(c)
Development of standards and guidelines
In developing standards and guidelines required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Institute shall—
(1)
consult with other agencies and offices (including, but not limited to, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Departments of Defense and Energy, the National Security Agency, the Government Accountability Office, and the Secretary of Homeland Security) to assure—
(A)
use of appropriate information security policies, procedures, and techniques, in order to improve information security and avoid unnecessary and costly duplication of effort; and
(B)
that such standards and guidelines are complementary with standards and guidelines employed for the protection of national security systems and information contained in such systems;
(2)
provide the public with an opportunity to comment on proposed standards and guidelines;
(3)
submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for promulgation under section
11331 of title
40—
(A)
standards, as required under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, no later than 12 months after November 25, 2002; and
(B)
minimum information security requirements for each category, as required under subsection (b)(1)(C) of this section, no later than 36 months after November 25, 2002;
(4)
issue guidelines as required under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section, no later than 18 months after November 25, 2002;
(5)
ensure that such standards and guidelines do not require specific technological solutions or products, including any specific hardware or software security solutions;
(6)
ensure that such standards and guidelines provide for sufficient flexibility to permit alternative solutions to provide equivalent levels of protection for identified information security risks; and
(7)
use flexible, performance-based standards and guidelines that, to the greatest extent possible, permit the use of off-the-shelf commercially developed information security products.