[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 15, Volume 3]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 15CFR1170.3]



[Page 427]

 

                  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 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.