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Scientific & Technical Review Panels: FAQs

A major change in OSAC’s new structure and processes is that the technical review of standards 

will happen earlier in the process, before they are sent to an SDO. Independent scientific and 

technical review panels (STRPs) will be established for each standard with the goal to provide: 

1.) initial feedback to thedrafting subcommittee on suggested improvements to the standard, 

and 2.) a final review of the revised standard that will result in a final report on the technical

merit of the standard.

Want to know more about the new STRP process? Check out these FAQs for more information.

What standards need to go through the STRP process?

Standards that cover the following topics will need to be evaluated by an STRP:

• Method development

• Method validation

• Methods, practices, and procedures

• Quality assurance

• Reports and testimony

What type of expertise is included on an STRP?

STRP members will consist of forensic science practitioners, scientific researchers, statisticians,

human factors, legal and quality experts depending on the topic of the standard.

How are panel members selected?

Panel members will be selected through FSSB, SAC and SC recommendations, NIST staff

suggestions, and from the OSAC application database. Members will be appointed to a panel

for a finite period to complete their task and are not given a “term” as an OSAC member.

The OSAC Program Office (OPO) has responsibility for selecting the panel members and the

chair. The current practice is to select the chair first and leverage their knowledge to select the

other panel members. The FSSB does not have authority to approve or disapprove panel

members. They can, however, express a concern with an individual (2/3 vote is needed) and

OPO will select a replacement.
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How are draft standards evaluated?

The FSSB developed Instructions for Reviewers which in the new process, replaces the

Technical Merit worksheet. This is the criteria to which standards will be evaluated. Not all

elements will apply to all standards. Subcommittees should familiarize themselves with this

document and its contents for aiding in standards development.

What is the STRP process?

The role of the STRP will be to discuss and assess a standard’s scientific and technical merit and

provide suggestions for improvements before it is placed on the OSAC Registry as an “OSAC

Proposed Standard” and submitted to an SDO. STRP members will share their assessment by

providing interim feedback back to the drafting subcommittee. The subcommittee can then

make updates to the standard based on the STRP comments and any comments received 

during the open comment period. The subcommittee will then send the revised standard back 

to the STRP for a final review. The STRP will write a final report and share it with the 

subcommittee. If the subcommittee votes to move the standard forward, the STRP’s final 

report will be shared with the public and Forensic Science Standards Board. 

What standards are in the STRP queue?

Creating a panel takes several weeks,so please let OPO know if your unit has documents that 

are ready for the STRP step in the Registry approval process. OPO has developed an internal 

intake form where suggestions for panel members (e.g., from the SAC, FSSB, task groups, etc.) 

can be managed.

We need your expertise!

Please encourage your colleagues to complete an OSAC application (and check STRP!) if they 

would like to contribute to OSAC in this role. 
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Have additional questions?

Visit the Scientific & Technical Review webpage for more information.

You can also email the OSAC Program Office (forensics@nist.gov) or Karen Reczek

(karen.reczek@nist.gov) with any questions.