Site Status Notification

In the event of contingencies, such as winter storms, wildfires, and power outages, NIST may find it necessary to restrict access to facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of personnel and to expedite site recovery. 

NIST will provide notice to employees and associates through a variety of means including GovDelivery ENS notifications using text and e-mail, messages on the NIST Status line, and notices via social media. NIST encourages all staff to subscribe to e-mail and text alerts. 

NIST employs various levels of closure depending on the campus conditions. Below is an outline of those levels that you may hear when receiving Gov Delivery text/e-mail notifications or looking at social media. 

Site is Closed - NO ACCESS [Emergency Event]

• The site is closed for onsite business, and no public access is permitted; previously approved accesses are revoked.
• Access may be granted to designated emergency response officials under NIST and the Department of Commerce (DOC), as well as other local, state, and Federal emergency incident responders.
• Employees/associates (all facility users) are NOT permitted access UNLESS APPROVED by the Emergency Services Office (ESO) Director or designee.
• Telework-ready employees are expected to work at their approved alternative worksite, following the terms of their telework agreement.

Site is CLOSED [used for weather events that ARE impacting the campus]

• The site is closed for onsite business, and no public access is permitted.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees are expected to work at their approved alternative worksite, following the terms of their telework agreement.
• Non-emergency and non-teleworking employees not on pre-approved leave or an Alternative Work Schedule day off will be granted an excused absence.
• Non-emergency employees and associates who have a requirement to access the site and who are currently authorized 24/7 access can be granted entry if site conditions warrant. Associates without After-Hours Access will need approval from their division chief for their need for access to campus, as well as to identify who their federal escort will be. This request must be sent via email to ESO [at] nist.gov (ESO[at]nist[dot]gov). Due to the nature of construction work, it may be unsafe to allow construction work to continue during campus closures.
• Conferences are cancelled.
• Site closure vehicle access procedures may be put in place, and entrants must park in designated areas.

OPEN: REDUCED STAFF [used for weather events that MAY impact the campus]

• Telework-ready staff are encouraged to telework, following the terms of their telework agreements; this does not count toward the 52-hour limit. All others should report to campus or talk to your supervisor about unscheduled leave.
• Campus is open, but when staff arrive on campus, please park in designated areas.   

OPEN: Optional Precautions [used for weather events in the surrounding areas]

• Designated Emergency Employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• The site is open for business with the option of unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework for employees concerned about their commute or weather conditions at their residence.
• Non-emergency employees must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework; with supervisor approval, this may not count toward the 52-hour limit. 

Site has a delayed opening, OR Site will open at a designated time, and unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework is authorized.

• The site will open after a [xx]-hour delay, and staff should report [xx] hours after their normal reporting time.  OR The site is closed for business, and no public access will be permitted prior to the designated time.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees must follow the terms of their telework agreements.
• Non-emergency employees and associates must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.
• Conferences will be held, but attendees may not arrive prior to the designated time.
• Shuttle services will begin running one hour before the site opens.

Site will close after [xx] hours early release, OR Site will close at a designated time for early dismissal

• The site will close [xx] hours early, and staff should leave [xx] hours earlier than their normal departure time. OR The site will close at [a designated time] for onsite business, and no public access is permitted after the designated time for early dismissal.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to remain at work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees must follow the terms of their telework agreements.
• Non-emergency employees and associates who are currently authorized 24/7 access and who have a legitimate requirement to access the site may be granted access or remain on site as site conditions warrant.
• Non-emergency employees and associates must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework if they opt to leave the site prior to the designated early release time.
• Conferences will adjourn by the designated early release time.
• Shuttle services will stop running one hour after the site closes.

Subscribe to Site Status

Subscribe to Site Status - Boulder

The U.S. Department of Commerce Boulder Laboratories site status is provided via three mechanisms. 

• Website status announcement
• Telephone status update at (303) 497-4000 or (303) 497-3000 (Option 2)
• Email and/or text alerts
• Social media

NIST encourages staff to subscribe to the e-mail and text ENS alerts as the may be instances where the site status is changed to other than open for reasons other than heavy snowfall. 

To receive email and/or text alerts on changes to site operating status or emergencies, you can subscribe here.  

Subscribe to Site Status - Gaithersburg

NIST Gaithersburg status is provided through: 

• Website status announcement
• Telephone status update at (301) 975-8000 and (800) 437-4385 (toll free)
• Email and/or text alerts
• Social media

NIST encourages staff to subscribe the e-mail or text alerts as the may be instances where the site status is changed to other than open for reasons other than heavy snowfall. 

To receive email and/or text alerts on changes to site operating status or emergencies, you can subscribe here.  

NOTE: You have to subscribe twice to receive email AND text messages.

Return to the campus status page.