[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37981-37983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17765]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
48 CFR Parts 1523 and 1552
[FRL-5260-5]
Acquisition Regulation
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed Rule.
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to add coverage to the EPA Acquisition
Regulation (EPAAR) on energy-efficient computer equipment. This
proposed rule is necessary for ensuring that all purchases of
microcomputers, including personal computers, monitors, and printers
meet ``EPA Energy Star'' requirements for energy efficiency, unless
exempted.
DATES: Written comments on this proposed rule must be received on or
before September 25, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, Attn: Paul Schaffer
(Mail Code 3802F). Comments may also be transmitted electronically by
electronic mail (e-mail) to Schaffer.paul @ epamail.epa.gov. Electronic
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments will also be accepted
on disk in Wordperfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. No
Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-
mail. Electronic comments of the proposed rule may be filed online at
many Federal Deposit Libraries.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Schaffer at (202) 260-9032.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
Executive Order 12845 (April 23, 1993) requires the Federal
Government to purchase only microcomputers, including personal
computers, monitors and printers, which meet ``EPA Energy Star''
requirements for energy efficiency.
B. Executive Order 12866
This final rule is not a significant regulatory action as defined
in Executive Order 12866. Therefore no review is required at the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs within OMB.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this final rule
does not propose any information collection requirements which would
require the approval of OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
D. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The EPA certifies this proposed rule does not exert a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The proposed
rule establishes EPA policy for purchasing microcomputers, including
personal computers, monitors, and printers which must meet ``EPA Energy
Star'' requirements for energy efficiency. The ``Energy Star Program''
is a voluntary partnership effort with the computer industry, which
includes small entities, to promote the introduction of energy-
efficient personal computers, monitors, and printers which can reduce
air pollution caused by utility power generation. The ``Energy Star
Program'' has no barriers to entry for small entities to procure or
develop the necessary technology or components to manufacture Energy
Star compliant computers, monitors and printers. Therefore, no
regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared.
E. Unfunded Mandates
This proposed rule will not impose unfunded mandates on state or
local entities or others.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1523 and 1552
Environmental Conservation, and Environmental Safety, Solicitation
Provisions and Contract Clauses.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, Chapter 15 of Title 48
Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as set forth
below:
1. The authority citation for Parts 1523 and 1552 continues to read
as follows:
Authority: Sec 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended, 40 U.S.C.
486(c).
2. Subpart 1523.70 is added to read as follows:
PART 1523 ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, AND DRUG-
FREE WORKPLACE.
Subpart 1523.70--Energy-Efficient Computer Equipment
1523.7000 Background.
(a) Executive Order 12845 requires the Federal Government to
purchase only microcomputers, including personal computers, monitors
and printers, which meet ``EPA Energy Star'' requirements for energy
efficiency. This equipment is often identified by the Energy Star TM
logo and is capable of entering and recovering from an energy-efficient
low power state.
(b) The EPA Energy Star Computer Program is a voluntary partnership
effort with the computer industry to promote the introduction of
energy-efficient personal computers, monitors, and printers which can
reduce air pollution caused by utility power generation, and ease the
burden on building air conditioning and electrical systems. The Energy
Star Program is designed to be a self-certifying computer industry
program, policed informally by the computer industry itself.
(c) FIRMR Bulletin C-35 (dated 11/19/93) describes procedures that
will promote the acquisition of energy-efficient microcomputers and
associated computer equipment.
1523.7001 Policy.
(a) The ``Energy Star'' Executive Order applies to the following
equipment:
(1) Personal Computers (stand-alone).
(2) Personal Computers (end-user on network).
(3) Notebook and other portable computers.
(4) PC printers--laser, inkjet or dot matrix (stand-alone or
networked).
(5) High-speed printers used on a PC network (less than
approximately 20 pages per minute).
(6) Monitors (CRT or Flat-panel LCD).
(b) ``Energy Star'' requirements do not apply to the following
equipment:
(1) Workstations.
(2) File servers.
(3) Mainframe equipment.
(4) Minicomputers.
(5) High-speed printers used with mainframe computers (30 or more
pages per minute).
(6) Mainframe or ``dumb'' terminals.
(7) X-terminals.
(c) All new acquisitions for microcomputers, including personal
computers, monitors, and printers shall contain specifications which
meet EPA Energy Star requirements for energy efficiency unless a waiver
has been obtained in accordance with internal Agency procedures.
(d) The Energy Star requirement also applies to all applicable
equipment ordered from GSA Schedule Contracts, open market buys,
Bankcard purchases (Bankcard purchases of equipment in excess of $1,000
are prohibited), contractor-acquired property where title reverts to
the Agency upon completion of the contract, and Government-furnished
property.
1523.7002 Waivers.
(a) There are several types of computer equipment which technically
fall under the current Energy Star
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Program, but for which EPA established blanket waivers because Energy
Star compliant versions of this equipment were unavailable in the
marketplace. Blanket waivers apply to the following types of equipment:
(1) LAN servers, including file servers; application servers;
communication servers; including bridges and routers;
(2) UNIX RISC based processors with their high-end monitors;
(3) Large LAN printers (greater than 19 pages/minute output); and
(4) Scientific computing equipment which is used for real-time data
acquisition and which, if subjected to a power down mode, would
jeopardize the research project.
(b) It is anticipated that there will be Energy Star models of this
equipment in the future; but in the near term, EPA will not specify
Energy Star qualifications when purchasing the above items.
1523.7003 Contract Clause.
The Contracting Officer shall insert the clause at 1552.239-103,
for the acquisition of microcomputers, including personal computers,
monitors, printers, which are Energy Star compliant in all
solicitations and contracts, including contractor-acquired property
where the title reverts to the Agency upon completion of the contract.
3. Section 1552.239-103 is added to read as follows:
1552.239-103 Acquisition of Energy Star Compliant Microcomputers,
Including Personal Computers, Monitors and Printers.
Acquisition of Energy Star Compliant Microcomputers, Including
Personal Computers, Monitors, and Printers
July 1995
(a) The Contractor shall provide computer products that meet EPA
Energy Star requirements for energy efficiency. By acceptance of
this contract, the Contractor certifies that all microcomputers,
including personal computers, monitors, and printers, meet EPA
Energy Star requirements for energy efficiency.
(b) The Contractor shall ship all products with the standby
feature activated or enabled.
(c) The Contractor shall provide models that have equivalent
functionality to similar non-power managed models. This
functionality should include as a minimum:
(1) The ability to run commercial off-the-shelf software both
before and after recovery from a low power state, including
retention of files opened (with no loss of data) before the power
management feature was activated.
(2) If equipment will be used on a local area network (LAN), the
contractor shall provide equipment that is fully compatible with
network environments, e.g., PC's resting in a low-power state should
not be disconnected from the network.
(d) The contractor shall provide monitors that are capable of
being powered down when connected to the accompanying PC.
(End of Clause)
July 7, 1995.
Jeanette L. Brown,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 95-17765 Filed 7-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
