U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Institute of Standards and Technology

T

he National Institute of Standards and Technology was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1901. The Institute's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Institute conducts research to assure international competitiveness and leadership of U.S. industry, science and technology. NIST work involves development and transfer of measurements, standards and related science and technology, in support of continually improving U.S. productivity, product quality and reliability, innovation and underlying science and engineering. The Institute's technical work is performed by the National Measurement Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Computer Systems Laboratory, and the Institute for Materials Science and Engineering.

The National Measurement Laboratory

Provides the national system of physical and chemical measurement;
coordinates the system with measurement systems of other nations
and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform
physical and chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific
community, industry, and commerce; provides advisory and research.
services to other Government agencies; conducts physical and chemical
research; develops, produces, and distributes Standard Reference
Materials; provides calibration services; and manages the National
Standard Reference Data System. The Laboratory consists of the
following centers:

The National Engineering Laboratory

Provides technology and technical services to the public and private
sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems;
conducts research in engineering and applied science in support of these
efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines
required to carry out this research and technical service; develops engi-
neering data and measurement capabilities; provides engineering measure-
ment traceability services; develops test methods and proposes engi-
neering standards and code changes; develops and proposes new
engineering practices; and develops and improves mechanisms to
transfer results of its research to the ultimate user. The Laboratory
consists of the following centers:

The National Computer Systems Laboratory

Conducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aid Federal agencies in the selection, acquisition, application, and use of computer technology to improve effectiveness and economy in Government operations in accordance with Public Law 89-306 (40 U.S.C. 759), relevant Executive Orders, and other directives; carries out this mission by managing the Federal Information Processing Standards Program, developing Federal ADP standards guidelines, and managing Federal participation in ADP voluntary standardization activities; provides scientific and technological advisory services and assistance to Federal agencies; and provides the technical foundation for computer-related policies of the Federal Government. The Laboratory consists of the following divisions:

The Institute for Materials Science and Engineering Conducts research and provides measurements, data, standards, reference materials, quantitative understanding and other technical information fundamental to the processing, structure, properties and performance of materials; addresses the scientific basis for new advanced materials technologies; plans research around cross-cutting scientific themes such as nondestructive evaluation and phase diagram development; oversees Institute-wide technical programs in nuclear reactor radiation research and nondestructive evaluation; and broadly disseminates generic technical information resulting from its programs. The Institute consists of the following divisions:

'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303. 'Located at Boulder, CO, with some elements at Gaithersburg, MD.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, C. William Verity, Secretary

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, Ernest Ambler, Director
(formerly National Bureau of Standards)

Issued October 1988

10 120 AA

XL1
03/03 02-013-01 GBC

950

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 88-600576

National Institute of Standards and Technology
Special Publication 756, 650 pages (Oct. 1988)
CODEN: XNBSAV

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1988

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325