ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

1.

2.

Status of NBS Equipment Modernization Program

Background:

O A survey of NBS equipment conducted in 1971 concluded that
40 percent of the items in the inventory were more than 10
years old.
Additionally, much of the inventory, regardless
of age, was behind the state-of-the art for precision
measurement work.

[ocr errors]

The study also reported that NBS investment for general equipment was far below comparable laboratories in industry and other government agencies. Most other laboratories invest between $3,850 and $5,000 per professional staff member. NBS investment in 1971 was at the level of $1,440 per professional staff member.

As a result of this study, a budget initiative was approved to provide $3 million a year for 5 years to modernize and upgrade the NBS equipment inventory.

Funding:

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

NBS equipment is purchased through investment of its Working
Capital Fund. Money is appropriated to the Fund, invested
by NBS in equipment, and the costs are then recovered through
depreciation charges to the benefiting programs over the
useful lifetime of the equipment (8 years on the average).
Although for fiscal reasons the NBS program is behind
schedule, a total of $7,090,000 in new funds will have been
appropriated to NBS for new equipment by the end of 1977
($12 million was the planned figure). This new money, when
added to funds available from depreciation of existing
equipment has provided a total of $17,395,000 for investment
in new equipment over the last four years. In 1977, a total
of $5,168,000 will be available for investment in equipment,
$2,085,000 from new appropriations, and $3,083,000 from
depreciation of existing equipment.

The amounts available for each of the last four years are
shown in the following table:

1974 actual.

1975 actual.....
1976 estimate.

1977 request..

Total....

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

In 1977 an increase of $163,000 is also requested in direct
appropriations for additional depreciation costs resulting
from last year's increase of $500,000 in the modernization
program.

The NBS Visiting Committee has been extremely interested
in the progress of the modernization program and has
repeatedly remarked favorably on it in its reports to

the Secretary.

1.

Proposed NBS Acquisition of NIKE Missile Site at Gaithersburg

Background:

O

O

O

In June, 1975, NBS initiated action to use a portion
(10.6 acres) of a 13.7 acre NIKE missile site adjacent
to the NBS facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The
site was declared to be excess real property by the
Army in December 1974. Although the initial proposal
was to use the site for one year, NBS has since asked
to acquire the 10.6 acre launcher portion of the site.
on a permanent basis.

A potential conflict over NBS acquisition of the site
has developed. The City of Gaithersburg has indicated
that it would like to purchase the site for a community
center and public works depot.

In November, Congressman Gude and Senators Beall and
Mathias wrote to the Secretary asking for reconsideration
of the NBS proposal. In their letter they proposed that
the site be sold to the City of Gaithersburg for $360,000,
in exchange for which the City would loan the site to
NBS, rent free, for a negotiable period of time.

2. Planned NBS Use of the Site:

3.

O NBS hopes to use the site, and the buildings located on it, for planned expansion of the fire research program. According to NBS, the program has long range commitments from other agencies for work, on a reimbursable basis, involving: Smoke and toxic gas movement;

[ocr errors]

-

Fire detector siting;

Effects of heating and air conditioning systems
on fire detection and smoke movement; and
Automatic sprinkler performance evaluation.

The Bureau has also indicated that acquisition of the NIKE
site will save the cost of constructing similar facilities
on the NBS property or elsewhere. However, there are as
yet no firm plans for constructing such facilities, irrespec-
tive of the outcome of the decision on the NIKE site.

Other reasons cited by NBS include:

-

11

The fact that NBS lost 20 percent of its
large scale laboratory space for fire

research when the Bureau was moved from its
old site at Van Ness Street.

The need for the additional space on a long
term basis in order to complete the program
satisfactorily.

Current Status:

O NBS still desires to occupy the site, although options
have been considered. A response to the Congressmen
has been sent, along with supporting material.

O

O

In the meantime, NBS has obtained a one year permit
for use of the site. This permit expires September 30,
1976.

Tentative oral notice of approval for NBS to obtain
permanent rights was received from GSA on April 22, 1976.

1.

2.

Plans for Implementation of NBS Responsibilities
Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act

NBS Responsibilities Under the Act

Three parts of the New Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(P.L. 94-163 of December 22, 1975) specifically involve NBS:

O

Title V, Part B.

[ocr errors]

-

Energy Conservation Program for
Consumer Products Other than
Automobiles

As directed by the Administrator of the Federal
Energy Administration (FEA), NBS will develop
test procedures for the determination of (a)
estimated annual operating costs of the covered
products (principally appliances); and (b) at
least one other measure of energy consumption of
products which the FEA Administrator determines
is likely to help consumers in making purchase
decisions.

FEA may publish the test procedures developed
by NBS.

FEA is authorized to allocate amounts not
exceeding $1,100,000 in 1976 and $700,000 in
each of 1977 and 1978 to NBS to carry out this
requirement.

Title V, Part D.

-

-

Industrial Energy Conservation: Under this section, the administrator of FEA is directed to establish and maintain in consultation with the Secretary and the Administrator of ERDA, a program to promote American industrial efficiency and establish voluntary energy efficiency improvement targets for at least the 10 most energy consumptive industries.

No specific funding authorization is included for carrying out this part of the Act.

Title V, Part E. - Other Federal Energy Measures:
This part directs NBS to develop test procedures
for determining the equivalency of previously
used oil and new oil. NBS is to report these
procedures to the Federal Trade Commission.
No specific funding authorizations are included
in the Act for this purpose.

NBS programs affected by the Act:

Prior to enactment of P.L. 94-163 NBS was conducting
a voluntary appliance labeling and efficiency standards
effort as part of the President's energy conservation
program. In 1976, $2,220,000 is available for this
work, including the remainder of a $1,000,000 supple-
mental appropriation received in 1975. In 1977, the
budget provides $1,270,000 for appliance labeling and
efficiency standards.

O There is no ongoing NBS program for evaluating used oil.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

As a result of the Act the NBS effort has been redirected in cooperation with FEA which now has overall responsibility for the program.

1.

2.

[ocr errors]

Existing base funds and an additional $940,000 from FEA
will enable NBS to provide technical support to FEA
primarily in the following two areas:

-

Test method development;

Research on efficiency levels and targets.

NBS is preparing to carryout the following new programs
under the Act.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Development of procedures for evaluating used oil
(on a reimbursable basis from FTC).

Consultation with FEA on promotion of industrial
energy standards and on the establishment of

energy efficiency targets for the 10 most energy
consumptive industries.

No cost estimates for the additional programs
have been prepared.

Plans for Implementation of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975

Background:

O

O

The Metric Conversion Act, P.L. 94-168, enacted December 23,
1975, provides that the policy of the United States shall
be to coordinate and plan for a voluntary changeover to
the metric system of weights and measures. The Act also
establishes an independent U.S. Metric Board to coordinate
the conversion. The Board will consist of 17 members,
all from the private sector.

Although the Department has no direct responsibility in
implementing this legislation, Section 11 provides that
Commerce may be called upon for administrative support
(i.e., budgeting, accounting, financial reporting,
personnel, and procurement) by the Board. The Department
would be reimbursed by the Board for such services.

Impact on Departmental Operations:

O The National Bureau of Standards has consulted GSA regarding procedures for handling administrative details of such independent boards prior to their receiving appropriations and staff. It is possible that they will be called upon for assistance because of their ongoing responsibilities with maintaining the national measurement system, coordinating metrication with state weights and measures officials, and their international coordination through the National Conference on Weights and Measures.

NBS also has a small (approximately $130,000) Metric Informa-
tion Office already in existence. No decision has yet been
made as to whether this office will be eliminated once the
Board starts functioning.

O There will be a need to convert some Department operations
(e.g. NOAA maps and charts) to metric units now that a
policy has been established. However, the extent of the
changes, and their likely costs, have not yet been identified.

Status of Computer Data Standards Program at NBS

1.

2.

Background:

O This program is the single source of Federal ADP standards and is required by the "Brooks Act"

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

(P.L. 89-306) which authorizes the Secretary of
Commerce to recommend government-wide standards
for computers and information processing activities.
May 16, 1974 GAO report entitled "Emphasis needed
on Government's Efforts to Standardize Data Elements
and Codes for Computer Systems" stated that standardized
data elements and codes "could help reduce high costs
of Federal computer operations by eliminating unnecessary
duplication and incompatibilities in collecting, process-
ing, and disseminating data.

GAO further concluded that the Secretary of Commerce
should determine where standards would be most beneficial
and established standardization priorities.

The Secretary of Commerce, according to GAO, should
also issue policy on theory and terminology and
provide for preparation of guidelines, methodology, and
criteria to be followed by Agencies in their standardiza-
tion efforts.

Objectives:

O

In order to carryout its assigned responsibilities, NBS
will produce required Federal Information Processing
Standards (FIPS) and guidelines in the following areas:

3.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

NBS will develop practices and procedures for use

by other Federal agencies in producing higher quality
software.

NBS will develop methodology for testing and evaluating
existing computer programs.

1977 Emphasis:

During 1977, NBS plans to complete the development of
15 additional FIPS and guidelines which will include
the following:

-

-

four data standards (codes for cities, towns and
places, water bodies, and sudivisions and countries)
two standards for computer magnetic storage media
one standard on use of computer system benchmarking
techniques

one standard or guideline for print quality of optical
character recognition characters.

Computer software will be developed to automatically measure the quality factors in COBOL and FORTRAN applications.

A software simulator will be developed for use in evaluating
performance of computer programs.

Technical specifications will be produced for use by other
Federal agencies in procuring software products.

70-425 O 76-43

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »