NIST Seeks Feedback on Best Practices for Standards Workforce Development, Awards, and Recognition Programs

Effort Relates to Implementation Roadmap for the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology

In an effort to boost participation and leadership in standards development, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) related to the Implementation Roadmap for the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). NIST is seeking comments by December 9, 2024.

The RFI solicits information that will inform Implementation Roadmap actions specifically focused on increasing U.S. participation in standards development and educating the standards workforce. NIST is seeking information about:

• existing awards and recognition programs that the U.S. government and U.S. standards community can use to encourage and support participation and leadership in standards development for critical and emerging technologies;

   

• ways the U.S. government and the U.S. standards community can educate and empower the standards workforce and business and technology decision-makers; and

   

• feedback on how NIST can best maintain an open dialogue and sustained communication with the U.S. critical and emerging technologies and standards communities regarding the ongoing implementation of the roadmap.

The RFI is available in the Federal Register, with information on how to submit comments by the December 9, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET deadline. Public input on general USG NSSCET implementation coordination activities will be accepted on an on-going basis via www.standards.gov.

About the USG NSSCET and ANSI’s Related Initiatives

The USG NSSCET outlines U.S. government goals to advance U.S. competitiveness, protect the integrity of standards-developing ecosystems, and assure the long-term success of the U.S. innovation ecosystem, with a focus on critical and emerging technology. The strategy commits to increasing U.S. government support for the private sector–led standards system, and calls out its alignment with the United States Standards Strategy published by ANSI.

In September 2024, ANSI published the report Enabling Standards Development Through Public-Private Partnerships, which details best practices and recommendations on the use of public-private partnerships, and summarizes the efforts of an ANSI project that began in May 2024. The publication was part of an effort performed under a cooperative agreement with NIST to help inform the implementation of the USG NSSCET, and aligns with the desired outcomes in the strategy’s Objective 2, Line of Effort #4.

Related News:

U.S. Government Releases National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology

New ANSI Report: Enabling Standards Development Through Public-Private Partnerships