Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP)

Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Standards

ICSP OBJECTIVE

The ICSP seeks to promote effective and consistent standards policies in furtherance of U.S. domestic and foreign goals and to this end, to foster cooperative participation by the Federal government and U.S. industry and other private organizations in standards activities, including the related activities of product testing, quality system registration, certification and accreditation

ICSP AUTHORITY

Public Law 104-113, National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

Office of Management and Budget OMB Circular A-119

ICSP MEMBERSHIP

ICSP membership consists of one principal representative from each Federal Executive Agency.

Representative is an official at the Senior Executive Service or higher.

Serves as Agency Standards Executive – with responsibilities as defined in Section 15 of OMB Circular A-119

ICSP WORKING GROUPS

The ICSP may authorize the creation of Working Groups to investigate and recommend policy decisions or actions that support ICSP activities.

Who are the Key Players in the U.S. Private Sector Voluntary

Standards System

The Federal Government has approximately 3900 agency representatives who participated in a total of 409 standards developing organizations in FY 2005

Active ICSP Agencies

Access Board ACCESS, Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC, Department of Agriculture USDA, Department of Commerce DOC, Department of Defense DoD, Department of Education ED, Department of Energy DOE, Department of Health and Human Services HHS, Department of Homeland Security DHS, Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD, Department of Justice DOJ, Department of Labor DOL, Department of State DOS, Department of the Interior DOI, Department of the Treasury TRES, Department of Transportation DOT, Department of Veterans Affairs VA, Environmental Protection Agency EPA, Executive Office of the President EOP, Federal Communications Commission FCC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC, Federal Trade Commission FTC, General Services Administration GSA, Government Printing Office GPO, National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, National Archives and Records Administration NARA, National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST, National Science Foundation NSF, Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC, Office of Management and Budget OMB, U.S. Agency for International Development USAID, U.S. International Trade Commission USITC, U.S. Postal Service USPS

Standards

Standards are defined as a common and repeated use of rules, conditions, and guidelines for products or related processes

Developing Standards Organizations

Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

International Standards Organization (ISO) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) American Society for Testing of Materials

(ASTM)

Government Standards Programs (Non-Regulatory)

Military Standards and SpecificationsThe Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) provides direct access to specifications, standards and related documents cataloged under the Department of Defense Standardization Program.

Voluntary Product Standards ProgramVoluntary Product Standards (VPS) are published by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Currently, there are three VPS concerning plywood, panels, and softwood lumber.

Federal Information Processing Standards PublicationsDeveloped by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for Federal computer systems, Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are intended for use government-wide. NIST develops FIPS when there are compelling Federal government requirements such as for security and inter-operability and there are no acceptable industry standards or solutions.

National Homeland Security StandardsThe Standards Portfolio within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate develops and coordinates the adoption of National standards and appropriate evaluation methods to meet homeland security mission needs.

U.S. General Services AdministrationSearch the Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions (FPMR 101-29.1). This document is issued for public use, as authorized by the Federal

Voluntary Consensus Standards

Standards developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, both domestic and international organizations which plan, develop, establish, or coordinate (VCS) using agreed upon procedures.

Purpose of Standards

To eliminate the necessity for development or maintenance of separate Government unique standards. Savings and manpower and money. Support government to government trade agreements, accreditations recognized Internationally, and eliminate duplicate efforts.

What if An Agency Absolutely cannot comply?

Federal agencies are given the discretion to decide not to use existing voluntary consensus standards if the agency determines that use of such standards would either be inconsistent with applicable laws or otherwise impractical.

The agency must then use Government unique standards in lieu of Voluntary Consensus Standards.

26 Agencies Are Required To Document and Report Standards Compliance?

Yes, each agency must submit an annual report electronically to NIST on Voluntary Consensus Standards.

NIST through ICSP coordinates and compiles the submitted reports and submits consolidated to OMB

OMB submits reports to Congress

Annual 2005 VCS Report Facts

Agencies Report Cumulative of 6,229 VCSs

1670 New VCSs reported in 2005 of which 243 were substitutions for

government-unique standards Only 70 government-unique standards

were reported

More Reported Facts

GSA reported Government Unique Standards used in Lieu of VCS

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

3 2 2 3 2 2 DOE reported 1430 private sector standards used

this year – GSA reported 516 used DOE had 761 employee participation in private

sector standards bodies GSA had 22 employee participation in private

sector standards bodies

Standards Executives

DOE – Mr. Richard BlackAlternate Mr. Jeffrey Feit

GSA – Vacant Alternate Ms. Kathleen S. Baden

ICSP website: www.Standards.gov At the home page on the left navigation bar click ICSP Agencies.

orMike Moore – ICSP Coordinator301 975-2007