OSAC Registry Implementation Open Enrollment

What is OSAC's Registry Implementation Open Enrollment?

Many employers allow staff to update their health insurance or benefit information during an open enrollment period that typically occurs at the same time each year and operates in a predictable fashion providing employees with a consistent approach to an important annual activity.

OSAC is taking a similar approach and providing a focused “open enrollment” period where forensic science service providers (FSSPs) are encouraged to update or initiate their standards implementation activities. The OSAC Registry Implementation Open Enrollment period will occur during the forth quarter of the fiscal year on an annual basis (typically early July to early September). While OSAC will continue to accept implementation information throughout the year, this period is designated as an opportunity for FSSPs to establish a regular cadence to standardize their annual voluntary implementation submissions or updates. 

How can your organization participate? 

To make the implementation process easier and improve on reporting metrics, OSAC has established an electronic submission survey! You can access this survey through the OSAC Registry Implementation Survey link or the QR code seen here. 

• Is your organization an existing OSAC Registry Implementer? Update your information to note any changes in your implementation activities. For your convenience, your previous implementation data has already been entered into the new data collection system and will prepopulate when you login. All you need to do is review the information since your last submission, make any necessary updates, and hit submit!
• Is your organization new to implementation? Whether your organization has just started to implement standards on the OSAC Registry or has been implementing them for years, this is a perfect time to begin filling out the implementation survey and get familiar with the process! Even if you are a FSSP that has only implemented one standard (either fully or partially) in one discipline, you are eligible and encouraged to complete the survey. The key is just to get started! 

We are requesting that one implementation survey be submitted per FSSP location. For example, a state laboratory with multiple regional laboratories should submit one implementation survey for each of its locations. If your organization has multiple locations, please contact us at forensics [at] nist.gov (forensics[at]nist[dot]gov) for guidance on the best way to proceed.

View additional instructions and tips on how to complete the survey. 

What will OSAC do with this information? 

After the open enrollment period closes, OSAC will compile the data and compare it against previously submitted implementation results. OSAC will then use this information to prepare reports covering the number of new and updated implementation surveys received, general implementation trends, and which standards are being implemented. When the results of the survey are published, presented to the forensic science community, or discussed in conferences, no identifiable information will be used.

Why is OSAC doing this?

OSAC is collecting this implementation information to demonstrate the impact that standards are having on the forensic science community. By sharing your implementation status, you will be providing valuable information to forensic science stakeholders nationwide. Signaling a healthy and forward-leaning forensic science enterprise will reassure those stakeholders that the U.S. has a fair, equitable, and progressive criminal justice system.

Have questions?

Please email OSAC (forensics [at] nist.gov (forensics[at]nist[dot]gov)) with any questions or if you need assistance. 

For more information see:

• 2024 OSAC Registry Implementation Open Enrollment Information Sheet and Consent Sheet
  • NOTE: These forms pertain to both FSSPs and academic institutions. A separate survey will be available in the fall of 2024 to assess the state of implementation in the academic setting.
• List of standards on the OSAC Registry (Word version and Excel version) 
• OSAC Registry Implementation webpage