[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 7, Volume 15]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

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

[CITE: 7CFR2902.8]



[Page 92]

 

                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE

 

           CHAPTER XXIX--OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES,

                        DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 

PART 2902_GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNATING BIOBASED PRODUCTS FOR FEDERAL 

PROCUREMENT--Table of Contents

 

                            Subpart A_General

 

Sec. 2902.8  Determining life cycle costs, environmental and health 

benefits, and performance.



    (a) Providing information on life cycle costs and environmental and 

health benefits. When requested by Federal agencies, manufacturers and 

vendors must provide information on life cycle costs and environmental 

and health benefits based on tests using either of two analytical 

approaches: The BEES analytical tool along with the qualifications of 

the independent testing entity that performed the tests; or either a 

third-party or an in-house conducted analysis using the ASTM standard 

for evaluating and reporting on environmental performance of biobased 

products D7075. Both BEES and the ASTM standard are in accordance with 

ISO standards, are focused on testing of biobased products, and will 

provide the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost information 

Federal agencies might require. As with biobased content, test data 

using the above analytical methods need not be brand-name specific.

    (b) Performance test information. In assessing performance of 

qualifying biobased products, USDA requires that Federal agencies rely 

on results of performance tests using applicable ASTM, ISO, Federal or 

military specifications, or other similarly authoritative industry test 

standards. Such testing must be conducted by an ASTM/ISO compliant 

laboratory. The procuring official will decide whether performance data 

must be brand-name specific in the case of products that are essentially 

of the same formulation.