[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1, Parts 0 to 299]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR200.109]

[Page 372-373]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
 CHAPTER II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 200--POLICIES, SERVICES, PROCEDURES, AND FEES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 200.109  Shipping, insurance, and risk of loss.

    (a) Shipment of apparatus to NIST for calibration or other test 
should be made only after the customer has accepted the estimate of cost 
and the tentative scheduling. Repairs and adjustments on apparatus 
submitted should be attended to by the owner, since NIST will not 
undertake them except by special arrangement. Apparatus not in good 
condition will not be calibrated. If defects are found after calibration 
has begun, the effort may be terminated, a report issued summarizing 
such information as has been found, and a fee charged in accordance with 
the amount of work done.
    (b) The customer should pack apparatus sent to NIST so as to 
minimize the likelihood of damage in shipment and handling. Suggestions 
on packing and shipping are made in some sections

[[Page 373]]

of SP 250. In every case, the sender should consider the nature of the 
apparatus, pack it accordingly, and clearly label shipments containing 
fragile instruments or materials, such as glass and the like.
    (c) To minimize damage during shipment resulting from inadequate 
packing, the use of strong reusable containers is recommended. As an aid 
in preventing loss of such containers, the customer's name should be 
legibly and permanently marked on the outside. In order to prolong the 
container's use the notation ``REUSABLE CONTAINER, DO NOT DESTROY'' 
should be marked on the outside.
    (d) Shipping and insurance coverage instructions should be clearly 
and legibly shown on the purchase order for the calibration or test. The 
customer must pay shipping charges to and from NIST; shipments from NIST 
will be made collect. The method of return transportation should be 
stated, and it is recommeded that return shipments be insured, since 
NIST will not assume liability for their loss or damage. For long-
distance shipping it is found that air express and air freight provide 
an advantage in reduction of time in transit. If return shipment by 
parcel post is requested or is a suitable mode of transportation, 
shipments will be prepaid by NIST, but without covering insurance. When 
no shipping or insurance instructions are furnished, return shipment 
will be made by common carrier collect, but uninsured.
    (e) NIST will not be responsible for the risk of loss or damage to 
any item during shipment to or from NIST. Any arrangements for insurance 
covering this risk must be made by the customer. Return shipment will be 
made by NIST as indicated in paragraph (d) of this section. The purchase 
order should always show the value of the equipment, and if transit 
insurance is carried by the customer, this fact should be stated.
    (f) The risk of loss or damage in handling or testing of any item by 
NIST must be assumed by the customer, except when it is determined by 
NIST that such loss or damage was occasioned solely by the negligence of 
NIST personnel.
    (g) When a test number has been assigned prior to shipment to NIST, 
this number should be clearly marked on the shipping container. When a 
test number has not been assigned, an invoice, copy of the purchase 
order, or letter should be enclosed in the shipment to insure proper 
identification. The original purchase order should be forwarded as 
appropriate to:

    Office of Measurement Services, National Institute of Standards & 
Technology, Washington, DC 20234; or to Measurement Services Clerk, 
National Institute of Standards & Technology, Boulder, CO 80303.

    (h) The calibrations listed in SP 250 are performed at Boulder, 
Colorado and Gaithersburg, Maryland.