[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14506-14507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7749]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
48 CFR Parts 1523 and 1552

[FRL-5448-6]


Acquisition Regulation; Energy-Efficient Computer Equipment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document adds coverage to the EPA Acquisition Regulation 
(EPAAR) on energy-efficient computer equipment. This final 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 17, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Schaffer at (202) 260-9032, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW., Washington, D.C. 
20460 (Mail Code 3802F).

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.
    A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on July 25, 
1995 (60 FR 37982). No public comments were received.

B. Executive Order 12866

    This 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 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 rule does not exert a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 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 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, Environmental Safety, Government 
procurement, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, Chapter 15 of Title 48 
Code of Federal Regulations is 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).

    1a. The heading for part 1523 is revised to read as follows:

PART 1523--ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, AND 
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.

    2. Subpart 1523.70 is added to read as follows:

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 
StarTM 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 (E.O. 12845) 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

[[Page 14507]]
contain specifications which meet EPA Energy Star requirements for 
energy efficiency unless a waiver has been obtained in accordance with 
internal Agency procedures. The EPA Energy Star requirement applies in 
instances where the Contracting Officer authorizes the contractor to 
acquire property in accordance with FAR 45.302-1.
    (d) The Energy Star requirement also applies to all applicable 
equipment ordered from GSA Schedule Contracts, open market buys, and 
Bankcard purchases.


1523.7002  Waivers.

    (a) There are several types of computer equipment which technically 
fall under the current Energy Star 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 items listed in this 
section.


1523.7003  Contract clause.

    The Contracting Officer shall insert a clause substantially the 
same as 48 CFR 1552.239-103, Acquisition of Energy Star Compliant 
Microcomputers, Including Personal Computers, Monitors, and Printers, 
in all solicitations and contracts for the acquisition of 
microcomputers, including personal computers, monitors and printers. 
The Contracting Officer shall also insert the clause in solicitations 
and contracts where the Contracting Officer authorizes the contractor 
to acquire property in accordance with FAR 45.302-1.
    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.

    As prescribed in 1523.7003, insert the following clause:

ACQUISITION OF ENERGY STAR COMPLIANT MICROCOMPUTERS, INCLUDING PERSONAL 
COMPUTERS, MONITORS, AND PRINTERS

(APRIL 1996)

    (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 to be provided 
under this contract 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., personal computers 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 personal 
computer.

(End of Clause)

    Dated: March 18, 1996.
Betty L. Bailey,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 96-7749 Filed 4-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P