Sample Documents for Conformity Assessment Topics

The example documents and websites below may be useful to federal agencies in using conformity assessment to meet agency missions, objectives and regulatory requirements.  Each example addresses a conformity assessment topic, and many are part of the respective federal agency conformity assessment program’s oversight responsibilities. 

Examples of evaluation criteria for conformity assessment programs

• EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP): EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program Pilot to Assess Standards and Ecolabels for EPA’s Recommendations to Federal Agencies, Section III 
• U.S. Coast Guard Guidelines for Using Third Party Organizations to Ensure Regulatory Compliance, COMDTINST M5760.16, July 2017

Examples of how labels/marks/certificates are managed

• EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP): EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program Pilot to Assess Standards and Ecolabels for EPA’s Recommendations to Federal Agencies, Section IV 

Example of accepting alternative test methods

• HHS Office of the National Coordinator’s (ONC) Health IT Certification Program:  ONC-Approved Alternative Test Method

Example of stakeholder engagement

• GSA’s Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) answers frequently asked questions and shares tips shared by stakeholders through a weekly email message and website.

Example of surveillance use and oversight

• HHS Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Health IT Certification Program requires certification bodies to perform pre-market and post-market surveillance. HHS ONC may perform direct review of certified Health IT.

Example of requirements for conformity assessment bodies

• NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP): NIST Handbook 150-17:2021, NVLAP Cryptographic and Security Testing