FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 

STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY 

PRESIDENT'S FY 2021 BUDGET 

REQUEST TO CONGRESS
2 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 3

Since its founding nearly 120 years ago, 

the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) has continually advanced 

to solve the most pressing measurement and 

technical challenges the nation has faced. 

From helping to standardize methods and 

materials for mass production techniques 

introduced during World War I to the 

invention of the world’s first atomic clock to 

the breakthroughs that opened the door to 

quantum computing, NIST has been at the 

leading edge of research and engineering for 

U.S. industry and innovation. Today, NIST is 

providing measurement tools and standards 

to strengthen our nation’s competitiveness 

and economic security in areas that affect 

Americans’ daily lives.

I am proud to lead this organization and to 

represent its talented, dedicated staff, who 

every day advance the frontiers of a broad 

portfolio of science and technology. This 

past year, NIST has published important 

research and guidance on topics such as 

privacy, artificial intelligence and facial 

recognition, cybersecurity, advanced 

communications and the internet of things, 

advanced manufacturing, quantum science 

and technology, engineering biology, disaster 

resilience, measurement science, and many 

other fields. 

This budget request supports NIST’s strengths 

— paving the way to tomorrow’s Industries 

of the Future — with special emphasis on 

artificial intelligence (AI). NIST is a key 

contributor in AI, participating in interagency 

coordination and building the foundation 

for trustworthy AI. Last year, in response to 

an Executive Order, we provided a plan for 

federal engagement in the development of AI 

standards. Our research focuses on enhancing 

the security and explainability of AI, and the 

development of tools and standards that will 

further innovation. 

In addition to AI, we will focus on advancing 

the frontiers of quantum information science, 

5G and advanced communications, advanced 

manufacturing, and biotechnology. These 

science and technology domains have the 

potential to globally transform manufacturing, 

communications, health care, transportation, 

computation and more. These areas also 

present NIST with new challenges and 

opportunities to develop novel measurement 

capabilities and technologies toward U.S. 

leadership in the Industries of the Future, and 

to protect the nation’s economic and national 

security. 

NIST is also leading a national initiative, in 

coordination with all federal science and 

technology agencies, to modernize how we 

transfer technologies arising from federally 

funded research at the nation’s research 

institutes and universities. We are advancing 

efforts based on the findings in the 2019 

NIST Green Paper to dramatically enhance 

our nation’s returns on investment from the 

$175+ billion of federally funded research 

each year. In this era of global competition, 

it is imperative that the U.S. derives for our 

citizens even greater value from the nation’s 

research enterprise. 

Sincerely,

Letter from 

the Director 

Dr. Walter G. Copan

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards 

and Technology & Director, National Institute 

of Standards and Technology
4 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes U.S. 

innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement 

science, standards, and technology. For more than 115 years, NIST has 

maintained the national standards of measurement, a role that the U.S. 

Constitution assigns to the federal government to ensure fairness in the 

marketplace. 

This budget request is consistent with the administration’s priorities to 

redirect domestic discretionary resources to rebuild the military and make 

critical investments in the nation’s security and to keep the nation on a 

responsible fiscal path. 

The Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) account funds 

NIST’s Laboratory Programs. Because technology discovery, refinement, 

and commercialization rely on the ability to measure key attributes, NIST’s 

Laboratory Programs offer measurement research and services that are 

central to American innovation, productivity, trade, national security, and 

public safety. NIST’s research priorities are directly aligned with advancing 

U.S. leadership in the Industries of the Future highlighted by President 

Trump: quantum science, AI, 5G/advanced communications, advanced 

manufacturing, and the bioeconomy. 

The Industrial Technology Services (ITS) account supports NIST’s 

extramural programs. Manufacturing USA creates robust research 

infrastructure for U.S. industry and academia to solve industry-relevant 

problems. The budget request discontinues federal funding for the 

Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. 

The Construction of Research Facilities (CRF) account funds the 

maintenance, repair, improvements, and major renovation of NIST 

facilities. While some progress has been made, the current state of NIST’s 

facilities and failing infrastructure remain a serious concern to NIST’s 

ability to deliver its mission.

Introduction
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 5

nist.gov

6

30

32

7

29

33

36

Strategic Focus Areas | 8 

Advanced Communications, Networks 

and Scientific Data Systems | 10

Advanced Manufacturing and Material 

Measurements | 12

Cybersecurity and Privacy | 14

Exploratory Measurement Science | 16

NIST User Facilities | 17 

Fundamental Measurement, 

Quantum Science and Measurement 

Dissemination | 18

Health and Biological Systems 

Measurements | 22

Physical Infrastructure and Resilience | 24

Baldrige Performance Excellence 

Program | 26

Technology Transfer | 27

Manufacturing USA | 30 

Hollings Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership | 31

Construction of Research Facilities | 34

Scientific and Technical 

Research and Services

Industrial Technology 

Services

Construction of 

Research Facilities

Budget Tables

BUDGET FY 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

NIST computer scientist Jenise Reyes-Rodriguez tests a method for acquiring digital evidence from damaged cell phones. NIST’s 

Computer Forensic Tool Testing (CFTT) program supports the law enforcement and digital forensics communities by helping to 

ensure that their tools and methods produce accurate and reliable results.

Credit R. Press/NIST
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 7

Scientific and Technical

Research and Services

NIST’s Scientific and Technical 

Research and Services (STRS) 

activities provide industry, academia, 

and other federal agencies with 

world-class research capabilities in 

measurement science that form the 

foundation of the global system of 

weights and measures and enable 

innovation. They supply basic and 

applied measurements, calibrations, 

and standards that impact every 

aspect of our economy and lives, 

from the accuracy of airplane 

altimeters to the reliability of clinical 

measurements and the strength 

of the encryption technologies 

that protect our digital lives and 

businesses. They lend unbiased 

technical support to the development 

of open, industry-led and consensusbased documentary standards and 

specifications driving the deployment 

of advanced technologies and 

facilitating global commerce. NIST 

offers unique, cutting-edge user 

facilities that annually help more than 

3,000 scientists from academia and 

industry advance the state of the 

art in nanotechnology, bioscience, 

advanced materials, and other 

emerging technology areas.

Since its founding more than a 

century ago, NIST has sought 

to solve the most pressing 

measurement and technical 

challenges the nation has faced. 

From helping to standardize 

methods and materials for mass 

production techniques introduced 

during World War I to studying the 

collapse of the World Trade Center 

buildings on 9/11, NIST has sought to 

advance U.S. industry and security 

through measurement science and 

standards. NIST continues to provide 

measurement tools and standards 

that strengthen U.S. competitiveness 

and security in areas affecting 

Americans’ daily lives.

The STRS account contains three 

line items: Laboratory Programs 

(LP), Corporate Services (CS), 

and Standards Coordination and 

Special Programs (SC-SP). To add 

more transparency beyond the 

STRS budget line item level, NIST 

is providing budget information by 

mission space as described on the 

following pages.

Note: Totals in budget tables 

may not add due to rounding. 

The NIST research programs work at the frontiers of measurement science 

to ensure that the U.S. system of measurements is firmly grounded in sound 

scientific and technical principles. Today, the NIST laboratories address 

increasingly complex measurement challenges, ranging from the very small 

(nanoscale devices for advanced computing) to the very large (vehicles 

and buildings), and from the physical (resilient infrastructure) to the virtual 

(cybersecurity and data science). As new technologies develop and evolve, 

NIST’s measurement research and services remain central to national 

defense, homeland security, trade, and innovation. 

“We are working to 

ensure a future in 

which American 

innovation, American 

values, and the 

American workforce 

continue to inspire 

and lead the world.”

– Kelvin K. Droegemeier, Director 

of the White House Office of 

Science and Technology Policy 
8 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Strategic Focus Areas — 

Investing for the Long Term 

NIST’s research supports the development of 

technical standards that are crucial to drive 

innovation and applications. More than 400 

NIST staff participate in international standards 

activities as technical experts and in leadership 

roles. Standards underpin every aspect of our daily 

lives, from enabling communication technologies 

such as Bluetooth and WiFi to ensuring the safety 

of devices such as pacemakers and step ladders. 

They promote confidence in the performance 

of products and enable international trade. The 

standards leadership and expertise provided by 

NIST is an essential element of a broader U.S. 

effort to lead in the emerging technologies that 

will define the 21st century economy.

Quantum Science:

NIST’s world-leading 

expertise in quantum 

science, conducted with 

academic and industry 

partners, is furthering 

the development of new 

quantum measurement 

technologies upon which 

U.S. companies can build 

new businesses and 

services. 

Artificial Intelligence:

NIST is developing 

measurements and 

data that address 

the performance and 

reliability of AI systems 

to accelerate their 

widespread adoption 

and allow the nation 

to realize the potential 

economic, societal, and 

innovation benefits that 

AI systems offer.

Engineering Biology:

NIST is enabling the 

design and manufacture 

of biological systems 

— for products 

such as high-value 

pharmaceuticals and 

commodity chemicals — 

by developing advanced 

measurement capabilities 

from the molecular to the 

cellular system scale.

Internet of Things:

NIST is leveraging its 

expertise in advanced 

communications, 

manufacturing systems, 

cybersecurity, and 

more to develop testing 

tools, best practices, 

and standards that 

support the widespread 

deployment of safe and 

reliable internet of things 

(IoT) technologies and 

applications.

Throughout its history, NIST has provided new industries with foundational measurement 

tools that enhance reproducibility, interoperability, and reliability to accelerate 

innovation, adoption, and impact. This budget request maintains a focus on developing 

capabilities in four areas where NIST’s ability to provide a strong technical foundation 

may determine the future of U.S. leadership:

“The Trump Administration 

continues to prioritize the 

technologies that power 

Industries of the Future (lotF). 

These industries promise to fuel 

American prosperity, improve 

quality of life and national 

security, and create high-paying 

jobs for American workers.”

– Fiscal Year 2021 Administration Research and 

Development Budget Priorities
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 9

NIST scientist David Ross programs the software that controls NIST’s Living Measurement Systems Foundry, which provides 

a new level of automation in biological experimentation. This work is a part of a larger NIST effort to accelerate the design 

of safe and reliable biologically related processes and products for public benefit in materials manufacturing, medicine, 

sustainable energy, and agriculture. 

Credit: B. Hayes/NIST
10 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 

Illustrative program changes:

• +$25.0 million for measurement 

tools and testbeds to accelerate 

the development and adoption of 

interoperable, secure, and reliable 

AI technologies. This increase 

brings the total FY 2021 request 

to $48.9 million for AI.

• +$1.0 million to accelerate efforts 

to develop position, navigation, 

and timing profiles that 

strengthen national resilience by 

leveraging the NIST Cybersecurity 

Framework and working with the 

public and private sectors. 

• +1.4 million to support a 

prominent U.S. role in standards 

development efforts for 5G 

that will underpin the success 

and wide deployment of 5G 

technologies.

• -$36.2 million eliminating 

programs addressing multiple IT 

and data challenges, including 

medical record interoperability, 

voting technologies, data 

visualization, and smart grid 

interoperability. 

NIST’s Advanced Communications, Networks, and Scientific Data Systems activities 

constitute a significant portion of NIST’s work relevant to the Industries of the 

Future, specifically in the areas of 5G/advanced communications and AI. NIST 

programs enable secure, reliable, high-speed wireless and wireline communications 

critical to U.S. economic competitiveness, safety, and security. NIST measurement 

science research and support for the development of standards accelerates the 

deployment of next-generation communication technologies, including 5G, a term 

used to describe emerging wireless networks that will be faster and more reliable 

than today’s networks. These technologies will be necessary for self-driving cars, IoT 

applications, drones, and AI systems. NIST is committed to solving the measurement 

and deployment challenges of these fast-moving fields to help the U.S. achieve and 

maintain global leadership in these areas.

This request funds measurement science research and standards development with 

an emphasis on AI and 5G communications, two of the Industries of the Future. NIST 

will consolidate efforts on its highest priority capabilities and research.

Advanced Communications, 

Networks and Scientific Data Systems

Budget Request

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $1.9 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

FY 2019 Enacted: $57.0 M

Lab Programs: $55.6 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.4 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $60.6 M (-10.2%)

Lab Programs: $59.6 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $0.9 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $67.5 M

Lab Programs: $66.1 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.4 M
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 11

Program Highlights

The future global economy requires reliable and readily available communication capabilities 

that can meet skyrocketing demand for wireless data. NIST will continue to pioneer measurement science and standards for secure advanced communications, networks, and data to 

ensure U.S. leadership in these technologies. For example:

Representatives from NIST went to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 to demonstrate research being done with 

public safety communications technologies. Here, a participant tries out NIST’s realistic Virtual Reality SWAT Scenario using 

an Oculus Quest headset. The scenario involves the user playing the role of a SWAT team member responding to an active 

shooter event in a parking garage. 

Credit: NIST

• In response to a February 2019 Executive Order 

(13859), NIST released a plan entitled “U.S. 

Leadership in AI: A Plan for Federal Engagement 

in Developing Technical Standards and Related 

Tools.” The plan, developed with extensive public 

and private sector input, offers federal guidance 

for AI standards development and coordination, 

promotes focused research on the trustworthiness 

of AI, calls for expansion of public-private 

partnerships to advance AI, and highlights related 

tools needed to support AI such as benchmarks. 

NIST is addressing these knowledge gaps through 

focused research efforts and robust stakeholder 

engagement. 

• The 5G Millimeter-Wave Channel Model Alliance, 

sponsored by NIST, provides a forum for 

industry, academia, and government to work on 

breakthrough approaches that promote effective 

use of this wavelength spectrum, a key enabler 

for applications related to the IoT and widespread 

deployment of 5G networks. 

• The National Advanced Spectrum and 

Communications Test Network (NASCTN) is 

a national network of federal, academic, and 

commercial test facilities that provides the testing, 

modeling, and analysis needed to develop and 

deploy spectrum-sharing technologies. 

• NIST developed deep learning algorithms that 

perform better than traditional methods to 

detect when offshore radars are operating. This 

information is critical to enabling companies to 

employ the commonly termed “3.5 Gigahertz 

Band” when it is not needed for its primary use by 

the U.S. Navy. Private sector access to this band 

will expand product markets and give end users 

better coverage and higher data rate speeds. 
12 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $4.8 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

FY 2019 Enacted: $127.0 M

Lab Programs: $111.4 M

Corp Serv: $12.5 M

SC-SP: $3.0 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $92.5 M (-29.5%)

Lab Programs: $82.3 M

Corp Serv: $8.1 M

SC-SP: $2.1 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $131.2 M

Lab Programs: $115.6 M

Corp Serv: $12.5 M

SC-SP: $3.0 M

120

90

60

30

105

135

75

45

15

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) Advanced Manufacturing 

and Material Measurements 

NIST has partnered with the U.S. manufacturing sector for more than a century 

and has a proven track record of delivering the tools and technical expertise that 

existing manufacturers and aspiring start-ups need. NIST's Advanced Manufacturing 

and Material Measurements activities provide industry with precision measurement 

technologies, tests, protocols, trusted systems, and world-class scientific and 

engineering knowledge through targeted research across a broad portfolio — 

including advanced materials development, advanced sensing, biomanufacturing, 

and smart manufacturing systems. NIST’s efforts are directly aligned with the R&D 

priorities targeting the Industries of the Future and support the Administration’s 

“Strategy for American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing” by enabling the 

development of a strong U.S. manufacturing base that is essential to our economic 

and national security.

NIST requests funds to continue its efforts to ensure the U.S. remains a competitive 

force in advanced manufacturing, ensuring economic and national security.

Illustrative program changes:

• -$43.5 million terminating NIST’s 

efforts addressing structural 

materials challenges, including 

reliability testing for bridges and 

pipelines, body armor testing, 

and trace materials detection. 

NIST will cease operation of 

its beamlines at Brookhaven 

National Laboratory, ending 

a decades-long investment 

in leading-edge materials 

characterization instruments, 

and will not support multiple 

standard reference materials 

and standard reference datasets 

for U.S. chemical and steel 

industries. NIST will eliminate 

funding for the Advanced 

Materials Center of Excellence 

led by Northwestern University 

and stop work on energy and 

environmental applications, 

including the termination of 

grants supporting the recycling 

and reuse of plastics.

Budget Request
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 13

NIST materials research engineer Marcos Reyes-Martinez examines how new, innovative architectured foam-like materials change 

shape when compressed or impacted. The material’s network structure was designed by a computer, using advanced 3D printing 

algorithms, so that it does not expand laterally when compressed. This unusual response in a soft elastomer has significant 

potential in energy absorbing applications like helmets for football and other sports as well as personal protective equipment for 

our nation’s first responders and soldiers.

Credit: J. Stoughton/NIST

Program Highlights 

NIST’s measurement research in manufacturing processes and advanced materials provides the 

foundation for the nation’s manufacturers to innovate, invent, and create new products and services 

more rapidly and more efficiently than their competitors around the world. For example:

• To ensure U.S. industry can take advantage of the 

latest manufacturing robotics technologies, NIST is 

developing standards and test methods, including 

new ways to teach robots a manufacturing task 

so that more time is spent on producing than 

programming, and creating benchmarks for robot 

performance on the factory floor for tasks such as 

grasping objects with human-like dexterity.

• NIST partners with the pharmaceutical industry 

to develop widely available reference materials 

and measurement methods. For example, NIST’s 

monoclonal antibody reference material provides 

a benchmark for companies to ensure quality 

measurements of their manufactured biological drugs 

and to spur biopharmaceutical innovations. 

• NIST is developing approaches to overcoming 

technical barriers to the widespread adoption of 

additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) 

by quantifying uncertainties in measuring feedstock 

materials, developing methods to evaluate machines 

and the parts they produce, testing new methods 

of real-time monitoring and control, and generating 

high quality data to help validate process models and 

simulations.

• The NIST Model-Based Enterprise program is 

developing tools for today’s manufacturing 

technologies to be integrated with system and 

process models that enable companies to be agile 

and flexible. Using models to link different elements 

in the production lifecycle will allow manufacturers 

to make better decisions and deliver higher-quality 

products.
14 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

FY 2019 Enacted: $77.5 M

Lab Programs: $75.6 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.9 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $79.4 M (+2.5%)

Lab Programs: $78.1 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.3 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $77.5 M

Lab Programs: $75.6 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.9 M

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $2.6 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments

80

60

40

20

70

90

50

30

10

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 

No major program changes.

Cybersecurity and 

Privacy

NIST’s Cybersecurity and Privacy activities strengthen the security of our digital 

world through a portfolio bridging foundational and applied cybersecurity 

research, and through the development of publicly available standards and 

technical guidance. NIST’s sustained outreach supports the effective application 

of standards and best practices, enabling the adoption of practical cybersecurity 

and privacy approaches. Through internal research and collaboration with 

the private sector, academia, standards development organizations, other 

government agencies, and national and international stakeholders, NIST 

addresses the nation’s current and future measurement science needs and is 

responsive to congressional and administration priorities.

NIST requests funds to strengthen the security of the digital systems upon which 

the nation’s critical infrastructure is built.

Budget Request

Program Highlights

The federal government, critical infrastructure sectors, 

and all Americans increasingly depend on cyberspace. 

At the same time, the threats posed by criminals, 

certain governments, and terrorists are growing in 

frequency and impact in an increasingly complex landscape. NIST helps our partners in the private sector, academia, and government manage their risks and ensure 

our digital ecosystems can be sources of innovation 

and growth. For example:

• NIST’s Cybersecurity for the Internet of 

Things program is developing technical 

resources to improve the cybersecurity of 

connected devices and the environments in 

which they are deployed. NIST publications 

can help IoT device manufacturers 

understand the cybersecurity risks their 

customers face and learn to manage these 

risks while enabling innovation.
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 15

• NIST issued a report outlining the use of 

blockchain technology as a model to provide 

tamper-proof transmission of manufacturing data 

and allow data traceability to all participants in 

the production process. Using three different 

industrial sectors, NIST generated test cases 

showing how the use of blockchain could ensure 

the cybersecurity of each scenario. Building on 

this effort, NIST will work with collaborators to 

advance and promote the use of blockchain for 

smart manufacturing and secure supply chains.

• NIST is building a toolbox of privacy engineering 

approaches to address the nation’s evolving 

privacy needs, particularly the sharing of personal 

information with software tools across the internet 

and through social media. With robust stakeholder 

engagement, NIST has developed a voluntary 

privacy framework to help organizations build 

customer trust, meet their compliance obligations, 

and communicate their privacy practices effectively. 

• The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education 

(NICE), led by NIST, is a partnership with 

government, academia, and industry focused on 

cybersecurity education, training, and workforce 

development. NICE participates in a range of 

conferences and provides resources through 

webinars and other online tools to increase 

awareness of learning and career opportunities to 

promote a skilled, diverse cybersecurity workforce 

in the U.S. 

Mobile device scientists, Gema Howell (NIST) and Jason Ajmo (MITRE), at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence 

work in a Faraday cage shielded from cellular and other wireless interference. The Faraday cage provides an isolated 

environment for the scientists to analyze mobile network vulnerabilities and research ways to protect mobile devices from 

potential wireless attacks. 

Credit: B. Hayes/NIST
16 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Exploratory Measurement 

Science

NIST’s mission requires deep expertise in a broad range of disciplines. To best position NIST to support 

U.S. technological interests well into the future, it is essential that NIST maintain a portfolio of exploratory 

measurement science research. This portfolio includes investing in higher-risk and potentially transformative 

projects selected in a competitive internal process and the NIST National Research Council Postdoctoral 

Research Associateship Program that brings researchers of exceptional promise to NIST. 

NIST requests funds to develop the next generation of cutting-edge measurement tools and technologies.

Program Highlights 

NIST’s exploratory research accelerates innovation in 

emerging areas. For example: 

• A National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate was 

an integral part of a team that created the world's first 

network of optical atomic clocks using both fiber optic 

and free space connections, a major advance toward 

creating international timekeeping based on optical 

clocks with 100-fold greater accuracy and stability than 

current microwave clock standards. 

• Uniting NIST expertise in wireless communications, 

manufacturing, and AI, a team of NIST researchers is 

creating the first repeatable, over-the-air testbed for 

dynamic wireless systems in an industrial environment. 

Using an innovative array of quantum probes, the team 

is developing methods to enable U.S. industry to train 

and verify its wireless Industrial Internet of Things 

technologies and networks. 

Illustrative program changes: 

• -$2.6 million terminating supplementary Strategic 

and Emerging Research Initiatives funding to support 

the Joint Initiative for Metrology in Biology (JIMB), a 

partnership with SLAC and Stanford University.

Budget Request

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $2.7 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

FY 2019 Enacted: $75.4 M

Lab Programs: $71.6 M

Corp Serv: $2.0 M

SC-SP: $1.8 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $75.5 M (+0.1%)

Lab Programs: $74.1 M

Corp Serv: $0.2 M

SC-SP: $1.2 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $75.4 M

Lab Programs: $71.6 M

Corp Serv: $2.0 M

SC-SP: $1.8 M

80

60

40

20

70

90

50

30

10

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 

Greg Cooksey, Paul Patrone and Anthony Kearsley were 

part of a team that recently received funding via NIST’s 

Innovations in Measurement Sciences program. 

Credit: NIST
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 17

NIST User 

Facilities 

NIST operates two unique and valuable user facilities 

that provide U.S. scientists with access to cuttingedge expertise and capabilities to perform innovative 

research beyond the reach of the user’s own laboratory. 

The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) features 

world-class neutron instrumentation and expertise in the 

development and application of neutron measurement 

technologies. The Center for Nanoscale Science and 

Technology (CNST) provides users rapid access to stateof-the-art tools needed to fabricate and characterize 

nanoscale structures, devices, and materials. 

NIST requests funds to provide unique measurement and 

research capabilities to U.S. scientists.

Illustrative program changes:

• -$5.4 million reducing services at the NCNR, 

including ceasing operation of two neutron 

scattering instruments and decreasing funding 

for reactor maintenance, resulting in the loss 

of at least 200 research participants annually 

and a potential increase in unscheduled reactor 

shutdowns.

Program Highlights

• The NIST user facilities provide researchers 

from across the country with access to 

state-of-the-art instrumentation to meet 

their needs in neutron scattering and 

nanofabrication.

• Recent updates and maintenance allow 

NIST user facilities to continue to provide 

safe, reliable operations and robust user 

support.

• Serving more than 85 U.S. companies 

annually, the NIST user facilities continue 

to evolve to ensure that their capabilities 

meet the needs of the U.S. scientific 

community.

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $1.7 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

Budget Request

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) FY 2019 Enacted: $53.7 M

Lab Programs: $52.4 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.3 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $50.0 M (-6.9%)

Lab Programs: $49.1 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $0.9 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $53.7 M

Lab Programs: $52.4 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $1.3 M

NCNR user Kate Ross from Colorado State University 

prepares to to analyze a sample of a potential spin 

liquid material in the main hall at the NIST Center for 

Neutron Research. 

Credit: F. Webber/NIST
18 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $8.8 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

FY 2019 Enacted: $235.6 M

Lab Programs: $172.4 M

Corp Serv: $57.6 M

SC-SP: $5.6 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $213.6 M (-13.5%)

Lab Programs: $173.7 M

Corp Serv: $36.0 M

SC-SP: $3.9 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $246.9 M

Lab Programs: $183.8 M

Corp Serv: $57.4 M

SC-SP: $5.6 M

240

180

120

60

210

270

150

90

30

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) Fundamental Measurement, 

Quantum Science and 

Measurement Dissemination 

NIST’s Laboratory Programs work at the frontiers of measurement 

science to ensure the U.S. system of measurements is firmly grounded on 

sound scientific and technical principles. NIST determines the definitive 

methods for nearly every kind of measurement employed in commerce 

and research and disseminates standards and best practices central to 

innovation, productivity, trade, national security, and public safety. This 

request supports core programs advancing the precision, accuracy, and 

comparability of the measurements that underpin the U.S. innovation 

ecosystem while prioritizing NIST’s world-leading efforts focused on 

quantum science.

Quantum science is a top strategic priority for NIST. A recognized world 

leader in the field of quantum science and technology, NIST plays a 

central role in the National Quantum Initiative and is developing critical 

measurement capabilities necessary for the U.S. to win the race for quantum 

leadership. In FY 2021 NIST is investing $40.3 million, a level maintained 

from FY 2020, in a portfolio of foundational quantum research impacting 

quantum computing, communications, and cryptography. This research, 

combined with NIST’s expertise in advanced materials, nanofabrication, and 

microelectronics; our network of joint institutes (JILA and JQI); and the 

newly created Quantum Economic Development Consortium, make NIST a 

true hub of quantum innovation. In FY 2021 NIST will focus a portion of its 

quantum research portfolio on the grand challenge of quantum networking, 

a key element in the long-term evolution of quantum technologies, as the 

full economic and security benefit of quantum will be dependent upon the 

ability to securely and efficiently transmit quantum information between 

multiple quantum devices and sensors.

Budget Request
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 19

Illustrative program changes: 

• -$42.1 million to stop or reduce measurements and calibrations that support customers in sectors 

from communications and defense to manufacturing and transportation. NIST will reduce support for 

the operation of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science and Hollings 

Marine Laboratory, as well as eliminate funding for the NIST Forensic Science Center of Excellence 

led by Iowa State University. NIST will reduce its presence and contributions in international legal 

metrology, eliminate support for the Urban Dome program, and reduce funding allocated to the 

Lab-to-Market program.

NIST physical scientist Thomas Brian Renegar and his colleagues used the sophisticated digital measurement techniques of 

modern forensics to create high-resolution 3D replicas of the bullets used to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Here, 

Renegar examines the positioning of the bullet before the first of 22 scanning runs. 

Credit: C. Suplee/NIST
20 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Program Highlights

NIST maintains and disseminates the authoritative values for the base units of the 

International System of Units (SI) in the United States, along with developing the 

methods and technology required to realize and/or measure each base unit to 

the highest possible accuracy. Typically, that endeavor results in major impacts in 

measurement science, as well as advanced metrology for industry, medicine, defense 

and homeland security, science, and government. NIST Measurement Services consist of 

calibration services, reference materials, reference instruments, and reference data that 

are continually improving and evolving to meet the nation’s needs. For example:

Fundamental Measurement, 

Quantum Science and Measurement 

Dissemination (cont.) 

• NIST scientists developed and applied unique 

measurement methods and novel computational 

algorithms toward a systematic expansion of 

the NIST Tandem Mass Spectral (MS) Library. 

This library, the highest-quality and most 

comprehensive MS data resource of its kind 

in the world, is relied upon for molecular 

species identification in complex mixtures. The 

molecules in the library, such as metabolites, 

drugs, pesticides, and a wide range of industrial 

compounds, are of prime importance for studies 

in human health, food, environment, and forensics. 

Thousands of units of the library are distributed by 

major MS manufacturers worldwide each year.

• NIST scientists demonstrated the first nextgeneration “time scale” — a system that 

incorporates data from multiple atomic clocks 

to produce a single highly accurate timekeeping 

signal for distribution — that outperforms current 

technologies. NIST also developed an optical 

quantum logic clock that relies on aluminum 

atoms. Demonstrating the world’s lowest 

uncertainty, the clock will not gain nor lose one 

second in 33 billion years. Beyond providing 

accurate time to millions of customers, such 

as financial markets and computer and phone 

networks, these optical clocks have far-reaching 

implications for improving spacecraft navigation, 

discovering new physics, and expanding research 

areas in quantum information science. 

• In 2019, NIST introduced a new streamlined 

experience for customers to order measurement 

services through the NIST website. Currently, 

NIST Calibrations Services are available for order; 

in the coming months, customers will also be 

able to order Standard Reference Data (SRD), 

Standard Reference Materials (SRM), and Standard 

Reference Instruments (SRI) through this new 

storefront. Since the new system went live in 

late spring 2019, more than 900 customers have 

established accounts and placed over 845 orders 

for special calibrations. 

• The NIST on a Chip program continues to make 

significant strides in bringing quantum science 

breakthroughs from the lab to the market by 

creating prototypes for small, inexpensive, lowpower, and easily manufactured sensors. One 

example is a chip-scale photonic thermometer 

that uses the optical properties of materials to 

measure changes in temperature, developed 

with an industry partner. The program’s goal is to 

develop technologies that will enable precision 

measurements on factory floors, in hospitals, 

in commercial and military aircraft, in research 

labs, and ultimately in homes, automobiles, and 

personal electronic devices.

• NIST recently launched the Quantum Economic 

Development Consortium (QED-C) in partnership 

with SRI International. QED-C aims to expand 

U.S. leadership in global quantum R&D and 

the emerging quantum industry in computing, 

communications, and sensing. With funding from 

both the government and private-sector member 

organizations, the consortium fosters publicprivate sector coordination. NIST is supporting the 

QED-C through funding and extensive interactions 
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 21

NIST physicist Katie McCormick adjusts a mirror to steer a laser beam used to cool a trapped beryllium ion (electrically 

charged atom). McCormick and her colleagues got the ion to display record-setting levels of quantum motion, an advance 

that can improve quantum measurements and quantum computing.

Credit: J. Burrus/NIST

between QED-C member companies and NIST 

technical staff on technologies including quantum 

sensors, atomic clocks, enabling technologies for 

quantum communications, and other areas.

• For the first time ever, NIST scientists “teleported” 

a computer circuit instruction known as a quantum 

logic operation between two separated ions, 

showcasing how quantum computer programs 

could carry out tasks in future large-scale quantum 

networks. The expertise of NIST scientists and the 

unique capabilities of our facilities are leveraged 

closely with partners in academia through NIST’s 

network of joint institutes — with JILA, at the 

University of Colorado Boulder, and JQI and 

QuICS, at the University of Maryland. 

• NIST is rebuilding the Interagency Edison (iEdison) 

reporting system for extramural inventions. The 

rebuild will modernize and improve the key 

features of this system that is a strategic priority of 

the Trump Administration’s Lab-to-Market CrossAgency Priority Goal to support innovative tools 

and services for technology transfer. 
22 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Health and Biological 

Systems Measurements 

NIST is paving the way for a vibrant U.S. bioeconomy by developing 

measurements that enable the reproducibility of biomedical research 

results to ensure the efficacy and safety of treatments and ultimately 

increase confidence in clinical decisions. NIST partners with industry 

and other government agencies to provide measurement science and 

standards that are essential for health and bioscience innovations. 

NIST’s programs range from supporting underlying technologies 

and measurements for precision medicine and medical imaging to 

accelerating understanding in synthetic biology and genomics. New and 

improved measurement capabilities provide the basis for industries to 

harness this information for future medical technologies.

NIST requests funds to support innovation, safety, and confidence in the 

nation’s bioscience and health care while prioritizing efforts that support 

the bioeconomy, one of the Industries of the Future.

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $1.2 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

Illustrative program changes:

• -$3.3 million consolidate research efforts 

at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, 

Maryland, ending support for the Joint 

Initiative for Metrology in Biology 

(JIMB), a partnership with SLAC and 

Stanford University to develop advanced 

measurement capabilities for the growing 

synthetic biology industry.

Budget Request

FY 2019 Enacted: $32.1 M

Lab Programs: $31.3 M

Corp Serv: $0.0

SC-SP: $0.8 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $34.5 M (-5.7%)

Lab Programs: $31.8 M

Corp Serv: $2.1 M

SC-SP: $0.5 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $36.6 M

Lab Programs: $33.8 M

Corp Serv: $2.0 M

SC-SP: $0.8 M

40

30

20

10

35

45

25

15

5

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 23

Program Highlights

Breakthrough technologies such as gene sequencing, gene editing, and advanced imaging have laid 

the foundation for significant growth opportunities in fields beyond medicine and health, such as 

chemical manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. NIST is focusing its bioscience efforts to build the 

measurement science capabilities that will support the growing U.S. bioeconomy. For example:

• NIST administers the U.S. Mirror Committee of 

the International Organization for Standardization 

(ISO) Technical Committee on Biotechnology, 

creating an infrastructure for American influence 

and participation in global biotechnology 

standards development and ensuring our place in 

international markets. 

• NIST is developing expertise in high-throughput 

cell culture and measurements of engineered 

microbes to establish capabilities that will enable 

routine, safe, and reliable engineering of cells for 

the development of effective living therapeutics, 

environmental sensing, and structured materials 

fabrication through the automated NIST Living 

Measurement Systems Foundry.

• NIST is developing the building blocks for 

bioscience through partnerships such as the NIST 

Genome Editing Consortium, a collaborative effort 

to understand and address the measurement 

and standards needs of industry, academia, 

government, and others interested in using 

genome editing to develop products such as 

medical therapies. The consortium recently 

released a lexicon to serve as a unified set 

of terms and definitions for the community. 

NIST researchers are working to address the 

measurement challenges identified by the 

consortium. 

• NIST is assisting the growing regenerative 

medicine industry to meet its measurement 

assurance and regulatory challenges. NIST will 

continue to work with companies and other federal 

agencies to develop measurement assurance 

strategies for the quantitative measurement 

of living systems needed for translation and 

commercialization of advanced therapies.

NIST scientist Justin Zook with genetic sequencing machines that are used to develop reference materials that other medical 

researchers use to ensure their equipment is working properly. 

Credit: M. Esser/NIST
24 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Physical Infrastructure 

and Resilience 

NIST’s Physical Infrastructure and Resilience activities support the safety, interoperability, 

and resilience of the nation’s infrastructure at the component, structure, and system levels. 

NIST’s research supports the development of building codes that make the built environment 

healthier for occupants, more resilient against hazards, and safer for both residents and first 

responders. In collaboration with policy makers, building officials, and planning groups, NIST 

produces guides to help communities integrate resilience into their economic development, 

zoning, mitigation, and other local planning activities that impact buildings, public utilities, and 

infrastructure systems. 

NIST requests funds to develop measurement methods, reference materials, and data that 

support innovation in the performance and resilience of the built environment. 

Illustrative program changes:

• -$21.9 million eliminating 

work on advances in science 

and technology to markedly 

improve building energy 

efficiency and occupant safety 

in the United States. NIST 

will eliminate funding for the 

Disaster Resilience Research 

Grants Program, the Fire 

Research Grants Program, and 

the Community Resilience 

Center of Excellence led by 

Colorado State University.

Program Highlights 

NIST’s fundamental research, measurement protocols, 

and standards support help architects, engineers, 

urban planners, local governments, and first responders 

create and maintain safer, healthier, and more resilient 

built environments. For example:

• NIST’s fire research program is developing advances 

in predictive computational tools, advanced fire 

detection technologies, and fire-resistant materials. 

Researchers at NIST’s National Fire Research 

Laboratory developed a camera system to capture 

360-degree video that provides researchers the 

ability to safely observe and measure extremely 

harsh fire environments. 

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $2.5 million 

to fund inflationary adjustments.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) Budget Request FY 2019 Enacted: $64.1 M

Lab Programs: $57.8 M

Corp Serv: $4.8 M

SC-SP: $1.5 M 

FY 2021 Requested: $43.7 M (-30.7%)

Lab Programs: $42.5 M

Corp Serv: $0.1 M

SC-SP: $1.1 M

FY 2020 Enacted: $63.1 M

Lab Programs: $56.8 M

Corp Serv: $4.8 M

SC-SP: $1.5 M
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 25

• NIST continues to disseminate resources to assess 

resilience and to support informed planning and 

decision-making, including the “NIST Community 

Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and 

Infrastructure Systems” and other tools. In 2019, 

NIST worked closely with emergency management 

and community development staff in Nashua, New 

Hampshire, to inform their resilience initiative. 

• NIST carries out research for improved model 

building codes, voluntary standards, and best 

practices to reduce losses from disaster. As part 

of its responsibilities outlined in the National 

Construction Safety Team Act, NIST is conducting 

a multi-year study to understand how critical 

buildings and emergency communications systems 

performed during Hurricane Maria. NIST also 

has leadership roles in the National Earthquake 

Hazards Reduction Program and National 

Windstorm Impact Reduction Program.

• Researchers are exploring energy-efficient 

methods for ensuring indoor air quality through 

experiments in the Net-Zero Energy Residential 

Test Facility located on the NIST Gaithersburg 

campus, as part of a program focused on enabling 

advances in high performance buildings and 

operations that lower costs while ensuring the 

safety and security of occupants. 

In 2018, NIST dispatched teams across the country to evaluate infrastructure failures as a result of natural disasters, 

including hurricanes and wildfires. NIST recently launched a multi-year effort to study how critical buildings and emergency 

communications systems performed in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria.

Credit: Kris Grogan/FEMA
26 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Program Highlights 

• In 2019, the Baldrige Program honored six 

organizations with the Malcolm Baldrige 

National Quality Award in recognition of their 

unceasing drive for innovative solutions to 

complex challenges, visionary leadership, and 

operational excellence. The winners included 

two health care organizations, a community 

college, and three non-profit entities —

including one city.

• The program is implementing a new 

presidential award for excellence in 

workforce training and development to 

recognize organizations that are preparing 

our workforce for the jobs of today and 

tomorrow, as called for in Executive Orders 

13845 and 13801.

Baldrige Performance 

Excellence Program

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program oversees the nation's only Presidential 

award for performance excellence while offering criteria, assessments, tools, training, and 

a community for those dedicated to helping organizations improve. The program directly 

reaches thousands of organizations every year through their use of the Baldrige framework, 

participation in the award process, and attendance at conferences and training programs. 

The program impacts hundreds of thousands of workers and millions of customers, patients, 

students, and residents, and recently introduced the Baldrige Cybersecurity Excellence 

Builder and the Communities of Excellence framework to promote adoption of best practices 

in cybersecurity and across entire communities.

Budget Request

FY 2019 Enacted: $2.2 M

FY 2021 Requested: $2.2 M (0%)

FY 2020 Enacted: $2.2 M

The Mary Greeley Medical Center (pictured above) in 

Ames, Iowa, was one of six organizations to receive the 

2019 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. 

Credit: Mary Greeley Medical Center

3.0

2.0

1.0

2.5

1.5

.5

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 

No major program changes.
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 27

 NIST TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCTS (FY 2019)

Invention Disclosure and Patenting

54 invention disclosures

63 patent applications filed

32 patents issued 

License Agreements 15 new

68 active 

Calibration Services 11,519

Active Traditional Cooperative Research and Development 

Agreements (CRADAs) 434

Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) 276

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) 674 NVLAP-accredited laboratories

User Facilities

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology distinct users

NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) research participants

314 

2,923

Participation in Standards Developing Organizations 440 staff members in 112 organizations

Scientific and Technical Publications 1,396

Standard Reference Data (SRD)

2,613 e-commerce orders

9,880 sold via distributor

2,835 product downloads 

Standard Reference Materials (SRM) 29,955 units sold

NIST Postdoctoral Researchers 165

NIST Guest Researchers 3,180

Technology Transfer

For America to maintain its position as the global 

leader in innovation, bring products to market more 

quickly, grow the economy, and maintain a strong 

national security innovation base, it is essential 

that we optimize technology transfer and support 

programs that increase the return on investment 

(ROI) from federally funded R&D. NIST has a unique 

role in promoting and reporting on the overall 

strength of federal efforts in technology transfer, 

including the Lab-to-Market initiative to increase 

the economic impact of federally funded R&D by 

accelerating the transfer of new technologies from 

the laboratory to the commercial marketplace. 

NIST performs a critical role in coordinating federal 

government activities, including convening the 

Interagency Working Group for Technology Transfer 

and serving as the “host agency” for the Federal 

Laboratory Consortium. 

NIST uses many different approaches to work 

collaboratively with industry and other organizations. 

Primary activities include participation on committees 

in standards developing organizations; Cooperative 

Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) 

and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs); access 

to user facilities; a postdoctoral research program; 

guest researchers; and conferences, seminars, and 

workshops. NIST offers direct work products that 

can be used by others, including licensing patented 

inventions, laboratory accreditation services, 

Standard Reference Data (SRD), and Standard 

Reference Materials (SRM).

NIST broadly defines technology transfer as the overall process by which its knowledge, 

facilities, or capabilities in measurement science, standards, and technology promote 

U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness to enhance economic security and 

improve quality of life. 
28 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Tipton Mills, a client of the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (the MEP Center in Indiana and part of the MEP 

National Network), is dedicated to the production of safe and delicious food and drink for national and private brands.

Credit: Mark Simons
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 29

Industrial Technology 

Services

NIST’s extramural programs, which include Manufacturing USA and the Hollings 

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), help U.S. industry develop and implement 

new technology, develop robust supply chains, and refine their systems for efficiency 

and effectiveness, all while making them more competitive in the global economy.

Manufacturing USA is a network 

of manufacturing innovation 

institutes where companies, 

universities, community colleges, 

and entrepreneurs develop new 

manufacturing technologies with 

broad applications. The primary 

goal of the network is to ensure 

that American innovations and 

inventions currently going offshore 

for production in competitor nations 

are scaled up from lab experiments 

to products and processes that can 

be used by U.S. manufacturers.

The MEP program is a federal-stateindustry partnership that consists of 

centers located across the country 

working directly with their local 

manufacturing communities to 

strengthen the competitiveness of 

our nation’s domestic manufacturing 

base. NIST MEP provides technical 

assistance in adopting advanced 

manufacturing technologies, 

addressing emerging manufacturing 

needs, and understanding foreign 

manufacturing and compliance 

issues. They provide guidance on 

cybersecurity of supply chains and 

transferring technology from NIST 

labs and other federal research 

organizations.

“Today, we celebrate the 

renaissance in American 

manufacturing that is 

restoring our country's 

dominance in the global and 

domestic markets, and we 

recommit to building on these 

achievements in the years to 

come.”

– Presidential Proclamation 

on National Manufacturing 

Day, 2019
30 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

Manufacturing 

USA

Manufacturing USA is a national network of manufacturing innovation institutes that 

bring together nearly 2,000 industry, government, and academic institutions to restore 

U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing by accelerating the development of gamechanging technologies through access to state-of-the-art facilities and workforce training. 

NIST coordinates the nationwide network of institutes and funds the National Institute for 

Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL).

NIST requests funds to coordinate the institute network and open a competition to select a 

new Manufacturing USA institute. 

Program Highlights 

• Manufacturing USA institutes collectively 

represent two-thirds of Fortune 50 U.S. 

manufacturers, more than 850 small 

manufacturers, eight of the 10 top-ranked 

research and engineering universities, and 

hundreds of community colleges and technical 

training schools. 

• The Manufacturing USA network has reached 

more than 200,000 workers, students, and 

educators through education and training 

efforts, including programs focused on training 

veterans. 

• The 14 institutes have received $1 billion in 

federal funds and over $2 billion in nonfederal 

commitments, demonstrating the remarkable 

catalyzing effect of matching funds. State 

governments contributed more than $400 

million — underscoring the importance of 

advanced manufacturing to the future success 

of state and local economies.

Budget Request

FY 2019 Enacted: $15.0 M

FY 2021 Requested: $25.3 M (+58.1%)

FY 2020 Enacted: $16.0 M

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $0.2 million to 

fund inflationary adjustments.

An MxD engineer gives tour participants an in-depth view into 

the Discrete Manufacturing Testbed featured on the MxD Factory 

Floor located in its Innovation Center in Chicago, IL.

Credit: MxD

Illustrative program changes:

• +$9.1 million for a total of $20.0 

million dedicated to compete 

and fund one new institute in FY 

2021 while discontinuing federal 

funding for NIIMBL, NIST’s first 

manufacturing innovation institute.

24

18

12

6

21

27

15

9

3

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 31

Hollings 

Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership

Established pursuant to the Omnibus Trade and 

Competitiveness Act of 1988, MEP comprises a 

network of grant-supported centers in all 50 states 

and Puerto Rico that provide technical and business 

assistance to small manufacturers. Since its creation, 

the network has worked with 111,000 manufacturers, 

leading to $132 billion in new sales and $22 billion in 

cost savings, and it has helped create and retain over 

1.2 million jobs. In a given year MEP centers provide 

in-depth technical assistance to 8,900 client firms, 

including nearly 1,600 rural and more than 3,100 very 

small manufacturers.

The FY 2021 budget eliminates federal funding for 

NIST MEP.

Budget Request

FY 2019 Enacted: $140.0 M

FY 2021 Requested: $0 (-100%)

FY 2020 Enacted: $146.0 M

The Renewal Workshop, a client of OMEP (the MEP 

Center in Oregon and part of the MEP National 

Network), is a leading provider of circular solutions for 

apparel and textile brands. 

Credit: MEP National Network

Illustrative program changes:

• -$146 million eliminating funding for the 

MEP program. In order for MEP centers to 

continue providing services they would 

need to find sufficient nonfederal funding 

sources such as increased user fees and/

or state or local support. 

160

120

80

40

140

100

60

20

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 
32 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

In 2019, NIST opened up a new wing of its Radiation Physics Building. The walls and window of this big metal-encased hot 

cell are heavily shielded, protecting the operator from the highly radioactive materials placed inside the hot cell. Robotic arms 

provide distance, so the operator doesn’t need to actually touch the radioactive material inside. 

Credit: J. Stoughton/NIST
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 33

Construction of Research 

Facilities

The NIST Construction of Research Facilities (CRF) appropriation funds NIST 

construction activities, including the maintenance, repair, improvements, and major 

renovation of facilities occupied or used by NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland; Boulder and 

Fort Collins, Colorado; and Kauai, Hawaii, to meet current and future measurement and 

research needs for the nation. 

Scientific work at NIST 

laboratories supports the 

Industries of the Future and other 

national priorities such as health 

care, physical infrastructure, 

information technology, and 

many other areas. Facilities that 

can maintain environmental 

conditions such as temperature, 

relative humidity, and air quality 

are essential to the ability of 

NIST’s Laboratory Programs to 

make advances in wide-ranging 

areas including the Industries of 

the Future — quantum science, 

AI, 5G, advanced manufacturing, 

and the bioeconomy — as well as 

other core laboratory activities.

NIST measurement capabilities 

must be maintained at the 

highest levels of precision and 

accuracy to meet the increasing 

requirements of its stakeholders. 

Facilities that can maintain 

ideal environmental conditions 

would eliminate lost productivity 

and increase efficiency and 

effectiveness, providing 

researchers the opportunity 

to maximize their efforts on 

mission-related activities. In 

addition to being environmentally 

sound, all facilities must be 

compliant with various health 

and safety regulations. Other 

major conditions that must be 

addressed are the needs to 

increase the capacity of NIST 

facilities, to improve access for 

people with disabilities, and to 

safeguard the utility infrastructure 

of existing buildings.

NIST’s ability to maintain and 

renovate its infrastructure has 

been falling further and further 

behind. Numerous major utility 

infrastructure systems are 

currently in critical condition, 

creating risks of catastrophic 

failure of entire laboratory 

buildings. Major electrical and 

mechanical equipment at both 

campuses are beyond their 

useful life — they are no longer 

supported by the manufacturers, 

replacement parts are 

nonexistent, and the equipment 

is failing at an accelerated rate. 

The types of high-precision 

research and measurement 

the future requires will not be 

possible without wholesale facility 

upgrades.

“Unleashing American 

discovery and 

innovation means 

providing the 

environment that 

allows our scientists, 

engineers, inventors, 

and entrepreneurs to 

do what they do best 

— explore, discover 

and be creative.” 

– Kelvin K. Droegemeier, 

Director of the White 

House Office of Science 

and Technology Policy
34 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

The funds requested in FY 2021 support Safety, Capacity, Maintenance and Major 

Repairs (SCMMR) and Construction and Major Renovations. The SCMMR request of 

$40.6 million will primarily fund annual fixed costs for salaries, recurring contracts, 

capital asset management, and planning/support costs.

With Construction and Major Renovation base funding, annual payments of $19.6 

million will go to GSA’s Federal Capital Revolving Fund (FCRF) to fund the full 

renovation of NIST’s Building 1 in Boulder, Colorado. With SCMMR base funding, 

NIST will prioritize its efforts to maintain and repair its facilities and address small 

emergency SCMMR projects. If major facilities-related emergency situations arise, 

previously planned facilities work will be reprioritized as appropriate.

Budget Request

Construction of Research 

Facilities

Illustrative program changes:

• -$36.5 million resulting in deferment of 

SCMMR projects, including critical site and 

facility infrastructure projects necessary for 

routine facility operations.

• +$19.6 million to provide for the repayment 

of the GSA Federal Capital Revolving Fund 

to fund the renovation of NIST’s Building 

1 in Boulder, Colorado, estimated at $294 

million including furniture, fixtures, and 

equipment.

• -$43.0 million to reflect the one-time 

construction drop out for the Building 1 

renovation project. 

FY 2019 Enacted: $106.0 M

FY 2021 Requested: $60.2 M (-49.0%)

FY 2020 Enacted: $118.0 M

Note: The FY 2021 request includes $2.2 million to 

fund inflationary adjustments.

• The contractor selected to develop a 20-year 

implementation plan for the Gaithersburg and 

Boulder master plans conducted a lengthy analysis 

and will develop a combined implementation plan 

for both campuses including timing and phasing of 

projects along with budget estimates.

• In September 2019, NIST held a ribbon-cutting 

ceremony for the newly dedicated H Wing of 

Building 245 in Gaithersburg. Known as the 

Radiation Physics Building, the facility is devoted 

to radiation measurements critical for food safety, 

national security, environmental science, and 

more. The completion of the H Wing, housing 

38 laboratories in three stories and nearly 7,900 

square meters, is a major milestone in the Building 

245 renovation project.

Program Highlights

120

90

60

30

105

135

75

45

15

0

FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Dollars (Millions) 
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 35

While excavating for the renovation of the Radiation Physics Building, construction crews found that the electrical duct bank 

that carries all of the power feeder cables to the facility had, over time, collapsed and broken. The photo shows emergency 

response crews working to stabilize the broken concrete duct bank. This was one of 3 similar failures on campus, necessitating 

a project to replace all electrical duct banks

Credit: NIST
36 National Institute of Standards and Technology | FY 2021 Budget Request

AT A GLANCE

BUDGET TABLES

2020

Enacted

2019

Enacted

2021

Request

986 M 1,034 M 738 M

Table 1. Construction of Research Facilities ($, thousands)

Table 2. Industrial Technology Services ($, thousands)

Activity FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership $ 140,000 $ 146,000 $ 0

Manufacturing USA $ 15,000 $ 16,000 $ 25,252

ITS Total $ 155,000 $ 162,000 $ 25,252

Activity FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Construction of Research Facilities $ 106,000 $ 118,000 $ 60,244
FY 2021 Budget Request | National Institute of Standards and Technology 37

Table 3. Scientific and Technical Research and Services ($, thousands)

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.

Activity FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Advanced Communications, Networks and Scientific Data Systems $ 59,952 $ 67,452 $ 60,556

Laboratory Programs $ 55,587 $ 66,087 $ 59,614

Corporate Services $ 1,365 $ 1,365 $ 943

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 0 $ 0 $ 0

Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements $ 126,985 $ 131,235 $ 92,500

Laboratory Programs $ 111,393 $ 115,643 $ 82,294

Corporate Services $ 3,043 $ 3,043 $ 2,103

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 12,549 $ 12,549 $ 8,104

Cybersecurity and Privacy $ 77,469 $ 77,469 $ 79,427

Laboratory Programs $ 75,612 $ 75,612 $ 78,145

Corporate Services $ 1,857 $ 1,857 $ 1,283

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 0 $ 0 $ 0

Fundamental Measurement, Quantum Science and Measurement 

Dissemination $ 235,624 $ 246,874 $ 213,610

Laboratory Programs $ 172,437 $ 183,823 $ 173,725

Corporate Services $ 5,636 $ 5,647 $ 3,901

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 57,551 $ 57,404 $ 35,983

Health and Biological Systems Measurements $ 32,069 $ 36,569 $ 34,476

Laboratory Programs $ 31,300 $ 33,800 $ 31,849

Corporate Services $ 769 $ 769 $ 531

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 0 $ 2,000 $ 2,097

Physical Infrastructure and Resilience $ 64,136 $ 63,136 $ 43,702

Laboratory Programs $ 57,806 $ 56,806 $ 42,492

Corporate Services $ 1,537 $ 1,537 $ 1,062

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 4,792 $ 4,792 $ 148

Exploratory Measurement Science $ 75,409 $ 75,409 $ 75,543

Laboratory Programs $ 71,625 $ 71,625 $ 74,090

Corporate Services $ 1,807 $ 1,807 $ 1,249

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 1,977 $ 1,977 $ 204

NIST User Facilities $ 53,657 $ 53,657 $ 50,013

Laboratory Programs $ 52,371 $ 52,371 $ 49,125

Corporate Services $ 1,286 $ 1,286 $ 8,848

Standards Coordination and Specialty Programs $ 0 $ 0 $ 0

Baldrige Performance Excellence Program $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000

STRS Total $ 724,500 $ 754,000 $ 652,027
COVER IMAGE: NIST electrical engineer 

Shelly Bagchi evaluates the ease-of use 

and effectiveness of an experimental user 

interface for a robot arm. Bagchi and her 

colleagues are developing test methods, 

metrics and AI tools to assess the ability 

of robot systems to work collaboratively 

with humans. 

Credit: ©David Hills

www.nist.gov