Zoom into NIST: Tech Committee Chats Innovation

2026-06419 — Board of Overseers of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

The Board of Overseers for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is meeting virtually on June 11, 2026, to review and improve the Award program. This affects organizations aiming for top-quality performance in areas like business, education, and health. The meeting is open to the public and focuses on updates, ethics, and new ideas—no costs or deadlines for participants yet, but big improvements could be coming!

2026-05389 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; CHIPS Workforce Solution Participant Data Collection

The Department of Commerce is asking for public feedback on a new data collection for the CHIPS Workforce Solution program, which helps track how semiconductor companies use workforce funding. This affects companies receiving CHIPS funds and aims to make reporting easier while ensuring the government gets useful info. Comments are open until May 18, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!

2026-06391 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; ASKCHIPS Information Collection

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is asking for public feedback on their ASKCHIPS info collection form, which helps people easily request meetings or speakers from the CHIPS Program Office. This update aims to keep things smooth and simple for everyone involved, with comments due by June 1, 2026. If you’re involved in semiconductor incentives or just curious, this affects how you connect with the program—no big costs, just better communication!

2026-03303 — Eliminating Obsolete Regulations Related to the Advanced Technology Program and the Technology Innovation Program

NIST is cleaning house by removing old rules about two tech grant programs, the Advanced Technology Program and the Technology Innovation Program, which are no longer active or authorized by law. This update, effective February 19, 2026, helps keep things clear and current, so no one gets confused about these programs. No money or new programs are involved—just a tidy-up to keep the rulebook fresh!

2026-03307 — Eliminating Obsolete Marking Requirements for Toy, Look-Alike, and Imitation Firearms

Starting February 19, 2026, the old rules about marking toy and imitation guns from NIST are gone! Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the boss of these rules, making things clearer and simpler for everyone. This change won’t cost businesses extra but will cut confusion and keep safety rules up to date.

2026-01256 — Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NIST Invention Disclosure and Inventor Information Collection

NIST is updating its forms that inventors fill out when they create something new using NIST labs. This helps protect the U.S. government’s rights to these inventions and may start the patent process. If you’re an inventor or work with NIST, you might spend a little time filling out these forms, but it keeps everything official and fair!

Previous: 2026-03585 — Notice of OFAC Sanctions Actions

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) updated some names on its sanctions lists to fix errors and keep things clear. These changes affect people and groups already on the lists, making sure the info is accurate and up-to-date. No new sanctions or money changes happened, but the updates took effect on February 19, 2026.

Next: 2026-03587 — Advisory Committee; Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee; Renewal

The FDA is renewing the Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee for two more years, keeping it active until March 3, 2028. This committee helps the FDA make sure medicines for stomach and liver problems are safe and work well. Doctors, patients, and drug makers all benefit from this continued expert advice, with no new costs or big changes announced.