NIST Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities (15 CFR Part 287)

Date Published: 09/29/2020

Questions: Email questions to 15CFR287 [at] nist.gov (15CFR287[at]nist[dot]gov)

Announcement

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published revisions to 15 CFR Part 287 Guidance on Federal Agency Conformity Assessment Activities.

• 15 CFR Part 287 Guidance on Federal Agency Conformity Assessment Activities - The revision updates policy guidance on Federal agency use of conformity assessment that reflects advancement in conformity assessment concepts, and the evolution in Federal agency strategies and coordination in using and relying on conformity assessment.

Background

Section 12 of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) of 1995 directs NIST to “coordinate technical standards activities and conformity assessment activities of Federal, State, and local governments with private sector technical standards activities and conformity assessment activities, with the goal of eliminating unnecessary duplication and complexity in the development and promulgation of conformity assessment requirements and measures”.  NIST originally issued the guidance found in 15 CFR 287 on August 10, 2000 in response to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119 (February 10, 1998) directing the Secretary of Commerce to issue guidance to Federal agencies to ensure effective coordination of Federal conformity assessment activities.   The January 2016 revision to OMB Circular A-119 re-emphasizes NIST’s role in issuing guidance to agencies as well as Federal agencies responsibilities with respect to conformity assessment.  NIST is revising this guidance to reflect development in conformity assessment concepts and evolution in Federal agency strategies and coordination in using and relying on conformity assessment.  

Additional Information

Federal Register Notice