Background on NIHRFCs and Standards at NIH
The NIH Architecture Standards Process (NIHRFC0001) is concerned with all standards that are developed as part of the NIH Enterprise Architecture. In general, a standard is a specification that:
- is stable and well-understood,
- is technically competent,
- has multiple, independent, and interoperable implementations with substantial operational experience, and
- is recognizably useful in some or all parts of NIH.
Guidelines and standards that comprise the Technology Architecture are published as principles, patterns, and bricks. Guidelines and standards that comprise the Information Architecture (Applications, Data, and Integration) are published as models, taxonomies, and other types of specifications). Generally these standards are proposed by domain teams, approved by the Architecture Review Board (ARB), and published by the Office of the Chief IT Architect (OCITA).
Another method for documenting architecture standards and best community practices (BCP) is the NIH Request for Comments (NIHRFC) series. Any NIH stakeholder or working group can propose a new standard or BCP using this document series.
This NIHRFC series also facilitates information sharing and innovation through the informational subseries.
NIHRFC and Architecture Standards Process Models
Select the process model you'd like to review. If you are using the image format, use your browser's zoom feature or Automatic Image Resizing with Internet Explorer 6® to view the model in its original size.
- Create a Standard: GIF | PDF
- Informational NIHRFC: GIF | PDF
- Create a Best Community Practice: GIF | PDF
- Retire a Standard: GIF | PDF
- Conflict Resolutions and Appeals: GIF | PDF
- Obsolete a Standard: GIF | PDF
Instructions to Authors of NIHRFCs and Standards
To propose a standard, recommend a Best Community Practice, or to provide important information to the NIH architecture community, submit an NIH Request for Comments (NIHRFC) to the Office of the Chief Information Architect (OCITA) at EnterpriseArchitecture@mail.nih.gov.
Prior to submitting a proposed standard review the Instructions to NIHRFC Authors - How to Write a Standard. Doing so will increase the likelihood the proposed standard is understood, accepted, and approved.
Download the NIHRFC Template (NIHRFC0009), complete it, and email it to OCITA. NIHRFCs that are not in the correct format will be returned to the author
The NIHRFC Editor will respond back with any questions, the NIHRFC tracking number, and guidance on next steps. The NIHRFC Editor will maintain direct phone and email communications with the author on the disposition of their submitted document.