About Us

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

From automated teller machines and atomic clocks to mammograms and semiconductors, innumerable products and services rely in some way on technology, measurement, and standards provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory Federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life.

NIST's Role in NTTAA Implementation

The NTTAA states that NIST shall "coordinate Federal, State, and local technical standards activities and conformity assessment activities, 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 is also responsible under OMB Circular A-119 for compiling inputs from all Federal agencies and submitting an annual report to OMB and Congress.