An NIST-NSF Partnership (EEC-9820311) funds the only REU site at a Federal lab. The site provides opportunities for outstanding undergraduate students to perform research with internationally known NIST scientists in the fields of intelligent systems, manufacturing process metrology, precision engineering, and manufacturing systems integration. As an example, when a firearm is used in a crime, police departments turn to FBI or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms experts to help them link the bullet or its casing to the guilty party. Currently, both the ATF and the FBI use a sophisticated technique of optical image analysis and comparison to sort through the huge database of firearm signatures and offer matches to the examiners. This technique is not foolproof and is subject to technician error. An REU student, Matthew Tundermann from Syracuse University, worked with NIST, ATF, and FBI researchers to help create the "standard" bullet -- one that contains known markings. With this "standard" bullet, ATF and FBI technicians have a way to establish that their systems are operating properly from day-to-day and from one system to another. This will increase the efficiency and accuracy of bullet matching for these law enforcement agencies.