To
provide leadership and technical resources to assure the accuracy
of the quantities and quantity representations in all commercial
transactions in the United States, and to promote a uniform national
weights and measures system.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Advisory Services and Counseling. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Training. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
This
program provides education, technical advice, and assistance to
States, State and industry metrologists, manufacturers of weights
and measures devices, and other device users; develops model laws
and regulations; upgrades State laboratories; conducts technical
studies; and provides technical support to the National Conference
on Weights and Measures. It includes publications, related activities,
special studies, technical advice, technology transfer through audit
of State laboratories, technical training, and development of training
material. There are no restrictions on the use of this material.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: States, political subdivisions
of States, private industry, and the general public.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: States, political subdivisions
of States, private industry, and the general public.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Letter requesting services should
be sent to Chief, Weights and Measures Program, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2350, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899-2350.
Award
Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
Ensures economic equity and uniformity in commerce. The agency provides
classroom training, computer-based training, and technical assistance
to State weights and measures laboratories to help assure that State
measurement standards are traceable to national standards. It also
develops device performance and commodity packaging standards with
representatives of manufacturers, packagers, distributors, consumer
groups, and officials in Federal, State, and local jurisdictions
who enforce laws and regulations governing packages and measuring
devices. The agency provides technical supports to the National
Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) and aids in the development
of uniform and compatible State weights and measures laws and regulations,
codes for measuring device design and performance, and the design
and implementation of test procedures and prototype device evaluation.
The Weights and Measures Program staff participates actively in
NCWM affairs, and provides technical assistance to its members,
to Federal, State, and local government, and to private manufacturing
and service businesses. The Fourth Edition of NIST Handbook 133
was published in January 2002. A comprehensive CD-ROM-based training
course in laboratory mass calibration procedures and concepts will
be completed in fiscal year 2002. A CD-ROM-based training course
in the use of electronic audit trails for commercial weighing and
measuring devices will also be completed in fiscal year 2002. Two
workshops for weights and measures administrators were held in September
and October 2001, to address management and budget issues confronting
weights and measures enforcement program. A benchmark study of the
national weights and measures system will be undertaken in late
fiscal year 2002 with completion expected during fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Model laws, regulations, codes, and test procedures relating to
weights and measures enforcement, packaging and labeling, method
of sale of commodities, unit pricing, open dating, field inspections,
and registration of service persons, and service agencies, engine
fuel quality, and weighmasters. Manuals for coordinating the system
of State laboratories, testing specific measuring devices, and training
State officials. Design and performance codes for scales, liquid
and vapor meters, distance and time measuring devices, and other
measuring equipment. Most publications available from the Government
Printing Office. List of Publications is available from the Weights
and Measures Program at no charge.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: None.
Headquarters
Office: Henry Oppermann, Chief, Weights and
Measures Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2350, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2350. Telephone:
(301) 975-4004. Use the same number for FTS.
Web
Site Address: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/235/owmhome.htm
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Awards not available. Funds support standards development for devices
and packaging, the development of training materials for State and
local weights and measures officials, and the delivery of weights
and measures related training to weights and measures officials,
industry representatives, and State and industry laboratory metrologists.
