NIST Associates (NA) will include
guest researchers, research associates, contractors, and other
non-NIST employees that require access to the NIST campuses or NIST
resources. The NIST Associates Information System (NAIS)
information collection instrument(s) are completed by incoming NAs.
The NAs will be requested to provide personal identifying data
including home address, date and place of birth, employer name and
address, and basic security information. The data provided by the
collection instruments will be input into NAIS, which automatically
populates the appropriate forms, and is routed through the approval
process. NIST's Office of Security receives security forms through
the NAIS process and is able to allow preliminary access to NAs to
the NIST campuses or resources. The data collected will also be the
basis for further security investigations as necessary.
The Joint Committee on the
Research Environment (JCORE) was established in May 2019 through
the National Science Technology Council to address four critical
issues related to the research enterprise
(https://science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Droegemeier%20Testimony1.pdf):
1. Strengthening the security of American research enterprise; 2.
Creating safe and inclusive research environments; 3. Reducing
administrative burdens on Federally-funded research; and 4.
Improving rigor and integrity in research. JCORE recommends that
research organizations, like NIST establish policies and procedures
to help protect the security and integrity of the S&T research
enterprise. Among the recommendations, the following address the
collection of information from potential NIST foreign national
researches: 1. Establish high-level research security and integrity
working groups and task forces to discuss, develop, implement, and
review strategies to better coordinate and address concerns
regarding protecting the security and integrity of its research
enterprise. 2. Establish and administer organizational policies
regarding conflicts of interest, commitment and disclosure. 3.
Require that employees and affiliates disclose to the organization
all information necessary to identify and assess potential
conflicts of interest and commitment. Including the following: i.
Organizational affiliations and employment ii. Other support,
contractual or otherwise, direct and indirect, including current
and pending private and public sources of funding or income, both
foreign and domestic. For researchers, other support should include
all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or
related to all of their professional R&D efforts, including
resources provided directly to the individual rather than through
the research institution, and regardless of whether or not they
have monetary value (e.g., even if the support received is only
in-kind, such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, or
employees). This should include resource and/or financial support
from all foreign and domestic entities, including but not limited
to, gifts provided with terms or conditions, financial support for
laboratory personnel, and participation of student and visiting
researchers supported by other sources of funding. iii. Current or
pending participation in, or applications to, programs sponsored by
foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including
foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs.
Organizations should require that individuals disclose associated
contract(s), upon request of the institution, in addition to the
fact of participation. iv. Positions and appointments. All
positions and professional appointments both domestic and foreign
that are relevant to the individual’s relationship to the research
institution, including affiliations with foreign entities or
governments. This includes titled academic, professional, or
organizational appointments whether or not remuneration is
received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including
adjunct, visiting, or honorary). The goal of this effort is to
ensure that scientists and students who follow laws, policies,
regulations, and codes of conduct will be welcome and supported
within a vibrant and secure enterprise that remains a desirable
destination for researchers across the world.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
30-day corrected FRN published 03-18-2021.pdf
NIST-1 System of Records Notice.docx
General Information for Domestic Guest Researchers