GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Washington, DC 20405

July 17, 2008

GSA BULLETIN FMR B-18

PERSONAL PROPERTY

TO: Heads of Federal agencies

SUBJECT: Procedures Covering the Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in
Personal Property\
Management

1\. [What is the purpose of this bulletin?]{.underline} In coordination
with the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), this
bulletin provides guidance to executive agencies on the use of voluntary
consensus standards in managing the personal property assets under their
control. This bulletin is discretionary to executive agencies.

2\. [When does this bulletin expire?]{.underline} This bulletin remains
in effect until cancelled or superseded.

3\. [What is the background?]{.underline} 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.

4\. [What should agencies do as a result of this bulletin?]{.underline}
In carrying out their personal property management responsibilities
under Section 524 of title 40 of the United States Code, executive
agencies are required to maintain adequate inventory controls and
accountability systems and continuously survey property under their
control to identify excess property. To accomplish these requirements,
agencies may utilize government-unique standards or utilize voluntary
consensus standards except when inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impracticable. However, if agencies choose to use
government-unique standards, agencies must report this situation in
accordance with OMB Circular A-119, Section 6. Wherever there is an
apparent inconsistency between a voluntary consensus standard and law or
regulation, agencies are required to follow the provisions in title 40
of the United States Code, applicable Federal Accounting Standards, the
Federal Management Regulation, and Federal Property Management
Regulations instead of the provisions in voluntary consensus standards.

Finally, for clarification, agencies are not required to incorporate all
voluntary consensus standards into their agency policy. Agencies have
the discretion to determine which voluntary consensus standards are most
appropriate to that agency. As an example, if an agency has determined
that the agency does not need to determine the Life Cycle Cost of
Ownership of Personal Property, the agency need not follow the
provisions of ASTM Standard E2453-05. However, agencies are strongly
encouraged to review all voluntary consensus standards to consider which
standards may add value to their asset management activities.

5\. [Who should I call for further information?]{.underline} James
Begis, Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services Administration,
Washington, DC 20405: telephone (202) 501-4608.

/S/

KEVIN MESSNER

Acting Associate Administrator

Office of Governmentwide Policy