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DOSAR PART 611 - DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS


PART 611 - DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS


PART 611 - DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

611.002 Policy.

611.002-70 Metric system implementation.

(a) Policy. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 205a, et. seq. ), requires Federal agencies to establish implementing guidelines pursuant to metric policy to adopt the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measurements for United States trade and commerce. This section establishes the Department of State's metric conversion guidelines.

(b) Applicability . This section applies to all DOS acquisitions, except to the extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to U.S. firms.

(c) Definitions.

“Dual systems” means the use of both traditional and metric systems. For example, an item is designated, produced and described in inch-pound values with soft metric values also shown for information or comparison.

“Hard metric” means the use of only standard metric (SI) measurements in specifications, standards, supplies and services.

“Hybrid system” means the use of both traditional and hard metric values in specifications, standards, supplies and services.

“Measurement sensitive” means any item having an application or meaning depending substantially on some measured quantity. For example, measurement sensitive items include product or performance criteria and standards binding on others, such as emission levels, size and weight limitations, etc.

“Metric system” means the International System of Units (Le Syst é me International d'Unit é s (SI)) of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

“Metrication” means any act that increases metric use, including metric training and initiation or conversion of measurement sensitive processes and systems to the metric system.

“Soft metric” means the result of mathematical conversion of inch-pound measurements to metric equivalents. The physical dimensions, however, are not changed.

“Traditional system of weights and measurements” means the predominant weight and measurement system currently used in the United States, also referred to as the “inch-pound” system. The traditional system includes such commonly used units as inch, foot, yard, mile, pint, quart, gallon, bushel, ounce (fluid and avoirdupois), pound, degree Fahrenheit, ampere, candela, and second.

(d) Procedures. (1) DOS contracting activities shall implement the metric system in a manner consistent with 15 U.S.C. 205a, et. seq.

(e) Responsibilities . (1) The Assistant Secretary of State for Administration is the DOS representative on the Interagency Committee on Metric Policy (ICMP) and ensures the implementation of 15 U.S.C. 205a, et. seq.

(f) Acquisition planning. Acquisition planning provides a checkpoint for contracting officers to identify barriers to the use of the metric system in specifications. The extent to which the metric system of measurement is used in the preparation of specifications is considered an integral part of acquisition planning. Metric use shall be discussed in all acquisition planning documents.

(g) Small business considerations. A/SDBU shall identify any effect this program has on small business concerns.

(h) Guidance. Organizational elements within the Department are authorized to issue implementing guidance; provided, that such guidance does not conflict with or otherwise contravene this subsection.

Subpart 611.1 - Selecting and Developing Requirements Documents

611.103 Market acceptance.

(a) The head of the contracting activity is the agency head for the purpose of FAR 11.103(a).

Subpart 611.5 - Liquidated Damages

611.502 Policy.

(d) The head of the contracting activity is the agency head for the purpose of FAR 11.502(d).

Subpart 611.6 – Priorities and Allocations

611.600 Scope of subpart.

On September 18, 2001, the Department of Commerce (DOC) authorized the Department of State to use the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS). This authority expires on October 1, 2006. The Department of Defense has approved the Department's Embassy Security Protection Program (DOSESPP) as a national defense program eligible for the priorities support under the DPAS.

611.602 General.

(c)(1) Authority to use the DPAS is limited to the following circumstances:

611.603 Procedures.

(f) Department of State contracting officers are authorized to sign DO-H8 rated contracts or orders. It is the responsibility of the requirements office to determine which contracts or orders should be rated. All contracts with U.S. firms under the DOSESPP will not necessarily need to be assigned a priority rating.

(g) The contracting officer should place a DO-H8 rating on any contract or order if there is any doubt as to whether a contractor doing work for Embassy security protection will be able to deliver on time. If an unrated contract or order is not completed on time, the contracting officer may modify the contract or order to add the rating; however, the rating shall only be effective for the newly established delivery date, not the original delivery date.

(h) DOC requires the Department to report on its use of DPAS every six months. Heads of contracting activities who use the DPAS program shall report the following to A/OPE by May 1 and November 1 of each year, for the preceding October-March and April-September periods, in the following format:

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