NIST DIRECTIVES SYSTEM
Sections
4.01.04 Delegation of Authority
4.01.07 NIST Administrative Manual
4.01.08 Administrative Bulletin Series
4.01.09 Submission of Material for Publication
4.01.10 Other Administrative Issuances
4.01.11 Issuances at NIST-Boulder Laboratories
Appendix A - Distribution Lists
Appendix B - Guidelines for the NIST Technicalendar
Appendix C - Guidelines for the NIST Administrative Calendar
Appendix D - Guidelines for the Boulder Laboratories Weekly Bulletin
Appendix F - Guidelines for the
Preparation of Directives
4.01.01
PURPOSE
This subchapter describes the NIST Directives System including procedures
for originating, clearing, coordinating, and distributing material to be
published in the Directives System. Information on other internal issuances
of interest to NIST employees and the requirements for distribution of
informational material throughout NIST are also included.
4.01.02
SCOPE
This subchapter is applicable to all NIST employees.
4.01.03
POLICY
It is NIST policy to operate an effective, efficient, and current Directives
System which is the principal means of informing the staff of policy, procedures,
action requirements, organizational structure, assignment of responsibilities
and authorities, and other information needed for the effective administration
and operation of NIST.
4.01.04
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
a. The Management and Organization Division is responsible for the
management of the Directives System and for the approval of material to
be distributed to NIST staff on a standard distribution list (see Appendix
A).
b. The Chief, Management & Organization Division is the approval
authority for NIST directives and for internal issuances not published
as part of the NIST Directives System.
4.01.05
DEFINITIONS
a. A directive is a written communication that states policies,
actions, conduct, or procedures.
b. The NIST Directives System is comprised of a two-part complementary
system consisting of the NIST Administrative Manual and the Administrative
Bulletin series.
c. The NIST Administrative Manual is the official medium for
formal publication of policy, procedures, instructions, and definitions
of organizational structure, function, and responsibilities.
d. The Administrative Bulletin series is used for making official
announcements, issuing temporary instructions, and giving other official
information not of a permanent nature. (The Boulder Administrative Bulletin
series is used for information pertaining exclusively to NIST-Boulder.)
4.01.06
RESPONSIBILITIES
a. NIST managers responsible for a subject matter area covered
in the NIST Administrative Manual are responsible for the accuracy
and current status of the material, and for initiating in a timely manner
revisions as policies or procedures change.
b. Directives Management, Management and Organization Division:
(1) manages the Directives System; (2) advises on the format, content,
writing, and presentation of directives material to ensure compliance with
standards; (3) reviews all proposed material to ensure clarity and consistency
with other issuances; (4) coordinates the revision of subchapters having
more than one responsible administrative manager; (5) obtains necessary
official approvals before publication including OU clearances and/or comments;
(6) initiates a review of each directive with the responsible administrative
manager eighteen months from the date of issuance; and (7) arranges for
the publication and distribution of material.
c. NIST Administrative Manual holders are responsible for keeping
their manuals up to date by filing new material when received.
4.01.07
NIST ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
a. Policies and procedures in the NIST Administrative Manual
are applicable to all NIST employees unless otherwise stated.
b. Material in the NIST Administrative Manual is arranged according
to subject matter. An example of the numbering system is as follows:
Chapter - 8
Subchapter - 8.01
Section - 8.01.04
Paragraph - 8.01.04a
Subparagraph - 8.01.04a(1)
c. The NIST Administrative Manual is issued in loose-leaf form, and revisions to the manual are made by reprinting appropriate pages. Revisions are sent out with a transmittal sheet which briefly highlights the contents/changes. Pages superseded by revisions should be discarded as indicated in the transmittal sheet. A checklist showing correct pages which should appear in the NIST Administrative Manual is issued annually and should be reviewed as soon as received so missing pages may be replaced.
d. When a complete NIST Administrative Manual is needed,
contact Directives Management, Management and Organization Division.
e. Extra pages of the NIST Administrative Manual are maintained by and available from Directives Management, Management and Organization Division.
4.01.08
ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN SERIES
a. Administrative Bulletins are issued to convey information of a temporary
nature. The masthead of each Administrative Bulletin indicates whether
the information is applicable to NIST-Gaithersburg and/or NIST-Boulder.
The masthead also states whether the bulletin is "information" or "action."
b. Administrative Bulletins are numbered serially for each calendar
year, e.g., 91-1.
c. Administrative Bulletins are maintained by and available from Directives
Management, Management and Organization Division (at Boulder, the Executive
Office).
4.01.09
SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION
Material proposed for publication in the NIST Directives System must
be submitted to Directives Management indicating (1) prior clearances,
if any; (2) individuals to be included in the clearance process; and (3)
recommended distribution of the directive. For guidance on the preparation
of directives, see Appendix F.
4.01.10
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUANCES
a. Information on the NIST Technicalendar,
Administrative
Calendar, and the Boulder Laboratories Weekly Bulletin are contained
in Appendixes B, C, and D respectively.
b. Department of Commerce Administrative Orders (DAO's) and Organization
Orders (DOO's) as well as Office of Management and Budget Bulletins and
Circulars, not generally needed by NIST organizational units, are made
available to organizational units through the Office of Information Services.
c. Travel regulations issued by GSA and DoC are distributed to the OU
travel contacts by the Office of the Comptroller.
4.01.11
ISSUANCES AT NIST-BOULDER LABORATORIES
a. NIST-Boulder uses the NIST Directives System. Policies and procedures
contained in the NIST Administrative Manual are applicable to all
NIST-Boulder employees unless specifically exempt.
b. Boulder Administrative Bulletins are used to convey information applicable
only to (NIST) Boulder employees. Bulletins are issued to convey information
of a temporary nature. Bulletins have their own masthead and are numbered
serially each calendar year.
c. DoC Boulder Laboratories Cross Service Bulletins are issued by the
Executive Office. (These bulletins are used for conveying information applicable
only to the DoC-Boulder site. The difference from the Boulder Administrative
Bulletin is that information conveyed by the Cross Service Bulletin affects
more than NIST employees. These bulletins are approved and signed by a
representative of each affected organization. Cross Service Bulletins have
their own masthead and are numbered serially each calendar year.)
d. Proposed material for publication should be submitted in draft format
to the Executive Office indicating the date the bulletin is required, the
individual recommending the issuance, the recommended distribution, and
the required clearances.
e. The distribution list for the NIST Administrative Manual is maintained in the Executive Office. Changes in any distribution should be reported to the Boulder Executive Officer in writing.