About NTIS

The National Technical Information Service serves as the largest central resource for government-funded scientific, technical, engineering, and business related information available today. For more than 60 years NTIS has assured businesses, universities, and the public timely access to approximately 3 million publications covering over 350 subject areas.

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Our mission supports the Department of Commerce mission to promote the nation's economic growth by providing access to information that stimulates innovation and discovery.

Public Law 102-245, Section 108 American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991

 

NTIS Statutory Authorities

NTIS' basic authority to operate a permanent clearinghouse of scientific and technical information is codified as chapter 23 of Title 15 of the United States Code (15 U.S.C. 1151-1157). This chapter also established NTIS' authority to charge fees for its products and services and to recover all costs through such fees "to the extent feasible."

This authority was restated in the National Technical Information Act of 1988, codified at 15 U.S.C. 3704b. That Act gave NTIS the authority to enter into joint ventures and declared the Clearinghouse to be a permanent Federal function that could not be eliminated or privatized without Congressional approval.

That Act was amended by the American Technology Preeminence Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-245) which:

(1) required all costs associated with bibliographic control to be recovered by fees,

(2) required agencies to make copies of their scientific and technical reports available to NTIS, and

(3) directed NTIS to focus on developing new electronic methods and media for disseminating information.

Another statute having a profound impact on NTIS is the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act for FY 1993 (Public Law 102-395) which established NTIS Revolving Fund and gave it the authority to use that Fund without further approval by Congress.

In addition, section 1526 of Title 15 of the United States Code authorizes NTIS to accept payments in advance for services to be provided to other agencies.

 

NTIS Operations

NTIS is located in Springfield, Virginia. It provides information dissemination of its collection of approximately 3 million U.S. Federal Government technical reports and provides dissemination services for other U.S. Federal Government agencies. NTIS provides a variety of dissemination services for other agencies with the specialized resources, systems, equipment, financial infrastructure and personnel expertise needed to produce and disseminate their information products on a large scale.

About the Director of NTIS

NTIS Advisory Board

Contacting NTIS

Comments form

Directions to NTIS

Frequently Asked Questions

 

NTIS Policy and Program Links

NTIS Information Quality Guidelines

NTIS Privacy Policy

NTIS Endorsement Policy

NTIS FOIA Electronic Reading Room

 

Department of Commerce Policy and Program Links

Department of Commerce Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plans

Department of Commerce Organizational Structure, Mission and Statutory Authority

Department of Commerce Point of Contact for Small Businesses

Department of Commerce Freedom of Information Act Web site

Department of Commerce No FEAR Act Web site

 

Other Federal Program Links

USA.gov

Science.gov

CENDI

FLICC

 

Career Opportunities

If you're looking for a challenging and rewarding career in the Federal Government, the National Technical Information Service just might be the right place for you. Approximately 150 NTIS staffers work at our Northern VA location.  We occasionally have job opportunities in information technology and program management, as well as administration and support positions.

More information can be obtained by going to the Human Resources Management Division Web site at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.