CONTACT US: forensics@nist.gov

Strengthening the nation’s use of forensic science by facilitating 

the development of technically sound standards and encouraging 

their use throughout the forensic science community.

ABOUT US

Administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), OSAC was created in 2014 to address a 

lack of discipline-specific forensic science standards. To fill this gap, OSAC:

• Drafts proposed standards and sends them to standards developing organizations (SDOs), which further develop 

and publish them.

• Evaluates and approves standards for the OSAC Registry.

• Promotes the use of OSAC endorsed standards throughout the forensic science community.

OUR ORGANIZATION

OSAC’s 800+ volunteer members and affiliates work in forensic laboratories and otherinstitutions around the 

country and have expertise in 22 forensic disciplines, as well as scientific research, measurementscience, statistics, 

law, quality, human factors, and policy. These experts work togetherto draft and evaluate forensic science

standards via a transparent, consensus-based process that allows for participation by all stakeholders.
CONTACT US: forensics@nist.gov

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE

OSAC’s volunteer members have dedicated more than 100,000 hours annually to drafting and evaluating forensic 

science standards! This does not include participation from other internal OSAC stakeholders – affiliates, Scientific

and Technical Review (STR) participants, commenters, and those external groups such as the SDOs and professional

societies. OSAC provides stakeholders with various ways to engage, depending on your appetite and availability. All

the following opportunities, except for Public Reviewer/Commenter, require the completion and submission of an 

OSAC application.

Opportunity to Engage Description of Role Time Commitment and Responsibilities

OSAC Member You’ll be appointed to an OSAC unit such as a 

subcommittee, Scientific Area Committee (SAC), or the 

Forensic Science Standards Board to serve as a subject 

matter expert in a forensic discipline or area such as 

statistics, legal, quality, and human factors. Thisrole has

specified minimum participation requirements.

3-year term; renewable for another 3 years.

You’ll attend regular unit meetings (virtual and 

optional in-person). NIST providestravel support for 

members invited to attend in-person meetings.

OSAC Affiliate You’ll be appointed by an OSAC unit chair to serve in a 

specific capacity. Affiliates provide useful knowledge to aid 

task groups and subcommittees when drafting standards, 

however they do not have an official vote at the 

subcommittee level.

Short-term and specific to the task at hand. (Note: 

Standard drafting and balloting can take 1-2 years.)

You’ll attend virtual task group meetings. Affiliates 

may be invited to in-person meetings depending on 

the level of travel support available for the event.

OSAC Scientific &Technical Review 

(STR) Participant

You’ll be appointed by the OSAC Program Office at NIST to 

serve as a subject matter expert to review a single OSAC

proposed standard and provide technical input for possible 

improvements.

1-2 months of engagement which includes reviewing 

an OSAC proposed standard, drafting comments, and 

attending up to two 1.5-hour meetings – total time 

commitment is approximately 6 hours.

Public Reviewer/ Commenter You’ll share your expertise by reviewing and providing 

technical comments on OSAC proposed and published 

standards to help strengthen them.

~ 3-4 hours to read the standard, formulate 

comments, and submit them.

BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

• Contribute to the field as a subject matter expert. Share your 

knowledge and help develop OSAC work products.

• Improve the science behind “forensic science”. Participate in 

validating test methods, advise on best practices, and support 

standards implementation.

• Obtain professional recognition. Be recognized as a subject 

matter expert, a hard-working volunteer, and as a leader.

• Network and find your place in a community of practice. Meet 

people from different organizations, working in a variety of 

disciplines, and with diverse expertise.

• Support your career development. Set a stretch goal to learn 

more about standards and participate in the standards 

development process.

• Build leadership and collaboration skills. Lead task groups, 

subcommittees, or facilitate discussions across groups.

• Raise your own awareness. By volunteering in the OSAC process, 

you’ll be more aware of what is happening in the field of forensic 

science standardization.

GET INVOLVED

Apply to become an OSAC member 

or affiliate. 

www.nist.gov/osac/apply-join-osac

Sign up for OSAC communications 

to get the latest news and updates 

about forensic standards. 

https://public.govdelivery.com/ac

counts/USNIST/subscriber/new

Provide your input on standards

that are open for comment. 

https://www.nist.gov/organization

-scientific-area-committeesforensic-science/standards-opencomment