SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The VCAT, which was established pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 278, reviews and makes recommendations regarding general policy for NIST, an agency within DOC, on its organization, its budget, and its programs, within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress.

Agenda

The agenda will include an update on major programs at NIST. Sessions will also include updates to the Committee on the NIST laboratory strategic priorities, cybersecurity programs, facilities, critical and emerging technologies programs, and other NIST programmatic and operational priorities.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (FACA), 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq., notice is hereby given that the VCAT will meet on the dates and at the times given in the DATES section. The agenda is subject to change if needed to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST website at www.nist.gov/​director/​vcat/​agenda.cfm.

Public Participation

Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to offer comments and suggestions related to the Committee's business are invited to request a place on the agenda by no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, by contacting Stephanie Shaw at stephanie.shaw@nist.gov. Approximately one-half hour will be reserved for public comments, and speaking times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount of time per speaker will be determined by the number of requests received but is likely to be about 3 to 5 minutes each, with no more than 5 minutes allocated to each speaker. The exact time and date for public comments will be included in the final agenda that will be posted on the NIST website at www.nist.gov/​director/​vcat/​agenda.cfm. Submissions by the public will be made available to the public and should not contain any confidential information. Questions from the public will not be considered during this period. Speakers who wish to expand upon their oral statements, those who had wished to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, and those who were unable to attend in person are invited to submit written statements to Stephanie Shaw at stephanie.shaw@nist.gov.

Open Session Attendance

All visitors, including NIST staff, to attend the NIST site are required to pre-register to be admitted. Limited space is available on a first-come, first-served basis for anyone who wishes to attend in person. Please submit your name, time of arrival, email address, and phone number to Stephanie Shaw, stephanie.shaw@nist.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Non-U.S. citizens must submit additional information; please contact Ms. Shaw at stephanie.shaw@nist.gov. For members of the public attending in person, please note that federal agencies, including NIST, can only accept a state-issued driver's license or identification card for access to federal facilities if such license or identification card is issued by a state that is compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13), or by a state that has an extension for REAL ID compliance. NIST currently accepts other forms of federal-issued identification in lieu of a state-issued driver's license. For detailed information please visit: nist.gov/​public_​affairs/​visitor/​.

Special Accommodations

NIST provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you are a person who requires a reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodation to stephanie.shaw@nist.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, so appropriate arrangements can be made. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. ( printed page 61388)

Meeting Cancellation

If the meeting is cancelled, a cancellation notice will be posted on the NIST website at www.nist.gov/​director/​vcat/​agenda.cfm.

91 FR 61387