Congressionally Identified Project Program (CIPP)

Welcome!

Ensuring transparency and accountability, NIST has established the Congressionally Identified Projects Program(CIPP) to administer Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)/Community Projects.

Starting with the fiscal year 2022 appropriations, Members of Congress began a new process for requesting funds for specific projects and established requirements to help ensure transparency and accountability. While directed funds were previously referred to as “earmarks,” under this new more transparent process this funding is referred to as “Congressionally Directed Spending” in the U.S. Senate and “Community Project Funding” in the U.S. House of Representatives. These projects must have demonstrated community support, adhere to strict transparency rules, and are generally limited to non-profit entities or governments.

On January 23, 2026, the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Act for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was signed into law (P.L.119-74). This law designated $405,331,366 for 239 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) / Community projects funding through NIST’s Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) appropriation account. As an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST will administer these projects through the Congressionally Identified Projects Program (CIPP). This website will serve as a resource for designated recipients of this funding.

CDS Staff

kevin.kimball [at] nist.gov (Kevin Kimball), Acting Deputy Associate Director, Associate Director for Laboratory Programs

jody.sandel [at] nist.gov (Jody Sandel), Sr. Program Analyst

stacy.aspland [at] nist.gov (Stacy Aspland), Administrative Specialist