[Federal Register: June 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 34993-34994]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn04-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 040609175-4175-01]
Establishment of a Laboratory Accreditation Program for Voting
Systems Under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Procedures,
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces
that it is establishing an accreditation program for laboratories that
perform testing of voting systems, including hardware and software
components. This program will provide for the accreditation of
laboratories that test voting systems using standards determined by the
Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
Laboratories interested in seeking accreditation that will allow
them to be considered for EAC recognition should contact NVLAP
immediately.
ADDRESSES: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, 100
Bureau Drive/MS 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Horlick, Program Manager,
NVLAP, 100 Bureau Drive / MS 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, phone
(301) 975-4016 or e-mail nvlap.voting@nist.gov. Information regarding
NVLAP and the accreditation process can also be viewed at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-252) was
signed into law by President Bush on October 29, 2002. Section 231 of
the HAVA requires the Director of NIST to provide for the accreditation
of laboratories that conduct testing on the hardware and software of
voting systems. In response to the HAVA, the National Voluntary
[[Page 34994]]
Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is establishing a program for
laboratories that test voting systems. This notice is issued in
accordance with the NVLAP procedures and general requirements, found in
title 15 part 285 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Technical Requirements for the Accreditation Process
Laboratories conducting this testing will be required to meet ISO/
IEC International Standard 17025, General requirements for the
competence of testing and calibration laboratories, the 2002 Voting
System Standards, and any other criteria deemed necessary by the EAC.
Accreditation criteria are established in accordance with the Code
of Federal Regulations (15 CFR part 285), NVLAP Procedures and General
Requirements. NVLAP is in full conformance with the standards of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), including ISO/IEC
17025 and ISO/IEC Guide 58.
Accreditation is granted to a laboratory following successful
completion of a process which includes submission of an application and
payment of fees by the laboratory, an on-site assessment by technical
experts, resolution of any deficiencies identified during the on-site
assessment, and participation in proficiency testing. The accreditation
is formalized through issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation and
Scope of Accreditation.
NVLAP provides an unbiased, third-party evaluation and recognition
of competence. NVLAP accreditation signifies that a laboratory has
demonstrated that it operates in accordance with NVLAP management and
technical requirements pertaining to quality systems; personnel;
accommodation and environment; test and calibration methods; equipment;
measurement traceability; sampling; handling of test and calibration
items; and test and calibration reports.
NVLAP accreditation does not imply any guarantee (certification) of
laboratory performance or test/calibration data; it is a finding of
laboratory competence.
Those laboratories receiving accreditation by NVLAP must still be
formally recognized by the EAC prior to conducting testing of voting
systems under HAVA.
PRA Clearance
This action contains collection of information requirements subject
to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Collection activities for
the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program are currently
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
0693-0003. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Executive Order 12866
This action has been determined to be not significant under
Executive Order 12866.
Dated: June 17, 2004.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 04-14137 Filed 6-22-04; 8:45 am]
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