C.

The Office of the Comptroller shall manage a comprehensive accounting and finance program for the Bureau; administer the NBS system of accounting, payments, billings and collections, and financial reports; execute agreements for obtaining other agency funds; analyze and develop improved financial policies and practices; monitor the fiscal health of the NBS Working Capital Fund; monitor the overall fund controls and certify the official NBS accounting records and reports.

d. The Planning Office shall perform long-range program planning functions; maintain user liaison mechanisms; analyze external trends, opportunities, and user needs as they relate to program priorities; and provide economic benefit analyses.

SECTION 6. DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

The Director of Administrative and Information Systems shall direct the management of Bureau-wide facilities and information and administrative systems including information and office services, procurement, technical and public information functions, Bureau-wide computing, personnel, and management consulting services, health, safety, and security functions, and physical plant, facilities, space management and instruments shops functions; shall decide on policies and plans and direct implementation actions to assure the responsiveness of these services to the needs of the technical programs.

a.

The Public Information Division shall serve as the focal point of Bureau communications with the public through interaction with the print and broadcast media, and by means of conferences, tours, and exhibits; advise on the public affairs impact and ramifications of program decisions; coordinate handling and dissemination of information for the public; and report administratively to the Director of Administrative and Information Systems, while operating as needed under the programatic guidance of the Director, NBS.

b. The Personnel Division shall advise on personnel policy and utilization; administer recruitment, placement, classification, employee development, employee relations, labor relations and special programs activities; advise and assist operating officials and employees on these and other aspects of personnel management; and process employee security clearances.

c.

The Management and Organization Division shall provide consultative services to line management in organization, procedures, and management practices; maintain the directives system; and perform reports management and committee management functions.

d. The Center for Information Systems shall provide computing and information processing services including operation of the central coπputing facility; design and maintain the automated administrative

information systems; manage the publications program of NES; provide library services; manage a network of administrative service centers and word processing centers for all Administrative and Information Systems Centers, and other organizational units in the Bureau as requested; manage support services for small purchase procurements, grants administration, and contract liaison with the Department of Commerce; manage office support services including visual arts, duplication, and forms and records management; provide consultative and advisory services on computer networking and related telecommunications requirements; coordinate the overall management and utilization of computing resources within the Bureau and provide liaison with the Department's Office of ADP Management; and establish mechanisms to assure compliance with applicable Federal ADP Standards.

e.

The Center for Facilities Management shall manage and maintain NBS physical facilities including design and maintenance of the physical plant, roads, and utilities; provide for physical security, emergency planning, fire protection, and janitorial services; conduct the Bureau's energy conservation program; provide technical support services for NBS programs in the area of instruments design and fabrication; provide mail, messenger, communications, traffic and transportation services; furnish storeroom, property management, and warehousing services; provide logistical support for the Standard Reference Materials program; and manage the NBS occupational health and safety program. SECTION 7: NATIONAL MEASUREMENT LABORATORY.

The National Measurement Laboratory shall provide the national
system of physical and chemical and materials measurement; coordinate
the system with measurement systems of other nations and furnish
essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical and
chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific community,
industry, and commerce; shall conduct materials research leading to
improved methods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties
of materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions,
and Government; provide advisory and research services to other Govern
ment agencies; develop, produce, and distribute Standard Reference
Materials; provide calibration services; and collaborate with the
National Engineering Laboratory in carrying out its responsibilities.

a.

The Center for Absolute Physical Quantities shall develop and maintain the scientific competences and laboratory facilities necessary to preserve and continue to refine the base physical quantities upon which the Nation's measurement system is constructed; perform research, both experimental and theoretical, at the frontiers of physics in order to improve our measurement capability and our quantitative understanding of basic physical processes that underlie measurement science; improve, maintain and transfer the measurement base for time, frequency; electricity, temperature, mass and length; coordinate the National base standards with the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures and national laboratories; measure at the highest level of accuracy the fundamental constants of nature; work closely with other centers

of NBS in the interdisciplinary development of measurement science; and maintain scientific exchange programs with other measurement laboratories, including a continuing cooperative program with the University of Colorado.

b.

The Center for Radiation Research shall develop and maintain the scientific competences and experimental facilities necessary to provide the Nation with a central basis for uniform physical measurements, measurement methodology, and measurement services in the areas of optical radiation, ultra-violet radiation, and ionizing radiation (x-ray, gamma rays, electrons, neutrons, radioactivity, etc.); provide government, industry, and the private sector with essential calibrations for field radiation measurements needed in such applied areas as nuclear power, health care, radiation processing, advanced laser development, and radiation protection for public safety; carry out research in order to develop improved radiation standards, new radiation measurement technology, and improved understanding of atomic and nuclear radiation processes; collect, compile, critically evaluate, and supplement the existing atomic and nuclear data base in order to meet the major demands of the Nation for such data; and participate in collaborative efforts with other Centers in the interdisciplinary applications of radiation.

c. The Center for Analytical Chemistry shall carry out basic and applied research in analytical chemistry; develop and improve methods for the separation, analysis, and characterization of materials, including Standard Referennce Materials; conduct fundamental investigations of the phenomena on which measurement of the composition and behavior of chemical systems is based; use these measurement methods to improve the accuracy of composition measurement and thereby the comparability among laboratories throughout the United States as well as ensuring measurement compatibility with other nations; use these techniques to assist in the solution of problems of national impact, e.g., in improving the accuracy of clinical analytical chemistry, air and water pollution analysis, and in providing advisory services in analytical chemistry to government agencies, scientific organizations, and industry; and participate in collaborative efforts with other Centers in the interdisciplinary applications of analytical chemistry.

d. The Center for Thermodynamics and Molecular Science shall develop and maintain the scientific competences and experimental facilities necessary to provide the Nation with uniform measurements, measurement methodologies, and measurement services in the areas of thermodynamics and transport properties, chemical kinetics, surface science, and molecular spectroscopy; provide government, industry and the scientific community with essential standards and certified Standard Reference Materials needed to maintain the integrity of the measurement system; develop standards and techniques of measurement, conduct theoretical and experimental research, and provide consultative services in the fields of thermodynamics, kinetics, surface science, and molecular spectroscopy; measure, compile, critically evaluate, and disseminate thermodynamic spectroscopic data, chemical kinetic data,

and data on photochemistry to the industrial, governmental, and technological communities nationally and internationally; and participate in collaborative efforts with other Centers in disciplinary developments involving thermodynamics, kinetics, surface science, and molecular spectroscopy.

e.

The Center for Materials Science shall characterize and conduct res arch on the structure of materials, key chemical reactions, and key physical and chemical properties which will lead to the safest, most efficient uses of materials, improve materials technologies, and encourage recycling; provide standards, measurement methods, data, concepts, and information corr cerning the properties and performance of metals, polymers, and inorganic materials, and disseminate this information to industry, Government, universities, and consumers; maintain and develop research reactor activities which provide precise information about these materials.

SECTION 8. NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY.

The National Engineering Laboratory shall provide technology and technical services to users in the public and private sectors to address National needs and to solve National problems in the public interest; conduct research in engineering and applied science in support of objectives in these efforts; build and maintain competence in the necessary disciplines required to carry out this research and technical service; develop engineering data and measurement capabilities; provide engineering measurement traceability services, develop test methods and propose engineering standards and code. changes; develop and propose new engineering practices; develop and improve mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user; and collaborate with the National Measurement Laboratory in conducting the National Engineering Laboratory's assigned responsibilities.

a.

b.

The Center for Applied Mathematics shall conduct research, collaborate with and provide support to all Bureau activities and to other Federal agencies in selected fields of the mathematical and computer sciences important in science and engineering; undertake specialized computational support and services for high technology science and engineering programs; develop tools for mathematical work such as mathematical models, statistical models and computational methods, mathematical tables, handbooks, and manuals, and advise on their use; and provide training in disciplines related to these functions. The Center for Electronics and Electrical Engineering shall provide a focus in NBS for research, development, and applications in the field of electronic and electrical materials and engineering; maintain and develop competences in measurements and analytic methods, in fabrication processes, ir performance evaluation, and in practical applications appropriate to a wide range of electrical and electronic materials, devices, instruments, and systems; identify technological barriers to the effective application of electrical and electronic technologies for the achievement of National goals; conduct responsive applied research to yield the requisite practical data, measurement methods, theory, standards, technology, and technical services; and provide national reference standards and engineering measurement traceability and

deliver the results for the benefit of the Government, industry, the scientific. community, and the consumer, either directly or through effective intermediarie

C. The Center for Mechanical Engineering and Process Technology shall provide, within the National Engineering Laboratory, competence in mechanics, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering metrology, and automatic control technology; manage these comp tences to provide technology, standards, and measurement traceability services to strengthen the manufacturing industries, public utilities, and Government agencies for the purposes of increased productivity, improved international competitiveness, and efficiency in regulatory compliance.

d. The Center for Building Technology shall perform analytical, laboratory and field research involving architecture, engineering, and physical and social sciences to produce performance criteria and methods of evaluation, and tests and measurements for codes and standards; serve building owners, occupants, designers, manufacturers, builders, regulatory authorities of State and local governments and Federal agencies with building programs; provide for demonstration, implementation and evaluation of improved building practices by means of cooperative programs with other research organizations, professione societies, standards-writing organizations, State and local governments and oth Federal agencies; apply these methods and disciplines for the purposes of improving safety in building contruction and use, energy conservation in buildings, establishment of sound technical bases for the solar heating and cooling of buildings, more useful and economical new buildings, and effective use of .existing buildings.

e.

The Center for Fire Research shall perform and support research in all aspects of fire with the aim of providing scientific and technical knowledge applicable to the prevention and control of fires, including: (1) basic and applied research for the purpose of arriving at an understanding of the fundamental processes underlying fires, including the physics and chemistry of combustion processes and products, early stages of fires and structural influences in fire behavior, fire-safe design concepts for buildings, and specific fire hazards, (2) research into the biological, physiological and psychological factors affecting human victims of fire, and the performance of individual members of fire services, including the psychological factors leadin to arson and the prediction and cure of such behavior, and (3) operation tests, demonstration projects and fire investigations in support of such activities. The Center shall coordinate all activities carried out in NBS on behalf of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration.

f.

The Center for Consumer Product Technology shall perform research and development toward establishing and advancing measurement techniques and test methodology to evaluate the safety, energy efficiency, and other performance characteristics of consumer products and law enforcement equipment; apply the disciplines of mechanical and electrical engineering, consumer and behavioral sciences, economics, and operations research to programs involving consumer product technology and product-user interactions; develop the technical and analytical bases for performance standards and characterizing product attribute provide technical assistance, analyses, and evaluations related to consurer