[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR200.100]

[Page 359]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
 CHAPTER II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 200--POLICIES, SERVICES, PROCEDURES, AND FEES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 200.100  Statutory functions.

    (a) The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) has been 
assigned the following functions (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.):
    (1) The custody, maintenance, and development of the national 
standards of measurement, and the provision of means and methods for 
making measurements consistent with those standards, including the 
comparison of standards used in scientific investigations, engineering, 
manufacturing, commerce, and educational institutions with the standards 
adopted or recognized by the Government.
    (2) The determination of physical constants and properties of 
materials when such data are of great importance to scientific or 
manufacturing interests and are not to be obtained with sufficient 
accuracy elsewhere.
    (3) The development of methods for testing materials, mechanisms, 
and structures, and the testing of materials, supplies, and equipment, 
including items purchased for use of Government departments and 
independent establishments.
    (4) Cooperation with other governmental agencies and with private 
organizations in the establishment of standard practices, incorporated 
in codes and specifications.
    (5) Advisory service to Government agencies on scientific and 
technical problems.
    (6) Invention and development of devices to serve special needs of 
the Government.
    (b) The calibration and testing activities of NIST stem from the 
functions in paragraphs (a) (1) and (3) of this section. NIST provides 
the central basis within the United States for a complete and consistent 
system of measurement; coordinates that system, and the measurement 
systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to 
accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout this Nation's 
scientific community, industry, and commerce.
    (c) The provision of standard reference materials for sale to the 
public is assigned to the Office of Standard Reference Materials of the 
National Measurement Laboratory, NIST. That Office evaluates the 
requirements of science and industry for carefully characterized 
reference materials, stimulates efforts of NIST to develop methods for 
production of needed reference materials and directs their production 
and distribution. For further information on standard reference 
materials see Subchapter B, Chapter II, Part 230, of this title.