[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR1170.3]

[Page 402-403]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
      CHAPTER XI--TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 1170--METRIC CONVERSION POLICY FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1170.3  General policy.

    The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418, 
section 5164) amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to, among other 
things, require that each Federal agency, by a date certain and to the 
extent economically feasible by the end of the fiscal year 1992, use the 
metric system of measurement in its procurements, grants, and other 
business-related activities, except to the extent that such

[[Page 403]]

use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or 
loss of markets to United States firms, such as when foreign competitors 
are producting competing products in non-metric units.
    (a) The Secretary of Commerce will appoint a Commerce Department 
Under Secretary to assist in coordinating the efforts of Federal 
agencies in meeting their obligations under the Metric Conversion Act, 
as amended.
    (b) Federal agencies shall coordinate and plan for the use of the 
metric system in their procurements, grants and other business-related 
activities consistent with the requirements of the Metric Conversion 
Act, as amended. Federal agencies shall encourage and support an 
environment which will facilitate the transition process. When taking 
initiatives, they shall give due consideration to known effects of their 
actions on State and local governments and the private sector, paying 
particular attention to effects on small business.
    (c) Each Federal agency shall be responsible for developing plans, 
establishing necessary organizational structure, and allocating 
appropriate resources to carry out this policy.