OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2022 

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 August 2022 

This Standards Bulletin from the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science 

provides a monthly update on: 

• Standards moving through the OSAC Registry approval processes for published and OSAC 

Proposed Standards. 

• Standards moving through the development process at standards developing organizations 

(SDOs).

Bulletin Summary:

• New standards added to the OSAC Registry: 2 

• Standards under consideration for the Registry and open for comment: 7 

• Standards open for comment at SDOs: 6 

OSAC REGISTRY UPDATES 

The OSAC Registry is a repository of high-quality, technically sound published and 

proposed standards for forensic science. These written documents define minimum 

requirements, best practices, standard protocols, and other guidance to help ensure 

that the results of forensic analyses are reliable and reproducible.

All the standards on the OSAC Registry have passed a rigorous technical and quality 

review by OSAC members, including forensic science practitioners, research scientists, 

statisticians, and human factors and legal experts. 

TWO NEW STANDARDS ADDED TO THE OSAC REGISTRY 

SDO Published Standards (added August 2, 2022):

• ANSI/ASB 062, Standard for Topography Comparison Software for 

Toolmark Analysis, First Edition, 2021.

• ANSI/ASB 063, Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic 

Firearm and Toolmark Comparison Laboratories, First Edition, 2021. 

The OSAC Registry 

now includes 100 

forensic science 

standards! 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2022 

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STANDARDS OPEN FOR COMMENT FOR OSAC REGISTRY APPROVAL 

SDO Published Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for published standards is used to review existing SDO published 

standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry. Please submit your comments by 11:59 

p.m. ET on September 5, 2022, on whether the following SDO published standards should be included 

on the Registry:

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 052, Best Practice Recommendation for the Detection 

and Collection of Footwear and Tire Impressions, First Edition, 2022. Submit your comments 

here.

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 060, Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length 

Measurements of Firearms, First Edition, 2021. Submit your comments here. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 096, Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of 

Ammunition and Ammunition Components, First Edition, 2022. Submit your comments here.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 105, Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner 

Trainees, First Edition, 2021. Submit your comments here.

• ASTM E3294-22, Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray 

Diffraction. Submit your comments here. 

NOTE: In January 2022, OSAC’s Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) approved that the requirement for an 

OSAC-managed comment period for Registry approval of SDO published standards can be met during the SDO’s 

public comment period. The public will have an opportunity to comment on a standard during its development 

through the SDO’s public comment period. This change allows comments to be submitted during the SDO 

development process, prior to publication, enabling upgrades to be directly incorporated into the standard rather 

than receiving the comments after the standard is published. In cases where OSAC can document the SDO’s public 

comment opportunity, OSAC will not execute a second public comment period during its Registry approval process. 

See the SDO Updates below for information on the standards currently open for comment at SDOs. 

OSAC Proposed Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for OSAC Proposed Standards is used to review OSAC drafted 

standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry. The following draft OSAC Proposed 

Standards are being considered for submission to an SDO. The final draft provided to the SDO will be 

available on the OSAC Registry as an “OSAC Proposed Standard.”

OSAC welcomes comments on whether the current drafts are suitable for release to the SDO as well as 

suggestions for improvements in content and wording. To be considered, comments must be placed in 

the OSAC Comment Form and sent to comments@nist.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 5, 2022.

• OSAC 2022-S-0014, Building an Analytical Scheme for the Assessment of Tetrahydrocannabinol 

(THC) in Suspected Marijuana Plant Material Samples.

• OSAC 2022-S-0034, Standard for the Expression of Conclusions in Forensic Document 

Examination. 

The 2022 OSAC Registry Implementation Survey is Open! 

OSAC wants to better understand how the standards on the OSAC Registry are being used, the 

challenges around standards implementation, and what support is needed to improve it. To do this, 

we need to hear from the nation’s forensic science service providers. 

Learn more and participate in the survey by August 12, 2022.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2022 

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Standards Open for Comment at SDOs

Stakeholders from the forensic science community are encouraged to provide input on standards as 

they are being developed at SDOs. For SDO published standards going through the OSAC Registry 

approval process, the public will have an opportunity to comment on a standard during the SDO’s public 

comment period but will not be given a second opportunity to comment through OSAC on whether the 

resulting standard should be placed on the Registry. 

Visit OSAC’s Standards Open for Comment webpage to see the full list of forensic science standards 

open for comment at SDOs and how to submit your feedback. This page consolidates and tracks 

comment deadlines for you and will be updated on a weekly basis. It currently includes:

• Six standards open for comment at ASB in firearms & toolmarks (2), forensic anthropology (2), 

and forensic toxicology (2). 

Apply to Join OSAC!

The success of OSAC’s efforts to facilitate the development of technically sound forensic science 

standards and promote the adoption of those standards by the forensic science community depend on 

your participation. OSAC is currently seeking to fill member vacancies on its committees and 

subcommittees due to a number of membership terms that will be expiring this September.  

If you are one of the over 500 current members and are interested in seeking a second term, you will be 

considered for the vacancy. If you have previously applied, you do not have to submit a new application 

unless your contact information or other responses have changed since your original submission. 

 

If you are interested in joining OSAC, please complete and submit an application form in order to be 

eligible and considered for the positions opening in October. 

Please contact OSAC Project Manager, Donna Sirk (donna.sirk@nist.gov) for more information.

OSAC Public Update Meeting

Join us for the upcoming OSAC Public Update Meeting taking place on September 13, 2022. This virtual 

event will feature presentations from the chairs of OSAC’s seven Scientific Area Committees and the 

Forensic Science Standards Board. Each presenter will describe their unit’s activities, including the 

standards they are working on, challenges being addressed, and priorities for the upcoming year. 

Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. Learn more and register.

SDO UPDATES

OSAC PROGRAM OFFICE NEWS
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2022 

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Call for Nominations for Sharon B. Nakich Award 

OSAC is seeking nominations for the 2022 Sharon B. Nakich Award. In 

honor of our colleague, Sharon Nakich, this OSAC peer-to-peer award 

acknowledges a helpful attitude, kindness, teamwork, or behind-thescenes contributions to support the goals of OSAC. It recognizes an 

individual who has made significant contributions to promote OSAC’s 

mission through their support of OSAC. This nominee works diligently 

and tirelessly as a champion for OSAC, at times without recognition. 

Eligibility:

• All OSAC members and affiliates.

• Any non-OSAC member who has contributed significantly to furthering the mission of OSAC.

To submit your nomination, please provide two or more narrative statements from two or more 

different individuals addressing the criteria mentioned above. Nomination justifications should include, 

but are not limited to, a description of:

• Specific activities the nominee was involved in that had a positive effect in supporting OSAC’s 

mission. 

• How the individual’s action helped the organization further its goals. 

• Describe the nominee’s willingness to go the extra mile. 

Please send your nomination and supporting documentation to allison.getz@nist.gov by Friday, 

September 2, 2022.

OTHER FORENSIC SCIENCE NEWS, EVENTS & TRAINING

106th IAI Educational Conference

OSAC’s VITAL, Friction Ridge, Facial Identification, and Footwear & Tire Subcommittees will be

presenting updates at the International Association for Identification (IAI) Educational Conference

happening July 31 – August 6 in Omaha, Nebraska. For more information about these and other

standards-related presentations occurring throughout the week, view the IAI Conference agenda. 

Now Available: AAFS Standards Fact Sheets!

As part of a cooperative agreement with NIST, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is

developing training, tools, and resources to enhance implementation efforts and broaden awareness of

forensic science standards among communities of interest. 

One of these resources, AAFS Standards Factsheets, provide a clear, concise, and easy way to

understand the purpose of a specific standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. 

Sharon B. Nakich
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2022 

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There are currently 12 AAFS Factsheets available for standards listed on the OSAC Registry in the

following forensic science disciplines: DNA, fire investigation, firearms & toolmarks, ignitable liquids and

explosives, seized drugs, toxicology, and trace evidence. The factsheets, standards-related webinars, and

future resources are available on the AAFS Standards Resources and Training site.