FACACLASSIC

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Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOC - 377 - Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology	Agency Name	Department of Commerce
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	377
Original Establishment Date	1/1/1988	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	http://www.nist.gov/director/vcat/index.cfm
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY	No	Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	1/12/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Stephanie
Date Of Renewal Charter	1/12/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	L.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Shaw
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 975-2667
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	301-216-0529
Specific Establishment Authority*	15 U.S.C. 278	Designated Federal Officer Email*	stephanie.shaw@nist.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	1/1/1988
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The members of the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT or Committee) continue to meet all of their chartered responsibilities, including reviewing and making recommendations regarding general policy for NIST, its organization, its budget, and its programs, within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress. To carry out these responsibilities, the Committee reviews a significant portion of NIST programs through informational briefings and direct discussion with NIST leaders, scientists, and engineers and provides candid reactions and observations. The Committee functions solely as an advisory board, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
How is membership balanced?*	In accordance with the provisions of the 1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, members of the Committee are selected from industry and other communities having an interest in promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness, such as, but not limited to, academia, state and local government bodies, and non-profit research institutions. Geographic location also is an important factor in achieving a regional balance of expertise across industrial sectors in the United States. NIST also strives to maintain a balance of members with areas of expertise aligned with national priorities. Nominees should have established records of distinguished service and shall be eminent in fields such as business, research, new product development, critical and emerging technologies, engineering, labor, management consulting, and international standards. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and seeks a broad-based VCAT membership of varied background and expertise.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee meets at least three times a year with the NIST senior management. At each meeting, the Committee reviews and advises NIST on its strategic direction. On occasion, speakers renowned in their field provide their views on selected topics of interest to the Committee. The Committee also engages with the researchers who occasionally provide presentations on relevant topics as a way to better understand the Institute's programs and their relationship to the NIST mission.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The advice and oversight provided by the Committee requires an intimate familiarity with NIST's mission, technical programs, organization, and budget process. This, in turn, requires considerable background analysis, frequent communication, and a close relationship with NIST. The Committee provides the necessary continuity and structure in the advisory relationship.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The October 29-30, 2024 meeting was partially closed to the public to facilitate a more detailed discussion of NIST’s current and future budgets and related programmatic prioritization approaches, the premature disclosure of which would significantly frustrate implementation of programmatic actions that might be proposed by the agency.
Recommendation Remarks	N/A

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	351	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	In April 2025, the Committee submitted its 2024 Annual Report and as of August 26, 2025 it is currently with the DOC Executive Secretary under review, still waiting on the DOC Secretary to submit to Congress. This report included 19 specific recommendations suggesting NIST action to be taken in the following areas: emphasizing NIST’s Core Mission; meeting National demands in Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) and other cross-cutting programs; strengthening U.S. manufacturing leadership; future opportunities and strategic planning; and the status of NIST’s budget. Specific recommendations based on the FY 2025 Committee meetings will be provided in the Annual Report due not later than 30 days after the submission of the President’s FY 2026 budget request to Congress. NIST acknowledges all recommendations provided and are in the process of implementing them.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	48.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	There were 3 new recommendations in the 2024 Annual Report that is currently with the DOC Executive Secretary under review, still waiting on the DOC Secretary to submit to Congress. These 3 added to the previous 165 recommendations mean 48% of recommendations have been or will be fully implemented.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	46.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	There were 14 new recommendations in the 2024 Annual Report which is currently with the DOC Executive Secretary under review, still waiting on the DOC Secretary to submit to Congress. These 14 added to the previous 147 recommendations mean 46% of recommendations have been partially implemented.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	None
Agency Feedback Comment*	Verbal updates presented and agency feed back is provided during meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Committee meets three times a year to examine specific areas of NIST’s mission, including the role that the NIST laboratories and major programs play in stimulating innovation and competitiveness, and to provide feedback to NIST senior management. The Committee’s feedback on NIST’s strategic direction, performance and policies is critical to help ensure that NIST is well-positioned to stimulate technological innovation and U.S. competitiveness well into the future and encourages continuous improvement in key areas in the overall operation of NIST. In addition, the Committee shall provide an annual report, through the Director of NIST, to the Secretary of Commerce for submission to the Congress not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress of the President’s annual budget request in each year. Such report shall deal essentially, though not necessarily exclusively, with policy issues or matters which affect NIST, or with which the Committee in its official role as the private sector policy adviser of NIST is concerned. Each report shall identify areas of program emphasis for NIST of potential importance to the long-term competitiveness of United States industry.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$220,497.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$266,000.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$8,001.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$20,000.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$5,263.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$5,000.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$2,000.00
10. Other Costs	$2,845.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$7,000.00
11. Total Costs	$236,606.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$300,000.00
Date Cost Last Modified	8/27/2025 8:45 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	1.10
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.10	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks	OTHER COST Breakdown: Meeting office supplies (Tent cards, badges, etc..): 607.93.00 Meeting transcriptions: 2187.00 GSA Van rental: 50.00

Interest Areas

Category Area Applied Science Applied Sciences Engineering Basic Science Basic Sciences Biology Chemistry Materials Research Physics Business Manufacturing Computer Technology Technology Applications Computers Information Technology Internet Semiconductors Data Data Integrity Data Quality Privacy Emergency Earthquake, Flood, and Fire Hazards and Administration Energy Energy Food and Drugs Biotechnology Medical Devices Research Basic Research Research and Development Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Tax Administration

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