[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 43761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17184]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Personal Property 
Management; Notice of GSA Bulletin FMR B-18

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of a bulletin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces GSA Federal Management Regulation (FMR) 
Bulletin B-18 which provides guidance to Federal agencies on the use of 
voluntary consensus standards in managing the personal property assets 
under their control. This bulletin is discretionary to executive 
agencies. GSA Bulletin FMR B-18 may be found at www.gsa.gov/fmrbulletin.

DATES: The bulletin announced in this notice is effective July 17, 
2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For clarification of content, contact 
General Services Administration, Office of Governmentwide Policy, 
Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset Management, at (202) 501-
1777. Please cite Bulletin FMR B-18.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Public Law 104-113, the ``National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995,'' was enacted, in part, to encourage the use 
of voluntary consensus technical standards in lieu of government-unique 
standards by Federal agencies except when inconsistent with applicable 
law or otherwise impractical. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has issued OMB Circular A-119 to provide additional guidance. 
Subsequently, the National Property Management Association (NPMA) and 
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), now ASTM 
International, entered into an agreement to develop voluntary consensus 
standards for property management activities. Voluntary consensus 
standards are a valuable tool for the personal property manager as they 
represent the collective wisdom of Federal and private sector experts 
covering topics not addressed in law or governmentwide regulations. 
This bulletin is discretionary to executive agencies.
    This notice announces GSA Bulletin FMR B-18 which provides guidance 
to Federal agencies on the use of voluntary consensus standards in 
managing the personal property assets under their control.

B. Procedures

    Bulletins regarding asset management are located on the Internet at 
www.gsa.gov/fmrbulletin as Federal Management Regulation (FMR) 
bulletins.

    Dated: July 21, 2008.
Robert Holcombe,
Director, Personal Property Management Policy.
[FR Doc. E8-17184 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-S