Notice2024-23174
Existing Awards and Recognition Programs for Standards Development and Best Practices for Standards Workforce Development in Support of the Implementation of the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET)
Primary source
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Published
October 8, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Institute of Standards and Technology
Abstract
The U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET) supports and complements existing private sector-led activities and plans, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy (USSS), with a focus on critical and emerging technology (CET). The USG NSSCET Implementation Roadmap outlines immediate and long-term U.S. Government actions to reinforce the U.S. standards system. This Request for Information (RFI) solicits information to inform the Implementation Roadmap actions focused on increasing U.S. participation in standards development and educating the standards workforce. The RFI is also intended to maintain an open dialogue with the CET standards community on opportunities for continued coordination.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81428-81429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23174]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No.: 240924-0252]
Existing Awards and Recognition Programs for Standards
Development and Best Practices for Standards Workforce Development in
Support of the Implementation of the United States Government National
Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET)
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical
and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET) supports and complements existing
private sector-led activities and plans, including the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy
(USSS), with a focus on critical and emerging technology (CET). The USG
NSSCET Implementation Roadmap outlines immediate and long-term U.S.
Government actions to reinforce the U.S. standards system. This Request
for Information (RFI) solicits information to inform the Implementation
Roadmap actions focused on increasing U.S. participation in standards
development and educating the standards workforce. The RFI is also
intended to maintain an open dialogue with the CET standards community
on opportunities for continued coordination.
DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December
9, 2024. Submissions received after that date may not be considered in
the analysis of this RFI. Public input on general USG NSSCET
implementation coordination activities will be accepted on an on-going
basis via <a href="http://www.standards.gov">www.standards.gov</a>.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>:
<bullet> To submit electronic public comments via the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and enter [NIST-2024-0003] in the
search field.
2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete the required
fields.
3. Enter or attach your comments.
Comments containing references, studies, research, and other
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of
the referenced materials. All submissions, including comments,
attachments and other supporting materials, will become part of the
public record and subject to public disclosure. Relevant comments will
generally be available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. After the comment period closes, relevant comments
will generally be available on <a href="http://www.standards.gov">www.standards.gov</a>. NIST will not accept
comments accompanied by a request that part or all of the material be
treated confidentially because of its business proprietary nature or
for any other reason. Therefore, do not submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive, protected, or personal information,
such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, or names of other
individuals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice please
contact: Standards Coordination Office (SCO), NIST via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8cbdbd7f8d6d1cbcc96dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9cadad6f9d7d0cacd97ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a> or by phone at (301) 975-5633. Please direct all media
inquiries to Richard Press in the NIST Public Affairs Office via email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d8aab1bbb0b9aabcf6a8aabdabab98b6b1abacf6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63110a000b0211074d1311061010230d0a10174d040c15">[email protected]</span></a> or by phone at (301) 975-0501.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST is seeking information on behalf of the
U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Government to support the
implementation of the May 2023 USG NSSCET (found at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/US-Gov-National-Standards-Strategy-2023.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/US-Gov-National-Standards-Strategy-2023.pdf</a>), which complements existing private
sector-led activities and plans, including the ANSI USSS, with a focus
on CET. A full list of CETs identified by the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC) can be found at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-2022-Critical-and-Emerging-Technologies-List-Update.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-2022-Critical-and-Emerging-Technologies-List-Update.pdf</a>.
The U.S. standards development system is unique because it is built
upon a wide variety of processes that are open, voluntary,
decentralized, and led by the private sector. These processes feature
participation by interested stakeholders with consensus-based decision-
making. Finalized standards are primarily published by private sector
standards organizations, not the U.S. Government. The USG NSSCET
reinforces the U.S. Government's support of a private sector-led system
based on principles that are fundamental to the development of
international standards: transparency, openness, impartiality and
consensus, effectiveness and relevance, and coherence.
The USG developed the USG NSSCET Implementation Roadmap (<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USG-NSSCET_Implementation_Rdmap_v7_23.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USG-NSSCET_Implementation_Rdmap_v7_23.pdf</a>), which provides immediate and
long-term actions for the U.S. Government to reinforce its support for
the U.S. standards system, to operationalize the strategy. Released in
July 2024, the Implementation Roadmap is based on the findings from a
broad stakeholder engagement campaign that included input from
workshops, meetings, a USG NSSCET-focused RFI (88 FR 76187 (Nov. 6,
2023), and a study conducted by the NIST Visiting Committee on Advance
Technology (<a href="https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2024/04/09/VCAT%20Subcommittee%20on%20International%20Standards%20Report%202024_FINAL_1.pdf">https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2024/04/09/VCAT%20Subcommittee%20on%20International%20Standards%20Report%202024_FINAL_1.pdf</a>).
An area of focus during the stakeholder engagement conducted to
inform the USG NSSCET Implementation Roadmap was the identification of
barriers to increased participation in standards development. Engaging
and recognizing early and mid-career standards development
professionals through education and meaningful acknowledgment was a key
theme identified by stakeholders. Another key theme was the critical
role of business and technology decision-makers in helping drive
engagement in standards development and the need to educate these
leaders on why, how, and when to engage. NIST is now seeking
information through this RFI to further inform how the U.S. Government
addresses these key themes during implementation.
The national interest in CET and associated areas of
standardization demands a new and urgent level of coordination and
effort. National policy priorities, as expressed in legislation and
other statements of policy, will require new ways for public sector and
private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and small- and
medium-sized
[[Page 81429]]
enterprises (SMEs), the academic community, and civil society
organizations) stakeholders to cooperate in order to advance U.S.
economic competitiveness and national security.
In this RFI, NIST is seeking information about existing awards and
recognition programs that can be leveraged by the U.S. Government and
U.S. standards community to encourage and support standards
participation and leadership in CET areas in alignment with the actions
called out in the USG NSSCET Implementation Roadmap. NIST is also
requesting information that will help inform the work of the U.S.
Government and the U.S. standards community to educate and empower the
standards workforce and business and technology decision-makers.
Finally, NIST is seeking to maintain an open dialogue and sustained
communication with the U.S. CET and standards communities regarding the
ongoing implementation of the roadmap. Information gathered through
this RFI and other stakeholder engagements will support key activities
to optimize the USG NSSCET impact and further enhance the U.S.
Government's ability to support a private sector-led, open, consensus-
based international standards system in which the U.S. Government is an
active stakeholder and participant.
NIST is requesting comments on the following questions and
encourages responses from the public, including key stakeholders from
the private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and SMEs, the
academic community, professional societies, and civil society
organizations), standards developing organizations (SDOs), and
international standards community.
The questions on awards and recognition, as well as on workforce
development, address specific aspects of the USG NSSCET where further
input from the stakeholder community will help the short- and long-term
outcomes in the implementation roadmap. The inclusion of these two
topics on this RFI is not intended to indicate a particular
relationship between the two topics, nor are they intended to limit the
topics that may be addressed by the public in response to this RFI.
Responses to the open feedback question may include any topic believed
to have implications for the ongoing implementation.
When responding, commenters may address the practices of their
organization(s) or a group of organizations with which they are
familiar. Commenters may also provide information about the type, size,
and location of the organization(s). Provision of such information is
optional and will not affect NIST's consideration.
Existing Awards and Recognition Programs for Standards Development
1. How can the U.S. Government and the U.S. standards community
leverage existing awards and recognition programs or establish new
programs to support standards participation and leadership in CET
areas?
2. What types of awards and recognition programs for standards
development further standards engagement, especially with respect to
CET?
Best Practices for Standards Workforce Development
1. What types of support could improve professional development for
early-career professionals, mid-career professionals, or those who are
new to standards development?
2. What type of educational outreach to business and technology
decision-makers on why, how, and when to engage in standards
development could increase their engagement?
3. How can the U.S. Government and the U.S. standards community
more effectively work together to share best practices for standards
workforce development?
Open Feedback on the Implementation of the USG NSSCET
1. Please describe any additional observations of how the U.S.
Government can effectively implement the vision set forth in the USG
NSSCET and associated Implementation Roadmap.
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2024-23174 Filed 10-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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