This work  includes providing measurement services, such as calibrations of  equipment and reference materials used to ensure the accuracy and  reliability of a wide range of scientific and industrial devices, and support  for the development of documentary standards by the private sector. The U.S. Promote standards and standardization systems that promote and  sustain innovation and foster competition. NIST Faces Challenges Identifying and Prioritizing Measurement Services and Documentary- Standards Activities, and Communicating with Stakeholders Can Be Challenging

The breadth of U.S. industries and commercial sectors with  measurement-service and documentary-standards needs, and other  factors, make it challenging to identify and prioritize among these needs,  and make it challenging for NIST to ensure stakeholders are aware of the  agency’s services. On the other hand, NIST’s  million-pound deadweight machine provides calibrations for very large  force gauges used by aerospace manufacturers and the U.S. military. NIST Has Taken Steps to Address Challenges in Providing Measurement Services and Supporting Documentary Standards, but Some Efforts Could Be Improved NIST’s Efforts Help Address Challenges to Identifying and Prioritizing Needs but Could More Fully Align with Federal Guidance and NIST Policy

NIST works to address the challenges it faces in providing measurement  services and supporting documentary-standards development in a variety  of ways, but opportunities exist to improve some efforts. Third, NIST’s efforts support federal agency  coordination on standards issues but do not fully align with selected  leading collaboration practices. Federal standards for internal control direct management to use quality  information to determine if the agency is meeting its objectives and to  identify, analyze, and respond to significant changes that could present  risks to achieving its objectives. Conducting comprehensive  reviews of NIST’s measurement services and documentary standards  activities would provide NIST with greater confidence that its activities align with stakeholders’ needs, consistent with internal control standards. However, participants in two focus groups  said that NIST is better suited to a technical advisor role. NIST  also shares information on international standards activities with U.S.  industry. Specifically,  the ICSP charter has not been updated; ICSP member agencies’ roles  and responsibilities have not been fully clarified; and the ICSP may not  include relevant members to carry out its functions. We also reported that written agreements are  most effective when they are regularly updated and monitored. Without  ensuring that member agencies’ roles and responsibilities have been fully  clarified, NIST and the ICSP may miss opportunities to strengthen  agencies’ coordination on standards issues, and better ensure effective  coordination related to standards activities. NIST has taken steps to address these challenges. However,  some of the ICSP’s efforts do not fully align with selected leading  practices for enhancing and sustaining interagency collaboration, as  identified in our previous work. Recommendations for Executive Action

We are making a total of seven recommendations to NIST, specifically:  The NIST Associate Director for Laboratory Programs should: update NIST policy to include periodic comprehensive management  review of the agency’s measurement services to assess gaps and  ensure alignment with stakeholders’ needs, and take steps to ensure  that the Associate Director completes the review of NIST’s standards  development activities (Recommendation 1). Commerce also agreed with recommendations on improving interagency  coordination in the ICSP. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This report examines (1) the challenges the National Institute of  Standards and Technology (NIST) faces in providing measurement  services and supporting documentary-standards development and (2) the  extent to which NIST has taken steps to address any challenges and how  those steps align with relevant federal guidance and policy. To evaluate the steps NIST has taken to address challenges in providing  measurement services and supporting documentary-standards  development, we drew upon our focus groups, interviews with NIST staff,  and reviews of NIST documentation that described the agency’s  measurement services and standards activities, such as agency policies,  orders, and publications.
Why GAO Did This Study

The U.S. Department of Commerce's NIST provides measurement services and supports standards that promote U.S. competitiveness. For example, NIST provides calibrations for manufacturing equipment and reference materials used in testing. NIST also supports private sector organizations in developing standards to help ensure product performance, among other things, such as Wi-Fi. In recent years, NIST has sought to improve the delivery of its services and documentary standards activities.
GAO was asked to review NIST measurement services and standards-support activities. This report examines (1) the challenges NIST faces in providing measurement services and supporting documentary standards development, and (2) the extent to which NIST has taken steps to address these challenges and how those steps align with federal guidance and policy. GAO analyzed testimony, reports, laws, and policies; conducted focus groups with academics and industry representatives; and interviewed various stakeholders.

What GAO Found

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) faces challenges in providing measurement services and supporting private sector development of specifications for products' designs or performance—referred to as “documentary standards.” Based on reviews of relevant testimony, reports, and other documents; interviews with stakeholders; and focus groups with academics and industry representatives, GAO identified challenges including:
Identifying and prioritizing what measurement services, such as calibrating large force-measurement tools used by aerospace manufacturers, or what documentary standards activities, such as serving as a technical advisor on fire safety standards, are most needed by U.S. industry, and
Coordinating with other federal agencies on standards development issues.
NIST has taken steps to address these challenges, including industry outreach and reviews of measurement services and standards activities. However, some efforts do not fully align with federal guidance or NIST policy. For example, NIST's measurement-services and standards-activity reviews have not included a comprehensive examination of how these services and standards activities align with stakeholder needs. Federal internal control standards call for managers to use quality information to determine if the agency is meeting its objectives. Comprehensively reviewing NIST's measurement services and documentary-standards activities would provide NIST with greater confidence that its services and activities align with stakeholders' needs.
GAO also found that NIST coordinates with other agencies on standards development and related activities, but that some efforts do not fully align with specific leading practices GAO has previously identified for enhancing and sustaining interagency collaboration. For example, NIST and other agencies coordinate on standards activities through a NIST-chaired interagency committee. However, GAO found that the committee has not updated its charter since 2000—contrary to leading practices to update and monitor collaborative agreements. GAO also found that NIST has not worked with other committee members to fully clarify agencies' roles and responsibilities. Without ensuring that member agencies' roles and responsibilities are current and fully clarified, NIST and other agencies may miss opportunities to strengthen coordination.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is making seven recommendations, including that NIST comprehensively review measurement services and documentary-standards activities, and work with other agencies to take steps to strengthen interagency coordination. The Department of Commerce agreed with six recommendations and disagreed with one, citing risks to the private-sector-led U.S. standards system. GAO clarified its recommendation and continues to believe this action is needed, as discussed in the report.