NIST Visitor, Associate and Contractor Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses

Introduction

NIST is committed to protecting the health and safety of our staff and others coming onto our campuses by implementing measures consistent with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to mitigate COVID-19 exposure. To that end, any NIST staff member who sponsors associates, visitors or contractors who will be performing work in NIST workspaces on either NIST campus is required to provide the following information to them in advance of the visit. Further, while visitors, associates and contractors are on campus, the sponsor must ensure they comply with the requirements in place to mitigate COVID-19 exposure.

Contractors working under their own safety plans and performing work in areas controlled by them on the NIST campus must work with their contracting officer’s representative (COR) to ensure their safety plan includes adequate COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Further, they must abide by NIST requirements when in NIST-controlled workspaces.

Restricted Access

The following individuals will not be permitted access to NIST campuses:

• Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19;
• Anyone recovering from COVID-19 or who has tested positive for COVID and who has not yet met criteria to end isolation and return to work;
• Anyone who has been exposed to someone within the last 10 days who exhibited symptoms of COVID-19, is presumed positive for COVID-19, or has tested positive for COVID-19 unless the person wanting to access campus:
  • Is up to date on their COVID vaccinations, i.e., those who are fully vaccinated and boosted or those who are fully vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster; or
  • Has been diagnosed with COVID within the past 90 days;
• Anyone who has traveled to or from areas that present an elevated risk or exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days unless they are fully vaccinated, i.e., those that are two weeks past receiving their last protocol-required shot of the COVID vaccine, and have no symptoms. See the COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire for travel-related entry restrictions.

Additionally, individuals recovering from COVID-19 will be allowed on campus only when the following three conditions are met: 

• No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers; 
• Other symptoms (if any) have improved (for example, your cough or shortness of breath has improved); and
• At least 10 days from onset of symptoms.

Prior to Campus Arrival

Any individual coming onto campus must conduct a personal health screening by reviewing the COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire. This self-screening must be performed every day an individual wants to access a NIST campus. Anyone who does not meet all the screening criteria should immediately contact their sponsor and may not attempt to access the campus.

During periods of medium and high community levels, associates, contractors and visitors coming onto campus must either fill out a Certification of Vaccination Form attesting to being fully vaccinated or carry with them proof of a negative test result taken within 72 hours of entry. You may be asked to show this form to a federal employee who is supervising or managing your work on federal premises. Please maintain this documentation during your time on federal premises. Check the campus status page to view current community levels for the NIST site; applicable requirements for vaccination attestations or COVID tests will be posted here when they are in effect.

NIST is not collecting these data by any means (hard copy or electronic). By entering campus on a given day, you are indicating that you have complied with this requirement for that day.

Access to Campus for Unbadged Associates, Contractors and Visitors

Follow instructions for access to campus provided by your sponsor. 

• If the Visitor Center is open, obtain a paper “Visitor” badge, but do not put it on. Proceed to the security officer at the gate and display the paper badge and your photo ID. If wearing a cloth face covering or mask, briefly remove it while the officer is inspecting the badge and ID. Proceed when waved through.
• If the Visitor Center is not open, your name will be on a list of approved visitors at the front gate. Proceed to the security officer at the gate and display your photo ID. If wearing a cloth face covering or mask, briefly remove it while the officer is inspecting the ID. Proceed when waved through.

While on Campus

Sponsor Instruction

Visitors and contractors are not expected to know all NIST requirements to mitigate COVID-19 exposure. Therefore, sponsors are required to provide location-specific instruction for the workspaces to be visited or used and traversed, including common areas. Sponsors must ensure that associates will follow all applicable NIST requirements when working at NIST.

Vaccination Certification Form or Negative Test Result During Medium and High Community Levels

During periods of medium and high community levels, all associates, contractors and visitors coming onto campus must either fill out a Certification of Vaccination Form attesting to being fully vaccinated or carry with them proof of a negative test result taken within 72 hours of entry. You may be asked to show this form to a federal employee who is supervising or managing your work on federal premises. Please maintain this documentation during your time on federal premises.

Cloth Face Coverings or Masks

The current requirements for wearing cloth face coverings or masks on campus can be found on our Campus Status page. 

An individual who cannot tolerate wearing a secure cloth face covering or mask, e.g., for medical reasons, must notify their sponsor in advance. Please see CDC guidance for safe use of face coverings.

Please note:

1. When face coverings or masks are required, NIST recommends the use of a 3-ply mask or on a voluntary basis use of a KN95 or N95 mask for optimum protection.
2. NIST does not permit use of face coverings or masks (including respirators) that have exhalation valves as these defeat the purpose by allowing unfiltered air to be released. Do not use masks with exhalation valves. 
3. Gaiters are acceptable provided they have two or more layers of material.

Workplace Distancing

The current requirements around workplace distancing on campus can be found on our Campus Status page.

When staff are required to practice workplace distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) of physical separation from others, doing so should not create a greater hazard. The sponsor will provide additional requirements or guidance if workplace distancing is not possible.

Personal Hygiene

While on campus, individuals are required to:

• Refrain from physical greetings such as handshakes and hugs;
• Cough or sneeze into the arm, shoulder or tissue, and away from others;
• Keep hands clean by regularly washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipe; and
• As directed by the sponsor, disinfect surfaces and items touched using disinfectant supplies provided by NIST.

Signage

Individuals on campus must comply with the directions on signs.

Food and Drink

Cafeterias will not be open. Water fountains will be available; however, NIST is recommending the filling of water bottles, when practical, rather than drinking directly from the fountain.