The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on February 19,
1998, issued a revised Circular A-119 on Federal use and development
of voluntary standards. The Circular has been revised to make
it consistent with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995, to issue guidance to the Federal agencies on making
their reports to OMB, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to
issue policy guidance for conformity assessment, and to make
changes for clarity.
CABO believes that the revised circular is an improvement over the previous
version because it more forcefully urges agencies to participate
in the private sector standards process and has more stringent
reporting requirements. Agencies must annually report on their
participation or non-participation in the process and adoption
of private sector standards. Anyone who would like to obtain
a copy of the A-119 Circular should contact CABO.
