See next page for continuation of this table

OBJETIVES	INDICATORS	MEANS OF VERIFICATION	ASSUMPTIONS
GOAL To support and promote equivalent measurement capabilities in the Americas, respecting individual countries different needs, so that the consequent enhanced commerce and improved means for protection of the environment contributes to achieving FTAA by 2005.	•Improvement of metrology systems in developing countries. • Development of comparable metrological capabilities within the Americas in support to chemical analysis. •Recognition agreements.	•Facilities installed in less developed countries. •Participation in chemical comparisons. •Information provided by SIM for Appendix C of the CIPM MRA.	•-Political support from American Governments to National Metrology Institutions (NMI.) •-Political support for the participation in the Convention du Metre (diplomatic agreement).
PURPOSE To strengthen and consolidate mutually acceptable metrology systems among the SIM countries, through measurement comparisons, training of human resources, enhancing the cooperation and coordination between national metrology laboratories, and increase of exchange of information on metrology.	• Number of comparisons carried out. •Number of technicians trained. •Number of publications and documents related to metrology released.	• Technical reports of comparisons results • Seminar proceedings and list of participants in metrology courses. • List of SIM publications	• Cooperation from national customs authorities to facilitate the entry of metrology equipment and chemical samples used for comparison purposes.
OUTPUTS/COMPONENTS 1.Establishment of new services, and re-enforcement of already established metrology services in strategic areas for commerce and environmental protection in developing countries (infrastructure and personnel). 2.Cooperation and technical assistance for assuring comparable reliable measurements. 3. Develop awareness of the economic impact of metrology and its role as part of infrastructure development and capacity building in the Americas 4. Assistance and training in basic legal metrology in strategic areas for commerce and environment protection.	1. Thirty people trained in metrology as applied to chemistry. Three chemical comparisons carried out. Two seminars achieved on metrology as applied to chemistry. 2. Thirty people trained in physical metrology. Six physical comparisons carried out. Four seminars achieved on physical metrology. 3. Thirty-four people participating in a hemisphere wide workshop. Four seminars to identify regional metrology needs and professional development needs. 4. Fifty people trained in Legal Metrology.	1. List of participants to the courses. Reports of comparison results. Proceedings of the seminars. 2. List of participants to the courses. Reports of comparison results. Proceedings of the seminars. 3. List of participants to the Workshop and Seminars and proceedings. 4. List of participants per course.	• Commitment of National Metrology Labs to participate in SIM activities
ACTIVITIES 1. Workshops for chemical metrology comparisons, publications (aiming to technical electronic files mounted on the web site), comparisons, advanced seminars 2. Seminars in physical metrology, workshops for physical metrology comparisons, publications on physical metrology and comparisons exercise (aiming to technical electronic files mounted on the web site). 3. Workshop on economic impact of metrology in domestic, regional and global trade, in the improvement of health, safety and environment, in the reduction of technical barriers to trade, and in developing consumer awareness for quality. Seminars (4) to identify country metrology needs and to identify technical areas for staff training and develop publications related to SIM activities (newsletter-InfoSIM), support of SIM web page. 4. Training on legal metrology and coordination of activities.	1. Workshops (comparison coordination and discussion of results): US$10 000 Publications: US$ 2 500 Comparisons: US$10 000 Seminars: US$30 000 2. Workshops: US$30 000 Seminars: US$30 000 Comparisons: US$35 000 Publications US$ 5 000 3. Workshops and seminars: US$60 000 Document: US$ 5 000 Contracts: US$ 2 500 Other: U$S 5 000 4. Workshops and seminars (2 technical seminars) US$ 20 000 Technical activities development: US$ 5 000	Financial and progress reports Financial and progress reports   Financial and progress reports Financial and progress reports	Technical and Professional Development committees programs on schedule. Commitment and support of national metrology labs to participate in SIM activities. Good coordination among regional coordinators and NMIs' responsible person

FORMAT FOR PRESENTATION OF
PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

IN ORDER TO FILL OUT THIS FORM ACCURATELY, YOU NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS: "STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 1997-2001" AND "CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION AND ELEGIBILITY OF PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES"

INCLUDED IS A GUIDE WHICH MUST BE USED TO COMPLETE THE FORM
Date: 15 June 2000

I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSAL

   1. Name: Measurement Infrastructure in support of Free Trade and Protection of the Environment for the Americas

   2. Presented by: U.S. Mission to the OAS

   3. Former names of the Cooperation Project or Activity and year executed (if applicable): Same as above

   4. Type and class of proposal:

5. Participating countries:
(See Guide for appropriate country code)

6. Date of execution of the proposal:

I. JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSAL

1. Executive summary of the proposal. All the sections must be filled.

1.1 Background (estimate between 75 and 100 words)

Trade, health and the protection of consumers and of the environment are key issues to the development and wellbeing of countries that need constant support of reliable and fit for their purpose measurements. In their turn, reliable measurements within a country depend upon a national metrology system organized in such a way that it can provide national measurement standards and means for transferring their values to common measuring instruments in accordance to accepted international procedures. Furthermore, international equivalence of measured values is essential to the desired reliability. Fit for their purpose measurements are those that have an associate uncertainty compatible with that required for the application intended. Therefore, each country chooses the level of metrology to be achieved according to its own needs. It is worth mentioning that the Summit of Presidents of the Americas (Miami, 1995) expressed their strong intention to achieve the Free Trade Area for the Americas (FTAA/2005) and stressed the importance of metrology and of measurement equivalence to the elimination of technical barriers to trade.
In order to assure measurement equivalence worldwide the General Conference of Weights and Measurements, under the Meter Convention, has established a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) that is based on measurement comparisons. In their turn, countries have been organizing themselves into regional cooperation groups, usually under the framework of economic blocks, so that comparisons, training, exchange of expertise etc. can take place and bring about the desired equivalence. This has also been the case of the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM), which brings together the national metrology institutions of 34 OAS member countries. SIM has, over the past five years, established the grounds for such cooperation: the re-structuring into five sub-regions (NORAMET, CAMET, CARIMET, ANDIMET and SURAMET), corresponding to the five economic blocks in the Americas; the creation of the Technical and the Professional Development Committees; the organization of much needed comparisons, whose results have been submitted to the above mentioned MRA, and training courses; and the organization of an annual General Assembly and three times a year Council meetings to coordinate activities and harmonize the metrology systems in the American countries. It is important to note that the support of OAS was fundamental to the achievement of the present status of SIM.
The present project aims at strengthening SIM even further and consolidate past achievements so that it can serve the purpose defined by the Summit concerning FTAA/2005 and achieve measurement equivalence through activities such as comparisons, for those most demanded quantities (mass, volume, pressure, force, amount of matter, electrical power etc.); training, for those countries that are in the process of establishing or reviewing their national metrology system; and exchange of expertise.

1.2 Identify the priority area(s) of the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development 1997-2001 to which this proposal relates (if more than one, rank them in order of importance, 1 to 8):

1.3 Relationship to the national development priorities (estimate between 75 and 100 words)

Reliable measurements are essential for the exchange of goods, maintenance of health and protection of consumers and the environment, all of which are required for the economic and social development of nations. For instance, the protection of the environment relies on compliance to pre-established limits of pollutants in air, water and soil and, consequently, on a number of good chemical measurements. Another example concerns the confidence consumers need to have that the pre-packaged goods they purchase contain the exact units, weight or volume stated in their label. Metrology is the science of measurement and it is to be understood also as the national framework set up to assure reliability, based on reference standards kept at a National Metrology Laboratory, and on a series of agreed technical and legal structures and procedures. Metrology is an important part of the basis of reliability and quality in a country.

1.4 Relationship to regional development priorities (estimate between 75 and 100 words)

Taking into account what was said in 1.3 and bearing in mind FTAA/2005, which requires for 2005 a technical backbone to facilitate trade and commerce, it is important that each country in the Hemisphere has a National Laboratory of Metrology, established to provided the level of metrology needed in the country and recognized among its peers according to the rules established by the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), signed by many nations under the Meter Convention Treaty. Mutually recognized measurements are the basis for mutually accepted certification of products and processes. The Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) provide the technical infrastructure network needed within the Americas, especially by the less developed countries, to promote the equivalence of measurement and, consequently, to contribute to competitiveness and quality in the small and medium enterprises of the Hemisphere. It is also worth mentioning that the SIM is recognized as the Regional Metrology Organization that represents the Americas before the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM), thus being the only organization, which can submit all the data on an individual American country measurement capability to the above-mentioned MRA.

2. Description of the proposal:
2.1 Goal of the proposal or Integral Development General Objective (estimate between 75 and 100 words):
To strengthen and consolidate the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) as a means of supporting and promoting measurement equivalence, enhancing commerce and improving the means for protection of the environment.

2.2 Purpose or Annual Objective of the proposal and execution process.
a. Purpose (estimate between 50 and 75 words)
To strengthen the structure that supports the mutual confidence and recognition of the metrology systems among the SIM countries, through measurement comparisons and training of human resources. To provide the coordination for the cooperation activities between national metrology laboratories, and increasing exchange of information on metrology through printed and electronic media.

b. Relationship of the Purpose or Annual Objective with the Strategic Plan (estimate between 50 and 75 words)
Trade liberalization and market access require that products, processes and services be in accordance with international standards and procedures for physical and chemical measurements (5.3). Expert exchanges and cross technical assistance will promote the development of the scientific and technological capacities of the Member States (5.4). Sustainable development in health, agriculture and forestry, communities and natural resources, will demand accurate physical and chemical measurements to monitor use of resources, protection of the environment and quality of products and services (5.7). Harmonization of measuring procedures on an international scale makes it possible to certify the technological capacities of the countries for further development of the FTAA-2005.
The project conforms to the Guidelines (6) established in the Strategic Plan.

c. Relationship of the Purpose or Annual Objective with the corresponding Inter-American Program (estimate between 50 and 75 words).
The mandate "Supporting the training of top -level researchers through the creation and strengthening of regional doctoral programs, and providing scholarships to facilitates exchanges of students and researchers" (5.2), is related to the effort of the Project of providing to national laboratories personnel and researchers with high level training programs which includes comparison exercises, experts exchanges, study visits, etc, in order to reinforce cooperation, strengthening, and networking of centers of excellence for the scientific and technological development of the region. The use of the internet by SIM, through the SIMNET program and the improvement of web sites is being implemented to reflect this. The creation of web sites and databases, with information related to SIM activities and results of its performed activities, can be used shortly in a very effective way by more national institutions, governments, and researchers, as well as incorporated into related information networks (5.4).
The protection of the environment depends on the measurement capability of the National Laboratories, and goes beyond the frontiers of the individual countries. The project supports the dissemination of technical knowledge needed for monitoring the environment, through seminars, courses, exchange of expertise, and comparison exercises (5.7).

d. Execution process for the cooperation project/activity/
Specify the outputs/components within the time frame and their order of execution

e. Describe how the outputs/components included in this table relate to each other to reach the Purpose or Annual objective and how this contributes to reaching the Goal (estimate between 75 and 100 words).


The Project will achieve its activities on the following fronts:

1) Supporting infrastructure in developing countries in specific sectors and basic legal, physical, and chemical metrology laboratories: training of human resources due to the high level of personnel turnover, and providing equipment in priority sectors for specific measurements capabilities, trying to establish traceability to international standards pursuing recognition in certification of certain products exports. The goal in this front is to establish specifically physical and chemical measurement capabilities in countries where they do not currently exist, and the country has demands.
2) In the case of more advanced countries, to support the continuous harmonization process needed to assure the homogeneity of physical and chemical measurements. To maintain international mutual recognition in several sectors and obtain recognition in other sectors, in order to promote trade and commerce between them. To promote the harmonization for the measurements capabilities needed for the preservation of the quality of water, air, soil, health and the environment.
3) Coordination to promote horizontal cooperation from more advanced to less developed countries; promote installation of high level measurement services by certain laboratories at sub-regional or regional level to avoid costly duplication of infrastructure; technical assistance between national metrology laboratories, and exchange of experiences.


f. Types of Cooperation
Identify the types of cooperation that will be used to promote partnership and inter-American dialogue. If there is more than one, rank them (1 to 6) in order of their importance for achieving the outputs/components.

3. Institutional data:

3.1 Coordinating Institution: Information on the institution that will be responsible for coordinating the cooperation project/activity.

a. Name of the national institution: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
b. Name and title of responsible official: Dr. Steve Carpenter, Director for International and Academic Affairs
c. Address: A 505 Administration Building, Gaithersburg
d. State/Province: Maryland, MD e. Country: The United States
f. Telephone: 301 975 4119	g: Fax:301 975 3530	h. E-mail: Bcarpenter@nist.gov	i. Web Page: http://www.nist.gov/
j. Information on the institutional capacity for managing, coordinating and executing cooperation projects/activities (estimate between 40 and 60 words). (1) See information required at the end of this group of tables.

3.2 Executing Institution(s).
List the responsible institutions for each country in which the project/activity will be executed

a. Name of institution: Centro Nacional de Metrología de México (CENAM)
b. Name and title of responsible official: Dr. Héctor Nava Jaimes, Director General
c. Address: K.M. 4.5 Carretera a los Cués, El Marqués, C.P. 76900
d. State/Province: Querétaro e. Country: México
f. Telephone: +5242 15 5333/36	g. Fax +5242 153903	h: E-mail: hnava@cenam.mx	i. Web Page:
j. Information on the institutional capacity for executing cooperation projects/activities (estimate between 40 and 60 words). (1) See information required at the end of this group of tables.

a. Name of institution: National Research Council (NRC)
b. Name and title of responsible official: Dr. Alan Robertson
c. Address: Montreal Road, M-36 Otawa
d. State/Province: Ontario e. Country: Ontario
f. Telephone: +1 (613) 993-9326	g. Fax: +1(613) 952-5113	h: E-mail: alan.robertson@nrc.gov	i. Web Page: http://www.nrc.gov
j. Information on the institutional capacity for executing cooperation projects/activities (estimate between 40 and 60 words). (1) See information required at the end of this group of tables.

a. Name of institution: Laboratorio Tecnologico de Uruguay (LATU)
b. Name and title of responsible official: Ing. Quim. Luis Mussio
c. Address: Av. Italia 6201
d. State/Province: Montevideo e. Country: Uruguay
f. Telephone: +5982613724	g. Fax: +5982618554	h.E-mail: lmussio@latu.org.uy	i. Web Page: http://www.latu.org.uy
j. Information on the institutional capacity for executing cooperation projects/activities (estimate between 40 and 60 words). (1) See information required at the end of this group of tables.

(1)
All of these Projects institutions (NIST, NRC, CENAM and LATU) have been participating permanently in SIM activities since its reactivation. NIST is worldwide recognized center of excellence but unique in many field providing support to scientists and technicians from national laboratories from the Western Hemisphere. NIST is also considered a pioneer in measurement techniques, development of processes, techniques and world standards of reference. These institutes have outstanding level of infrastructure, highly qualified human resources, prestigious training programs for foreign personnel of national laboratories, and are very experienced providing technical cooperation projects to other countries.

3.3 Coordination mechanism for the execution of activities and resources

3.4 Recipient Institution(s).

List the institutions that will not be directly involved in carrying out the project/activity, but who will benefit from its implementation

The 34 Member States through their national metrology laboratories will benefit from the Project activities. It includes the United States (NIST), Uruguay (LATU), Canada (NRC), Mexico (CENAM) and the following countries:

See Annex No. 1: List of recipient institutions by SIM sub regions.

4. If applicable, indicate what other institutions (governmental and non-governmental) will contribute to the execution of this project/activity.

Include the name and title of the liaison official and a brief description of the form of contribution (financial, technical, material, informational) of the institution. If the contribution is monetary, indicate the amount in section VII.2

Data on Contributing National Institutions

Note: for national or multilateral project proposals go to Section IV

NOTE: Repeat this page as many times as necessary, one for each output

IV. PROPOSALS FOR NATIONAL OR MULTILATERAL PROJECTS: PROJECT OUTPUTS/COMPONENTS AND VERIFIABLE RESULTS

Output No.1: Establishment of new services, and re-enforcement of already established metrology services in strategic areas for commerce and environmental protection in developing countries (infrastructure and personnel).

IV. PROPOSALS FOR NATIONAL OR MULTILATERAL PROJECTS: PROJECT OUTPUTS/COMPONENTS AND VERIFIABLE RESULTS

Output No. 3: Develop awareness of the economic impact of metrology and its role as part of infrastructure development and capacity building in the Americas.

Output No. 4: Training on legal metrology and coordination of activities.

V. FOR MULTILATERAL PROPOSALS: NATIONAL COUNTERPARTS AND EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTRY.

(1) See names of national institutions in Annex No. 1 attached to this proposal.
(2) These institutions will provide their technicians, experts, equipment, and laboratory infrastructures for the achievement of the Project's activities.

IV. SUMMARY OF BUDGETARY INPUTS (US$) REQUESTED FROM OAS/CIDI