The Laboratory Assessments Board will oversee National Research Council activities involving review and assessment of the technical quality of internal research conducted at laboratories. This includes those laboratories established by federal agencies at national laboratories and at government-owned, contractor-operated facilities, but may include others as well. Assessments are performed by NRC committees appointed under the auspices of the board and established separately for each institution or laboratory.

The LAB oversees the activities of the Army Research Laboratory Technical Assessment Committee (formerly ARLTAB) and the Committee on National Institute of Standards and Technology Technical Programs (formerly NIST).