"A process to develop and standardize one or more new hash algorithms  to augment and revise FIPS 180-2, Secure Hash Standard, is being initiated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As a first step in this process, NIST is publishing draft minimum acceptability requirements, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria for candidate algorithms to solicit public comment. It is intended that the revised hash function standard will specify one or more additional unclassified, publicly disclosed hash algorithms that are available royalty-free worldwide, and are capable of protecting sensitive government information well into the foreseeable future.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments on the draft minimum acceptability requirements, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria of candidate algorithms from the public, the cryptographic community, academic/research communities, manufacturers, voluntary standards organizations, and Federal, state, and local government organizations so that their needs can be considered in the process of developing the augmented and revised hash function standard."