Note: This document was drafted July 20, 2020 and is being used for guidance

purposes only. It will be revisited in March 2021 for potential revisions. 

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REVIEW 

PANELS

This document sets out the framework within which Scientific and Technical Review Panels 

(STRPs) shall operate and outlines the authority, composition, terms of service, tasks, and 

practical rules for these panels. In addition to these Terms of Reference, STRPs shall adhere to 

the OSAC Charter and Bylaws.

1. Purpose

Scientific and Technical Review Panels shall provide critical and knowledgeable reviews of draft 

standards or of proposed revisions of standards previously published by standards developing 

organizations (SDOs). Each STRP prepares a draft report for the authoring Subcommittee (SC) 

or Interdisciplinary Committee (IC). After the SC or IC has had an opportunity to respond to the 

draft report, the STRP issues a final report, accounting for any SC or IC responses or revisions 

to the standard. The standard and the STRP final report are published to provide an opportunity 

for members of OSAC and the general public to comment on the draft standard.

2. Scope

2.1) To be placed on the OSAC Registry, certain types of standards first must be reviewed by 

an STRP. Standards covering the following topics are subject to STRP review:

2.1.1) Method development

2.1.2) Method validation

2.1.3) Methods, practices and procedures

2.1.4) Quality assurance

2.1.5) Reports and testimony

2.2) Normally, an STRP reviews a single standard and terminates when it submits its final 

report. However, when more than one standard is proposed for aspects of the same topic
Note: This document was drafted July 20, 2020 and is being used for guidance

purposes only. It will be revisited in March 2021 for potential revisions.

single STRP may be appointed to review all of them. In all cases, the STRP will issue one report 

per standard.

3. Membership Requirements

3.1) To be eligible to be a STRP member, interested parties must submit an OSAC application.

3.2) STRP members may be OSAC members or affiliates, but participation on a STRP does not 

constitute OSAC membership.

3.3) STRP members shall include subject matter experts from both the forensic science 

community and from the broader scientific community and, as applicable to the standard, others 

with expertise in law, statistics, metrology, quality management, or human factors.

3.4) No one who contributed to the original drafting of the standard, and no current SC or IC 

member, shall be a member of the STRP for that standard.

3.5) The STRP shall include a non-voting liaison chosen by the SC to provide insight and 

information from the SC about the standard.

4. Appointment Process

4.1) The OSAC Program Office (OPO) shall review the OSAC Applicants Database for names 

of people who indicated an interest in serving on a STRP and shall solicit recommendations 

from SAC Chairs, NIST scientific staff, and other experts. OPO shall seek a balance of expertise 

that may include NIST scientific experts, academic scientists or others to provide an external 

view of the standard.

4.2) OPO shall prepare a list of experts to serve on the STRP.

4.3) The number of STRP members and their areas of expertise will depend on the nature and 

complexity of the standard. There shall be a minimum of five members appointed to a STRP.

4.4) OPO shall transmit the draft list of members, with a designated chair, to the FSSBand 

consider any resulting comments or suggestions.

4.4.1) The FSSB may suggest a substitute member or substitute chair for consideration 

by OPO in making its final determination.

4.4.2) If two-thirds or more of the FSSB members vote against a proposed member or 

the designated chair of the STRP, OPO shall appoint a substitute.

4.4.3) Once the list is finalized, OPO shall send an invitation to the chair and the
Note: This document was drafted July 20, 2020 and is being used for guidance

purposes only. It will be revisited in March 2021 for potential revisions.

proposed participants of the STRP. The invitation shall describe the role and 

responsibilities of STRP members, the expected time commitment, an outline of the 

STRP process, and guidelines for behavior. Before joining an STRP, members shall 

agree to adhere to the OSAC Code of Responsibility and disclose any actual or apparent 

conflict of interest. If any proposed member is unable or unwilling to serve, OPO will 

appoint a substitute using the process in this Section.

5. Role and Responsibilities of Members 

STRP members shall:

5.1) Attend scheduled meetings of the STRP.

5.2) Review the draft standard in an objective and impartial manner considering the criteria 

contained in the Instructions to STRPs. Members shall strive to collaboratively write a 

consensus report on the proposed standard.

5.3) Respect the confidentiality of STRP deliberations and not share preliminary drafts or 

comments except as described in Section 6.

6. Process for Conducting the Review and Producing the Report

6.1) The Chair shall convene an initial meeting to review roles, behavior, process, and timelines.

6.2) The STRP shall meet as needed to discuss findings and identify areas of consensus and 

areas of disagreement.

6.3) Within 30 days of its appointment, the STRP shall submit a draft report to the SC or ICthat 

explains its initial conclusions and recommendations.

6.4) At its discretion, the STRP may ask the SC or IC for responses to preliminary comments 

before submitting its draft report.

6.5) The STRP shall review all SC or IC responses to any preliminary comments and to the draft 

report before completing its final report.

6.6) The final report should contain an executive summary, general comments, and as 

applicable, detailed comments on specific parts of the standard.

6.7) The final report should be a consensus report (approved by at least two-thirds of the 

STRP). However, it should acknowledge internal disagreement on any major issues. 6.8) The
Note: This document was drafted July 20, 2020 and is being used for guidance

purposes only. It will be revisited in March 2021 for potential revisions.

Chair shall submit to OPO the final report and a checklist indicating that all steps and 

requirements contained in the Instructions were followed.

7. Terms of Appointment

7.1) The terms of the STRP shall be consistent with the time necessary to complete the review 

of the standard(s) and compile the final report(s).

7.2) An STRP member may be terminated by the OPO for not attending meetings, not 

completing assignments, or not adhering to the OSAC Code of Responsibility.

7.3) If an STRP member is unable or unwilling to complete the term of appointment, the OPO 

will determine whether a replacement is needed. If necessary, OPO will appoint a substitute 

using the process in Section 4.

8. STRP Meetings

8.1) Frequency

8.1.1) There shall be a minimum of two meetings of the STRP prior to completing the 

final report.

8.1.2) Additional meetings may be held to carry out the review or to address other 

issues.

8.2) Venue

8.2.1) Each STRP may meet virtually using teleconference or webconference technology 

or in-person.

8.2.1.1) OPO approval is required for any in-person meetings.

8.2.1.2) Meetings shall be closed to the public.

8.3) Participation

8.3.1) Two-thirds (2/3) of each STRP shall represent a quorum for a meeting. Members 

shall attend as many meetings as possible.

8.3.1.2) The Chair may reschedule a meeting if there is insufficient attendance at 

that meeting.

8.3.2) Active debate on standard and stakeholder requirements is encouraged.
Note: This document was drafted July 20, 2020 and is being used for guidance

purposes only. It will be revisited in March 2021 for potential revisions.

8.4) Manner of Acting

8.4.1) Meetings may be conducted without following formal rules of procedure; however, 

if a member objects to a procedure or the chair deems it appropriate, the latest edition of 

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed.

8.5) Agendas

8.5.1) The Chair shall distribute an agenda before the start of each meeting.

8.6) Minutes

8.6.1) The Chair shall designate a member to take the minutes for each meeting.

8.7) Voting

8.7.1) Each Member shall have one (1) vote. Members not present for an in-person or 

virtual meeting may notify the Chair of their vote in advance of the meeting.

8.7.2) Proxy voting is permitted and contributes to the voting quorum.

8.7.3) A two-thirds (2/3) majority of voting members is required to reach consensus.

8.7.4) Votes may take place during meetings or via an electronic poll. Electronic voting 

on complex or contentious issues is encouraged.

9. Amendment, Modification or Variation

9.1) These Terms of Reference may be amended, varied, or modified in writing by a two-thirds 

(2/3) majority of the FSSB and upon receipt of written concurrence from the OPO.