In June, the National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
promulgated a final rule setting out the requirements to become
certified to access the Death Master File (DMF). The final rule
amends the DMF certification program found in 15 CFR 1110, and was
promulgated by NTIS, as delegee of the Secretary of Commerce, under
Section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. It supersedes and
replaces an interim rule.
The DMF is a Social Security Administration database, which
contains names, social security numbers, and dates of birth and
death for U.S. citizens who have died since 1936.
The final rule states that companies that wish to access the DMF
must submit a written attestation from an accredited conformity
assessment body (ACAB), as that term is defined in the rule,
stating that the company has proper information security systems,
facilities, and procedures in place to protect the security of the
DMF. The final rule also authorizes the ACAB to conduct
