_________

Organization of Scientific Area Committees 

for Forensic Science (OSAC)

Mark D. Stolorow

Director for OSAC Affairs

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

International Association for Identification

San Antonio, TX

July 30, 2018
Disclaimer

Opinions provided in this presentation are mine 

and not necessarily those of the National Institute 

of Standards and Technology, the US Department 

of Commerce, nor the US Government.
OSAC Objective and Structure

To create a sustainable organizational infrastructure dedicated to 

identifying and fostering the development of technically sound, 

consensus-based documentary standards and guidelines for 

widespread adoption throughout the forensic science community

The National Institute of 

Standards and 

Technology (NIST) 

devised a multi-level 

organization, the OSAC, 

consisting of five 

Scientific Area 

Committees (SACs) which 

report to a Forensic 

Science Standards Board 

(FSSB).
Agenda

• FY18 and FY19 OSAC Budget Updates

• OSAC 2.0 Update

• OSAC Operations – All Hands Meetings - Nov/Dec 2018 

and July 2019

• Federal Alignment of Forensic Science Research Needs

• Staying Informed

4

565 Experts 

at OSAC 

All Hands 

Meeting in 

Leesburg, VA
OSAC Budget – FY2018

FY2018 Federal Omnibus Budget signed into law 

on March 23, 2018 by President Trump

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Scientific and Technical Research Services (STRS) Funds*

Organization of Scientific Area Committees = $3,000,000

*Now NIST STRS Funds, no longer transferred by DOJ
OSAC Budget – FY2019 (Proposed) 

“DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED 

AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2019” 

(Senate Report Language, accompanying S.3072)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

“Forensic Sciences.—The Committee provides no less than the fiscal 

year 2018 amount for forensic science research. Additionally, the 

Committee provides $3,000,000 to support the Organization of 22 

[sic] Scientific Area Committees and $1,000,000 to support 

technical merit evaluations previously funded by transfer from DOJ.” 

(p. 21-22)
OSAC Budget – FY2019 (Proposed) 

Questions about Support for Congressional Funding 

of OSAC?

IAI Members Can Contact your CFSO Representative:

Kenneth Martin

Martin Forensics, LLC

(508) 277-5037

kf.martin@verizon.net
OSAC 2.0 – Update 

• OSAC 1.0 was announced in February 2014

• NIST stated plans to administer OSAC on a 

temporary basis (3-5 years) until transfer to 

another independent organization (OSAC 2.0)

➢Insure scientific integrity 

➢ Maintain financial stability

• Request for Information (RFI) – August 2017
OSAC 2.0 – Update 

55 responses were received and published 

in the Federal Register in 2017
OSAC 2.0 – Update 

NIST meeting this summer with boards of 

6 professional forensic science 

organizations
OSAC 2.0 – Update 

• NIST presented updates to FSSB – June 2018

• Feedback from professional forensic science 

organization meetings will be compiled 

• NIST will share with FSSB again later this year
OSAC Operations – All Hands Meetings

• November 5-8, 2018 – Houston, TX 

➢ Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC + 6 Subcommittees and Crime Scene/Death 

Investigation SAC + 7 Subcommittees

• December 11-14, 2018 – Phoenix, AZ 

➢ Biology/DNA SAC + 3 Subs, Physics/Pattern Interpretation SAC + 5 Subcommittees, 

Digital/Multimedia SAC + 4 Subcommittees and Resource Committees

• July 9-12, 2019 – Charlotte, NC or Orlando, FL or Ft. Lauderdale, FL 

(Tentative)

➢ Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC + 6 Subcommittees, Crime Scene/Death 

Investigation SAC + 7 Subcommittees and Resource Committees 

• July 23-26, 2019 – Charlotte, NC or Orlando, FL or Ft. Lauderdale, FL 

(Tentative) 

➢ Biology/DNA SAC + 3 Subcommittees, Physics/Pattern Interpretation SAC + 5 

Subcommittees, and Digital/Multimedia SAC + 4 Subcommittees 
Federal Alignment of FS Research Needs

• OSAC publishes Forensic Science Research Needs for

➢ Each forensic science discipline (25 OSAC Subcommittees)

➢ Posted on OSAC website from all 25 Subcommittees

• OSAC currently has listed 103 Research Needs with 

links to supporting documentation

➢ https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensicscience/osac-research-and-development-needs

• NIJ R&D solicitations all point to NIJ FS TWG and to 

OSAC published Forensic Science Research Needs
NIJ Research & Development in Forensic 

Science for Criminal Justice Purposes

___
Staying Informed

OSAC 

Monthly 

Standards 

Bulletin

(online)
Staying Informed

OSAC 

In Brief

(members)
Staying Informed

OSAC 

Quarterly 

Newsletter

(online)
Staying Informed

OSAC 

Annual 

Reports

(online)
Staying Informed

• Receive the OSAC Quarterly Newsletter & latest 

announcements

➢www.nist.gov/osac

➢Click “Follow OSAC at NIST”

• View publicly available information

➢OSAC Homepage: 

http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac/index.cfm

➢Apply for OSAC membership: 

• www.nist.gov/osac

• Click on “Apply to Join OSAC”

in the menu at the left
www.nist.gov/osac 20

Mark D. Stolorow

Director of OSAC Affairs

NIST 

(301) 975-2754

mark.stolorow@nist.gov (Sign up for Newsletter)

Questions?