The NASEM shall form a panel of experts who shall perform an independent technical assessment of the quality of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL). The panel shall prepare a final report that reflects the expert consensus opinion of the panelists based on materials provided by NIST before and during a site visit to NIST laboratories in Boulder, CO. During this site visit, the panel shall conduct an in-depth technical assessment and draft a consensus report addressing the topics requested by the NIST Director in his or her charge to the panel. Subsequent to the site visit, the panel shall finalize the report draft. and the NASEM shall conduct any necessary reviews to ensure that the final report is of high quality and is impartial and objective in its assessment of the NIST CTL.

The assessment shall be responsive to the charge from the NIST Director. The following draft criteria for the assessment are proposed by the NIST sponsor and are expected to be formalized in the charge of the NIST Director that will be provided at contract award, expected November 1, 2018.:

1. The technical merit of the current laboratory program relative to current state-of-the-art programs worldwide;
2. The portfolio of scientific expertise as it supports the ability of the organization to achieve its stated objectives;
3. The adequacy of the laboratory budget, facilities, equipment, and human resources, as they affect the quality of the laboratory’s technical programs; and
4. The effectiveness by which the laboratory disseminates its program outputs.