Ordering Instructions for Domestic Calibrations Customers

NIST introduced a new online shopping experience to order and pay for calibration services. To access the new NIST storefront to shop and pay for calibration services, click here. To place an order, be sure to check out the “New Customer” link and information on the storefront homepage and register for an account.

Customer Inquiries

General customer inquiries for information or clarifications about the NIST calibration services should be directed as follows:

Calibration Services
National Institute of Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8363
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8363
1-866-NIST-SHOP (or 1-866-647-8746) phone
301-975-2950 fax
calibrations [at] nist.gov (calibrations[at]nist[dot]gov)

Prearrangements and Scheduling

Services should be arranged in advance, beginning with direct contact with a NIST technical staff member responsible for the desired calibration service. The primary and secondary contact information can be found in the top section of each product page.  This advanced communication may answer your questions, clarify the policies and procedures briefly described here, and will permit you to schedule a tentative calibration date.  Following the initial communication, you must complete and send in a purchase order or remit payment and prepare to ship the item according to the procedures described below or agreed upon with the technical contact. If a calibration is scheduled far in advance, the item should not be shipped until shortly before the scheduled date; you must submit the purchase order (complete with the name and SKU number of the desired calibration service) before a firm calibration date can be assigned. When NIST receives your purchase order and assigns a firm service date, your order will be confirmed by the technical contact.

Purchase Orders

Prior to shipping your artifact(s), please email a copy of your purchase order to the appropriate technical contact. , The purchase order must include the following:

1. State both the name and SKU number of the NIST service being requested. FAILURE TO INCLUDE THE SKU NUMBER WILL SERIOUSLY IMPEDE SCHEDULING AND SERVICE.
2. Clearly identify the item(s) being sent for calibration, including any serial number(s) or model number(s).
3. Give the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of your company's procurement officer, purchasing agent or other administrative/financial authority.
4. Give the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of your company's technical contact, if different from above.
5. Give the point of contact name, mailing address, telephone number and email address of your company’s accounts payable department.
6. List separately the instructions and address for return shipment, insurance, mailing address for the calibration/test report, and billing address. (Federal or state agency requests for calibration services should be accompanied by a document authorizing that the cost of the service be billed to the agency.)
7. Clearly state any special or necessary conditions of test, such as operating frequency or temperature.
8. Clearly state the customer identification number; i.e., social security number (EIN) for individuals; tax identification number (TIN) for organizations; or agency location code (ALC) for government customers.
9. If the calibration or test report is to be handled in a special manner, give instructions on the purchase order.

NOTE: Receipt of orders by NIST does not imply acceptance of any provisions set forth in the order that are contrary to the policy, practice, or regulations of NIST or the U.S. Government. In general, NIST will not sign any affidavits, acknowledgment forms, or other documents that may be required by company policy governing the procurement and payment of goods and services.

Prepayment & Payment Information

NIST Terms

All services require prepayment unless an exception has been granted by the Calibrations Sales administrators.

Prepayment is required by all Foreign customers.
Prepayment is required before work may begin.

Approved Prepayment Exceptions

Invoicing Terms

Payment Terms: Net 30 days

No discounts are allowed for early payment.

Credit Card/ACH Payments

You must access the new NIST storefront. It will allow you to pay at order checkout or pay invoices within your account using PAY.GOV.

Note: For ACH payments, please verify with your banking institution that your account is set up to have ACH payments processed.

Remit to Address:

NIST Lockbox accepts check payments for NIST. Please use the following address for all NIST payments:
NIST

P.O. Box 6200-12 
Portland, OR 97228-6200

Please remember that all checks must be drawn on a United States Bank and made payable in US dollars. In addition, please continue to reference the NIST invoice/receivable number on the check stub.

Wire payments or Non-US check payments

Contact the Receivables office at billing [at] nist.gov (billing[at]nist[dot]gov) for instructions.

NIST Federal Identification Number: 530-20-5706
NIST DUNS Number: 929956050
W-9 Requests – Send your request to billing [at] nist.gov (billing[at]nist[dot]gov).

Shipping, Insurance, and Risk of Loss

Ship the instrument or standard to the mailing address of the technical group providing the service. Please take note that the mailing address is not the same for every technical group.

Please adhere rigorously to the following procedures:

1. Ship only items in good repair. Apparatus in disrepair will not be calibrated. If defects are found after calibration has begun, the procedure will be terminated, a report issued, and a charge levied for work completed.
2. Use strong, reusable packing materials and containers marked clearly and indelibly on the outside with the requestor's name, address and the following notation: REUSABLE CONTAINER, DO NOT DESTROY.
3. Follow any special shipping procedures given in the technical sections, particularly those sections covering radiation and dosimetry measurements.
4. Insure the shipments to and from NIST and clearly state the method of return shipment. NIST will not assume liability for loss or damage unless such loss and damage result solely from the negligence of NIST personnel. If return shipment by parcel post is requested or is suitable, NIST will prepay the return shipment but will not insure it. When no shipping or insurance instructions are furnished, NIST will attempt to contact the customer to make such arrangements. Otherwise, NIST will return the shipment collect by common carrier.
5. Shipments to NIST must be at FOB destinations. (Customer pays for shipping.)
6. Return shipments are sent FOB origin. (Customer pays for shipping.)

NOTE: Fees for NIST services do not include shipping costs or insurance.

Turnaround Time

Normal turnaround time for NIST calibration services varies greatly -- usually from several weeks to several months depending on the type of service requested, and the service schedule. Some services are only scheduled once or twice a year with appointments made months in advance of the service date. To avoid unnecessary scheduling or administrative delays in the calibration process, be sure to make arrangements with the technical contact for the service you wish to utilize prior to shipping your instrument or artifact to NIST.