U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY 

MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD 

CHARTER 

1. Committee’s Official Designation (Title). Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 

Advisory Board (Advisory Board or Board). 

2. Authority. The MEP Advisory Board is authorized by 15 U.S.C. § 278k(m), in 

accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended 

(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Board provides the Director of the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) advice on the activities, 

plans, and policies of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 

(MEP Program); assessments of the soundness of the plans and strategies of the 

MEP Program; and assessments of current performance against the plans of the 

MEP Program. 

4. Description of Duties. In addition to the objectives and activities stated above, the Board 

shall provide an annual report, through the Director of NIST, to the Secretary of 

Commerce for submission to the Congress not later than 30 days after the submittal to 

Congress of the President’s annual budget request in each year. The report shall address 

the status of the MEP Program. The Board shall function solely in an advisory capacity, 

in accordance with the provisions of the FACA, 5 U.S.C. App. 

5. Agency or Official to Whom the Board Reports. The Board reports to the Director of 

NIST. 

6. Support. The MEP Program will provide all necessary support for the Board’s 

activities. 

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years. The annual cost of operating 

the Board is estimated at $335,000, which includes one-half-work-year of staff support. 

Members of the Board will not be compensated for their services but will, upon 

request, be allowed travel and per diem expenses as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5701 et 

seq., while attending meetings of the Board or subcommittees thereof, while away from 

their homes or regular places of business. 

8. Designated Federal Officer. The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) will be the 

Director of the MEP Program, or another federal officer or employee appointed by the 

Director of NIST. The DFO will approve or call all the Board’s meetings and the 

meetings of any subcommittees of the Board, prepare and approve all meeting agendas, 

attend all Board meetings and subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the 
DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when 

directed to do so by the Director of NIST. 

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Board will meet at least 

biannually, but usually three times each year. Additional meetings may be called by 

the Director of NIST or the DFO. Subcommittee meetings, which may be called 

separately from the meetings of the Board, do not qualify as a meeting of the Board. 

10. Duration. Continuing. 

11. Termination. This charter will terminate four (4) years from the date of its filing with 

the standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives having 

legislative jurisdiction of NIST unless terminated earlier or renewed by proper 

authority. 

12. Membership and Designation. The Director of NIST shall appoint the members of 

the Board. Members shall be selected on a clear, standardized basis, in accordance with 

applicable Department of Commerce guidance. Board members serve at the discretion 

of the Director of NIST. 

The Board shall consist of not fewer than ten (10) members, broadly representative of 

stakeholders. At least two (2) members shall be employed by or sit on an advisory 

board for an MEP Center; at least five (5) members shall be from U.S. small businesses 

in the manufacturing sector; and at least one (1) member shall represent a community 

college. No member shall be an employee of the federal government. 

The term of office of each member of the Board shall be three years, except that 

vacancy appointments shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy. 

Any person who has completed two consecutive full terms of service on the Board 

shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment during the one-year period following the 

expiration of the second such term. 

Board members shall serve in a Representative capacity, and not as Special 

Government Employees (SGEs). See 18 U.S.C. § 202. Members shall not reference or 

otherwise utilize their membership on the Board in connection with public statements 

made in their personal capacities without a disclaimer that the views are their own and 

do not represent the views of the MEP Advisory Board, NIST, the Department of 

Commerce, or the U.S. Government. 

The Board’s Chair and Vice Chair will be appointed from its membership by the 

Director of NIST under the advisement of the Director of the MEP Program. The Chair 

and Vice Chair will serve up to two-year terms, subject to renewal by the Director of 

NIST. 

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13. Subcommittees. NIST may establish Board subcommittees pursuant to provisions of 

FACA, the FACA implementing regulations, and applicable Department of Commerce 

guidance. Subcommittee members are to be selected from among the members of the 

Board. Subcommittees must report back to the Board and will not provide advice or 

work products directly to NIST. 

14. Recordkeeping. The records of the Board, formally and informally established 

subcommittees, or other subgroups of the Board, will be handled in accordance with 

General Records Schedule 6.2 or other approved agency records disposition schedule. 

Subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, records presented to or 

prepared for or by the Board are available for public inspection. 

Digitally signed by JEREMY JEREMY PELTER 

Date: 2022.10.17 16:41:23 PELTER -04'00' 10/17/2022

Acting Chief Financial Officer and Filing Date 

Assistant Secretary for Administration 

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