110 



1992. The plan requires steady-state funding of S7 million per year 

 from FY 1993 through FY 2001. 



Both an independent architectural and engineering study, done by 

 Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates, Inc. (SH&G), and NIST's 

 oversight Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology have 

 confirmed the necessity of major facilities improvements. For the 

 last 2 years, the Visiting Committee has identified upgrades and 

 repairs of NIST's physical plant as its highest budget priority. The 

 architectural and engineering study concluded the "overwhelming 

 majority" of laboratory space at NIST "will fail to meet 

 operational requirements of programs in the current decade." Its 

 recommended plan of action totals $1.2 billion. Following a 

 stringent review to limit required funding to only the highest 

 priority projects, NIST cut the plan to less than half SH&G's 

 proposed amount. 



The urgency of proceeding now with implementation of these 

 capital improvements cannot be overstated. Even if full funding is 

 provided beginning in FY 1993, new advanced technology 

 laboratory facilities needed by NIST's most technically demanding 

 programs will be not be ready for occupancy until 1997. (See 

 charts on page 3.) 



In an age in which technology utilization and economic growth 

 have become critical determinants of national security and 

 standards of living, the United States simply cannot afford to let its 

 National Institute of Standards and Technology drift into 

 second-rate status. 



