NTS Selected As Exclusive Test Tool Developer and Certification Test Lab for USNAP Alliance

CALABASAS, Calif., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- National Technical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTSC) (NTS), a leading provider of testing and engineering services, announced today that it has been selected by the USNAP Alliance as its exclusive testing and certification lab partner. In addition to certification testing, NTS will also develop a test tool to assist in the development and certification testing of USNAP certified products complying with the CEA-2045 Modular Communication Interface (MCI) standard. Official certification testing is scheduled to begin in approximately six months.

The USNAP Alliance was formed to provide manufacturers with a standard communications interface between consumer electronics products, such as meters, in-home displays programmable communication thermostats and major load appliances such as electric water heaters, HVAC, washing machines, and pool pumps. The latest version of the standard has been designed to allow manufacturers to move forward with the development and release of smart appliances without being locked into any particular communications standard. USNAP has recently joined forced with EPRI under the guidelines of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (NIST SGIP) to bring these specifications to the Smart Grid as a well-rounded standard. The specification is now also on the fast track to become an internationally recognized standard as CEA-2045 through the Consumer Electronics Association.

"NTS' track record in testing and certification, as well as developing test tools, is well recognized in the Smart Grid and Smart Energy arenas," said Rolf Bienert, Technical Director of the USNAP Alliance. "NTS has the skills, capabilities, and experience that the USNAP Alliance was seeking when selecting a test and compliance partner. We look forward to support from NTS as our exclusive authorized independent test lab."

Upon the completion and validation of the test specification, NTS will offer testing and certification services for manufacturers certifying products conforming to the CEA-2045 standard. NTS will concurrently develop a custom test tool that manufacturers can purchase from NTS and the USNAP Alliance enabling the manufacturers to test their products during the development phase to help speed certification and ensure compliance.

"NTS has worked extensively and built valuable relationships with manufacturers and utilities over the past several years in the Smart Energy and Smart Grid markets," said NTS CEO William McGinnis. "The addition of the USNAP certification program to our capabilities is yet another example of our commitment to the rapidly expanding energy market."

"For the last several years, the focus of our work with manufacturers has been on the development of Smart Energy products with wireless communications," said Osman Sakr, NTS Chief Technology Officer. "The USNAP certification program will allow manufacturers to move forward with their product development without having to wait out 'standards wars' as is often the case with new technologies. NTS is looking forward to working with the USNAP Alliance and member companies in providing high-quality compliance and certification services."

About USNAP Alliance

The USNAP Alliance is an open industry association publishing specifications, testing and certifying products and providing information to consumers, utilities and vendors on the benefits of the standard. Alliance membership is comprised of utilities, manufacturers, consultants and other parties interested in developing or deploying the standard. For more information, or to find out how to join the Alliance, please visit www.usnap.org.

About National Technical Systems

National Technical Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of testing and engineering services to the aerospace, defense, telecommunications, automotive and high technology markets. Through a world-wide network of resources, NTS provides full product life-cycle support, offering world class design engineering, compliance, testing, certification, quality registration and program management. For additional information about NTS, visit our website at www.nts.com or call 800-270-2516.

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"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding National Technical Systems' business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

SOURCE National Technical Systems, Inc.