This bill establishes a nonprofit Foundation for Standards and Metrology under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research in measurement science and technical standards development. The Foundation will collaborate with universities, private industry, nonprofits, and government agencies to advance emerging technologies, commercialize federally funded research, and improve NIST's research facilities. The Foundation will be governed by an 11-member board appointed from diverse sectors including academia and the private sector, with the NIST Director serving as a nonvoting ex officio member. Congress has authorized annual funding between $500,000 and $1,250,000 starting in fiscal year 2026, and the Foundation is required to submit a strategic plan within one year outlining how it will become financially self-sustaining within five years and provide annual reports to Congress detailing its operations and funding sources. The Foundation operates as a separate nonprofit entity not subject to most federal employment laws and cannot exercise control over federal employees.
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