SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-Continued NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS The National Bureau of Standards is the agency of the Federal Government responsible for the national standards of physical measurement. Against these standards, all the working standards of the Nation-those used by scientists and engineers in research and development, those used by industry in the measurement and production of interchangeable parts, and those used by other Government and State agencies to ascertain conformity—are calibrated. Closely associated with the standards activity, the Bureau serves science, industry, and Government as a national laboratory conducting research and development on methods of measurement and instrumentation; determining fundamental physical constants and basic properties of materials; developing improved methods for testing materials and equipment; developing codes and specifications; and assisting other Government agencies through advisory services on technical problems and by invention and development of devices to meet special needs. General and special funds: RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SERVICES For expenses necessary in performing the functions authorized by the Act of March 3, 1901, as amended (15 U.S.C. 271-278e), including general administration; operation, maintenance, alteration, and protection of grounds and facilities; and improvement and construction of facilities as authorized by the Act of September 2, 1958 (15 U.S.C. 278d); [$27,500,000] $33,250,000 of which not to exceed $1,700,000 shall be available for payments to the "Working capital fund", National Bureau of Standards, for additional capital: Provided, That during the current fiscal year the maximum base rate of compensation for employees appointed pursuant to the Act of September 2, 1958 (15 U.S.C. 278e), shall be equivalent to the maximum scheduled rate for GS-12. (15 U.S.Č. 271-278e; 40 U.S.C. 14a; 5 U.S.C. 596a; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act, 1963.) Note. Includes $550 thousand for activities previously carried under "Salaries and expenses, Office of Technical Services." The amounts obligated in 1962 and 1963 are shown in the schedule as comparative transfers. Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) Program by activities: 1962 actual 1963 1964 estimate estimate 11,890 13,803 1 Includes capital outlay as follows: 1962, $79 thousand; 1963, $100 thousand; 1964, $100 thousand. 2 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders. 1961. $410 thousand (1962 adjustments. -$8 thousand); 1962, $860 thousand; 1963, $1,007 thousand; 1964, $1,167 thousand. This will provide for an important strengthening of research programs and increased procurement of scientific equipment. The Bureau's programs of basic and applied research, development of instruments and methods of measurement, and general technical services are classified under six major activities. 1. Physics and electronics.-This includes the work of the metrology, heat, atomic physics, radiation physics, electricity, radio standards, instrumentation and data processing systems divisions. These divisions are primarily responsible for the Bureau's research underlying the national standards of physical measurement needed for our advancing technology and broadening range of scientific exploration. Particular emphasis will be given to expansion of radio standards research and calibration capability, extension and improvement of high temperature measurement capability, and development of radioactivity standards for various elements and basic data on high energy radiation. 2. Chemistry and metallurgy.-This includes the work of the analytical and inorganic chemistry, polymers, metallurgy, physical chemistry and inorganic solids divisions. The principal expansion of effort in this activity will be in the physical chemistry division in the mass spectroscopy, thermochemistry, and surface chemistry program areas. 3. Mechanics and engineering.-This includes the work of the mechanics, building research, and cryogenic engineering divisions. Particular emphasis will be given to developing force and pressure measurement capability and to extending the latter to the very low pressure (vacuum) end of the scale. 4. Radio propagation. This includes the work_conducted by the divisions comprising the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory at Boulder, Colo., and the supplementary field stations. The program for 1964 will emphasize basic research on physical phenomena of the troposphere and of the upper atmosphere, concentrating on processes of atmospheric gases and the collection of data on ionospheric and solar phenomena. 5. General services.-This includes those technical programs of the Bureau that are primarily directed toward 3,005 3.220 supporting other activities of the Bureau as well as the calibration and standard samples services provided to the States. Included are the applied mathematics division, the office of weights and measures, the office of engineering standards, the reactor group, and certain special research 1. Physics and electronics... 9,078 4,526 5,291 6,215 5. General services.. 1,164 1,520 2,260 1,200 1.450 RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (SPECIAL FOREIGN CURRENCY PROGRAM) For purchase of foreign currencies which the Treasury Department determines to be excess to the normal requirements of the United States, for necessary expenses of the National Bureau of Standards, as authorized by law, [$500,000 $1,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available, in addition to other appropriations to the Bureau, for the purchase of the foregoing currencies. (7 U.S.C. 1701, 1704; 15 U.Ś.C. 271– 278e; 5 U.S.C. 596a; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act, 1963.) Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) 4. General services.-This activity finances travel and other miscellaneous expenses associated with technical direction of the program. FIRE TECHNOLOGY For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided, of advancing the state of fire technology in the Nation, as authorized by law, to remain available until expended, $1,200,000 (15 U.S.C. 272(f)). Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) 1 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1961, $0: 1962, $386 thousand; 1963, $823 thousand; 1964, $866 thousand. National Bureau of Standards responsibilities for basic and applied research, improvement of standards, and dissemination of information on properties of materials, measurement techniques, and radio propagation are of sufficient breadth to permit ready utilization of research capabilities in other countries. The foreign currency program supplements the Bureau's existing program, allows an acceleration of research effort in selected areas, and permits economies in the Bureau's regular appropriations over the long term. The 1964 program, authorized by section 104 (k) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, represents no increase in the size of the program started in 1962. Foreign currencies determined by the Treasury Department to be excess to normal requirements of the United States will be used in non-Soviet bloc countries where scientific talent is available. A cost of $20 thousand, U.S. dollars, charged to the appropriation for Research and technical services, will be required for the administration and technical supervision of the program. 1 Selected resources as of June 30, are as follows; Unpaid undelivered orders, 1963, $0; 1964, $424 thousand. This appropriation will strengthen a program in fire research currently conducted by the National Bureau of Standards and financed through the appropriation for Research and Technical Services. There are also to be undertaken a variety of new activities to develop and disseminate information on new fire fighting and prevention techniques and to encourage the adoption of improved practice at the local level. Taken together these basic and applied research, cooperative, and informational activities will form a broad program in the area of urban and industrial fire prevention and suppression within the Department of Commerce, which will implement the most important recommendations which have been made in studies of urban fire problems by the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, and the Commerce Department In carrying forward the program, the National Bureau of Standards will cooperate with public and private agencies concerned with fire losses and improved fire protection. The Bureau will also serve as a clearinghouse for the systematic collection and publication of information regarding the causes and costs of fires. 1. Fire research.-These funds will carry forward the research in the basic physics of fire and testing fire resistance of materials currently being conducted by the National Bureau of Standards. To augment this nucleus program, grants and contracts will be made to: (1) provide support to certain additional fundamental research which is needed, (2) develop an applied engineering technology of fire prevention and suppression, and (3) provide a medium for developing, on a scientific basis, more effective methods of fire control, and for evaluating, testing, and applying these methods. 2. Regional fire centers.-During 1964 exploratory and pilot studies will be undertaken to determine what mechanism can most effectively translate research and engineer SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-Continued payment to defray an appropriate share of the general overhead costs of the National Bureau of Standards. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS--Continued General and special funds-Continued FIRE TECHNOLOGY-continued ing studies into actual improvements in local fire protection. It is anticipated that in future years a limited number of regional fire centers will be established to provide a means for dispensing information, to facilitate cooperation with local agencies, and to undertake applied research on practical problems identified by cooperating communities. 3. Program administration.-This activity will finance. the direct administration of the program, including a PLANT AND FACILITIES For expenses incurred, as authorized by section 1 of the Act of September 2, 1958 (15 U.S.C. 278c-278e), in the acquisition, construction, improvement, alteration, or emergency repair of buildings, grounds, and other facilities including [a plasma physics building, a] an addition to a radio warning service building, [and a paint shop; design of a radio standards laboratory] a high temperature laboratory, a field site building, an ionospheric radar research facility, and an observatory facility; and procurement and installation of special research equipment and facilities, therefor; [$2,000,000] $6,000,000, to remain available until expended. (15 U.S.C. 271278e; 40 U.S.C. 14a; 5 U.S.C. 596a; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act, 1963.) 1 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1961, $1,159 thousand; 1962, $360 This will provide for construction and improvements to the plant and facilities of the National Bureau of Standards and procurement of major special facilities. The Bureau's laboratories and administrative offices occupy 86 buildings on a 68-acre tract in Washington, D.C. The Bureau also has a large laboratory on a 217-acre site at Boulder, Colo., and several small radio field stations, some of which are outside the continental limits. In addition, the Bureau has a new site near Gaithersburg, Md., on which facilities are being built to replace those in Washington, D.C. Capital outlay-1. Improvements and modifications.The budget includes $200 thousand for minor capital improvements of a general nature required for the Bureau's laboratories and field stations. Other minor improvements, when of a special, project-related character, are charged to the appropriation for Research and technical services. Noncapital alterations are charged to the operating costs of this appropriation. 2. General construction. The budget includes $1,600 thousand for the construction of a high temperature laboratory building, $45 thousand for the construction of a field site building and $45 thousand for an addition to a field site building. Anticipated costs in 1964 include $1,284 thousand for additional facilities for the Boulder laboratories financed in prior years as well as $251 thousand associated with the budget year projects. 3. Special facilities. This activity includes the acquisition of large equipment items and any building construcbudget includes $1,100 thousand for the purchase and tion and land acquisition associated with them. The installation of Pilot data processing auxiliary equipment, $1,150 thousand for the acquisition of a megajoule condenser bank, $740 thousand for the acquisition of electromagnetic spectrum and radio noise recorders, $600 thou |