 

chemistry, engineering.

• The NCNR must increase capability and capacity − there will be no other 

national resource to meet neutron measurement needs for the next decade. 

NIST Center for Neutron Research: 

The highest performing neutron 

facility in the United States 

NIST solutions:
31

National Neutron Research Capability

• Costs associated with reactor operation − reactor fuel, fuel 

storage, fuel shipment, and heavy water − have spiraled. (e.g. 

140% in reactor fuel in 2 years). 

• Costs are expected to continue to rise due to a very small 

market for reactor-related services and materials. 

• Result -- Other expenses for storage, shipping, and instrument 

upgrades are being deferred. 

NIST solutions:

• Proposed initiative will allow NIST to cover increased costs of operating the NCNR. 

• NIST will operate the facility to its maximum utility and meet the growing demands 

of the U.S. research community that have been seriously curtailed.

NCNR operations support ($3.3M)
32

National Neutron Research Capability

• NCNR's unique features have stimulated the use of 

neutrons for new multidisciplinary research areas 

unforeseen when the facility was first designed.

• Result -- NCNR now serves over 4 times the 

number of users predicted in 1987 when it was first 

funded. 

NIST solutions:

• Strengthen strategic program areas (to meet demands of new collaborations): 

Macromolecular Dynamics, Neutron Trace Analysis, Neutron Chemical 

Spectroscopy , Neutron Imaging , Neutron Spectroscopy.

• Greatly expanded capabilities for state-of-the-art sample environment equipment 

(pressure, temperature, magnetic field, stress, shear, etc.) for new research 

areas.

Leverage new strategic collaborations ($5.0M)

Nanobiotechnology
33

• Eliminate the Advanced Technology Program in order to 

address higher priority national needs.

• Restructure the Manufacturing Extension Partnership

President’s FY 2005 Budget Request for 

NIST Industrial Technology Services

• Provides stable funding by matching the Congressional FY04 

funding.

• Strengthens MEP program while preserving a national network.

• Focuses on effectiveness and efficiency.

• Emphasizes linkages to universities and community colleges.

• Fully coordinates MEP with other Commerce programs and 

staff across the country for trade promotion and sector 

expertise.