[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43386-43387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20562]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Bulletin FPMR H-76]


Utilization and Disposal

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Notice of bulletin.

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SUMMARY: The attached bulletin provides all Federal agencies with 
information on the disposal of excess biomedical equipment and IT 
equipment with potential Y2K defects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Caswell, Personal Property 
Management Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide Policy, General 
Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405; telephone (202) 501-
3846; e-mail [email protected].

GSA Bulletin FPMR H-76--Utilization and Disposal

To: Heads of Federal agencies
SUBJECT: Disposal of Year 2000 (Y2K) Noncompliant Biomedical Equipment 
and Information Technology (IT) Equipment

    1. What is the purpose of this bulletin? Federal Property 
Management Regulations (FPMR) part 101-42 provides policy direction 
with respect to hazardous materials, which includes excess biomedical 
equipment. It also provides for the reporting of IT equipment as 
described in FPMR 101-43.304. The purpose of this bulletin is to 
provide further information for agencies on the disposal of excess 
biomedical and IT equipment with potential Y2K defects.
    2. When does this bulletin expire? This bulletin contains 
information of a continuing nature and will remain in effect until 
canceled or revised.
    3. What is the background? The Y2K technology problem relates to 
the inability of some automated equipment to correctly recognize dates 
after 1999. This inability may affect the normal operation of 
information technology equipment and biomedical equipment. In 
biomedical equipment, the Y2K problem may present a potential risk to 
public health and safety if not corrected. In response to this 
potential risk, GSA is providing guidance to executive agencies on the 
disposal of such equipment when it becomes excess.
    4. What does this bulletin cover? This bulletin applies to (1) 
biomedical equipment listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
critical list, and (2) IT equipment. The FDA critical list includes 
biomedical equipment identified by the FDA as having the greatest 
potential for presenting a risk to patients if a date problem is not 
corrected. Federal agencies should consult the FDA's Federal Y2K 
Biomedical Clearinghouse (Y2K Clearinghouse) located at http://
www.fda.gov/cdrh/yr2000/year2000.html for information on equipment on 
the FDA list.
    5. Disposal of biomedical equipment.
    a. What is extremely hazardous biomedical equipment? For disposal 
purposes, Y2K noncompliant biomedical equipment may be identified as 
``extremely hazardous'' in accordance FPMR 101-42.001. Extremely 
hazardous in this instance is Y2K noncompliant biomedical equipment 
that has been determined by the holding agency to endanger public 
health or safety, or the environment, if it is not rendered harmless 
before being used by other agencies or released outside the government.
    b. Who determines the status of biomedical equipment? Biomedical

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engineers/technicians within the holding agency must determine if the 
biomedical equipment is:
    (1) Y2K compliant;
    (2) Y2K noncompliant; or
    (3) Y2K status unknown.
    c. How do we dispose of biomedical equipment if it is Y2K 
compliant? If Y2K compliant, excess biomedical equipment must be 
identified as ``Y2K compliant'' on the equipment itself and on the 
reporting document (SF 120) and disposed of through normal disposal 
procedures described in FPMR 101-43.3, 101-44.2 and 101-45.3. Executive 
agencies obtaining excess Y2K compliant biomedical equipment must 
reflect the ``Y2K compliant'' status on all inventory control 
documentation pertaining to such equipment.
    d. How do we dispose of biomedical equipment that is not Y2K 
compliant? If Y2K status of biomedical equipment is noncompliant, the 
holding agency must determine whether the equipment can be economically 
repaired (refer to FDA's critical item list at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/
yr2000/year2000.html) or whether it must be destroyed in accordance 
with FPMR 101-45.9. Destruction means rendering the equipment 
completely inoperable for its intended use. For items that can be 
economically repaired, the recipient should bear the cost for 
remediation and testing. In no case should excess or surplus Y2K 
noncompliant biomedical equipment be transferred for use without the 
assurance that Y2K remediation and testing will be performed. 
Otherwise, the equipment will be destroyed.
    e. What do we do with biomedical equipment when the Y2K status 
cannot be determined? Excess biomedical equipment that is Y2K status 
unknown may not be transferred. If the Y2K status cannot be 
economically determined by the holding agency, it should be destroyed 
in accordance with FPMR 101-45.9 and 101-42.403(e).
    6. IT equipment.
    a. Do we also report the status of IT equipment? Yes, all IT 
equipment must also be identified by the holding agency as Y2K 
compliant, Y2K noncompliant, or Y2K status unknown. The Y2K status must 
be visible on the equipment and all reporting documents.
    b. What are the disposal procedures for IT equipment? IT equipment 
will be disposed of through normal disposal procedures as described in 
FPMR 101-43.3, 101-44.2 and 101-45.3.
    7. Who should we contact for further information? Martha Caswell, 
Personal Property Management Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide 
Policy, General Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405; 
telephone (202) 501-3846; e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: August 4, 1999.
Stanley C. Langfeld,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 99-20562 Filed 8-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-24-P