[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 225 (Friday, November 23, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65868-65873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5799]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 2, 22, 23, 36, and 52

[FAC 2005-22; FAR Case 2006-008; Item I; Docket 2006-020; Sequence 12]
RIN 9000-AK63


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2006-008, Implementation 
of Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 65869]]

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to address 
implementation of Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

DATES: Effective Date: December 24, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Clark, Procurement 
Analyst, at (202) 219-1813 for clarification of content. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-22, FAR case 
2006-008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register at 71 FR 70937, December 7, 2006. The rule proposed to amend 
FAR Parts 23, 36, and 52 to ensure compliance with the Federal mandate 
to promote energy efficiency when specifying or acquiring energy-
consuming products. This mandate stems from Section 104 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005. Section 104 requires that all acquisitions of 
energy consuming-products and all contracts that involve the furnishing 
of energy-consuming products require acquisition of ENERGY STAR[reg] or 
Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) designated products.
    On February 5, 2007, the public comment period closed. Seven 
respondents submitted comments on the proposed rule (3 associations/
coalitions, 3 Government agencies or offices, and 1 Government 
employee).
    1. Voice positive support for the clause.
    Comment: Three respondents all voice positive support for the 
proposed clause at FAR 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming 
Products. One respondent states that adding the clause will make ENERGY 
STAR[reg]/Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products 
an enforceable part of contracts, which will make it easier to comply 
with the environmentally friendly purchasing regulations. Another 
respondent states that it supports the proposal as written. This 
respondent notes in particular that it is important to have a contract 
clause for ENERGY STAR[reg] and FEMP-designated products. A third 
respondent supports the draft FAR clause implementing the Energy Act of 
2005, because this will promote the overall goal to proactively develop 
programs to reduce the environmental impacts of industries' 
manufacturing processes and products throughout their entire life 
cycle.
    Response: None required.
    2. Recommend deletion of clause.
    Comment: Although one respondent fully supports the policy of 
promoting the acquisition of energy-efficient products by both the 
Federal Government and commercial buyers, the respondent believes that 
the new mandatory FAR clause would place an unnecessary and 
unreasonable burden on contractors. According to this respondent, the 
Energy Policy Act suggests that the procuring agency should bear the 
burden of making sure that it buys an ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-
designated product when such a product is available and cost-effective. 
This approach has been effective. The proposed rule does not explain 
why it is now necessary to change this approach, other than the 
statement that ``agencies often overlook including the pre-existing 
requirements in FAR 23.203 in contract specifications.'' The respondent 
states three reasons why shifting the burden of compliance to the 
contractor is a heavy risk.
    <bullet> ENERGY STAR[reg] compliance is not guaranteed for the life 
of the product model. If new standards come out, the product may lose 
its ENERGY STAR[reg] compliance and must remove the label. The producer 
(or reseller) could no longer provide the product to the Government 
under any contract that included the proposed clause.
    <bullet> Whether a product is compliant with the ENERGY STAR[reg] 
qualifications can change after the Government takes possession. 
Procuring agencies often modify products delivered by contractors, 
transforming a product that was compliant into one that does not meet 
the qualifications. The potential impacts of the proposed rule would be 
amplified for Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) vendors who deliver 
products to the Government under delivery orders. Through enhancements 
of the buying agency, the product might be changed in such a way that 
it no longer meets the ENERGY STAR[reg] standards.
    <bullet> An agency generally will not be in a position to determine 
if an ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product is available or life-
cycle cost-effective until it makes its source selection decision. 
Putting the proposed clause in solicitations would discourage all 
potential offerors whose products are not ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-
designated to forego the competition. Therefore, the respondent 
suggests that at least the clause should not be included in 
solicitations.
    Response: The Councils do not agree that including a clause causes 
an unreasonable burden on contractors. It is no more burden than 
including the requirement in the specifications. The rationale provided 
in the Federal Register notice that agencies are neglecting to include 
the requirement in the specifications provides adequate rationale for 
the need for a clause. In response to the three reasons to delete the 
clause offered by the respondent--
    <bullet> The Councils agree that some change in wording may help 
clarify that it is not the intent of the clause to require changes 
after contract award. If the product is ENERGY STAR[reg] compliant or a 
FEMP-designated product at the time of contract award, then delivery or 
furnishing of that product will be acceptable for the life of the 
contract (see change at 52.223-15(b)).
    <bullet> Any change to a product after the Government takes 
possession would have no impact on the contractor. The contractor has 
fulfilled its obligation upon delivery. Ordering activities should not 
be placing orders for products on the Federal Supply Schedules that are 
modified in such a way that the product no longer meets ENERGY 
STAR[reg] Standards. In such circumstances, the agency should award a 
contract, without the clause at 52.223-15, rather than ordering off the 
schedule.
    <bullet> The third reason appears to apply to delivery of compliant 
end products. It is necessary to include the clause in the 
solicitation, so that offerors know the expectations of the agency. The 
agency should do market research in advance of the solicitation, to 
determine whether ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated products are 
available that meet the agency needs and are cost-effective over the 
life of the product, so that the clause is not included if the agency 
can determine in advance that an exception applies. If the clause is 
included in the solicitation, it includes language that the requirement 
may be waived by the contracting officer. Therefore, there is no 
prohibition against an offer of noncompliant products, but the 
Government is not encouraging submission of such offers. If the 
contracting officer determines after receipt of offers that no 
compliant products are available that meet the agency needs and are 
cost-effective over the life of the product, then it may be appropriate 
to amend the solicitation, and the clause need not be included in the 
contract.
    3. Approval level for exemptions.
    Comment: One respondent thinks that ``agency head'' is too high an 
approval authority for the exemptions at 23.205

[[Page 65870]]

in the proposed rule. (Note: The Councils have renumbered section 
23.205 as 23.204 in the final rule.) The respondent recommends changing 
to ``agency head or his/her designee'' or ``head of the contracting 
activity.''
    Response: According to FAR drafting conventions, the phrase ``or 
designee'' should not be used in the FAR. FAR 1.108(b) states that each 
authority is delegable unless specifically stated otherwise (see 1.102-
4(b)).
    4. Exemptions at 23.205 do not match exemptions in paragraph (c) of 
the clause.
    Comment: One respondent recommends that the exceptions as proposed 
in paragraph (c) of the clause should be the same as stated in the 
proposed text at 23.205.
    Response: The proposed FAR 23.205 is entitled, ``Procurement 
Exemptions'' and goes on to describe two circumstances in which an 
agency is not required to procure ENERGY STAR[reg] qualified or FEMP-
designated products: namely, if the head of the agency determines in 
writing either that no qualified or designated product is reasonably 
available that meets the agency's functional requirements, or that no 
qualified or designated product is cost-effective over the life of the 
contract. If the agency head makes either of these written 
determinations, the proposed clause at FAR 52.223-15 never appears in 
the solicitation. As such, the solicitation would be consistent with 
the policies defined in the proposed FAR 23.205.
    Even if the head of the agency does not make the written 
determinations before issuance of the solicitation, and the clause does 
appear in the solicitation, there is no apparent inconsistency. The key 
issue with regard to the difference between the statement of the 
exemptions at 23.205 and in the clause at paragraph (c) is that the 
proposed text at 23.205 is addressed to the agency and the clause is 
addressed to the contractor. FAR 23.205 provides criteria for the 
agency to determine that use of the clause is not required. However, if 
the clause is included in the solicitation/contract, the contractor can 
determine whether ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated products are 
listed, but only the contracting officer could provide the 
determination whether listed products meet the needs of the agency or 
whether such products would be cost effective over the life of the 
product. Therefore, the contractor must rely on written approval from 
the contracting officer for these exemptions.
    5. Object to proposed statement that exemptions should be rare (FAR 
23.205(b)).
    Comment: Three respondents object to the statement at FAR 23.205(b) 
that it should be rare for a determination to be made that no ENERGY 
STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product is cost-effective over the life of 
the product taking energy cost savings into account. They recommend 
deletion of the language for the following reasons:
    <bullet> The language is overly broad and a blanket declaration 
that a determination ``should be rare'' is not supported. Depending on 
the product, it could be common that extra costs for an ENERGY 
STAR[reg] product are not justified by the energy cost savings. The 
qualifying specifications for a product to be considered as an ENERGY 
STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product are ever evolving. The periodic 
update of the specifications may mean that products considered to be 
energy-efficient today may not be eligible for the ENERGY STAR[reg] 
label when the updated specification is introduced. Therefore, it 
doesn't make sense to limit the use of the life-cycle cost exception by 
claiming that the determination should be rare.
    <bullet> The statement lacks statutory basis.
    <bullet> The language is unnecessary and will discourage agencies 
from waiving the requirement to purchase an ENERGY STAR[reg] product--
even when procuring such a product would not be life-cycle cost-
effective.
    Response: The Councils agree that the statement ``Such 
determinations should be rare as such products are normally life cycle 
cost effective'' may be presumptuous in that the accuracy of the 
statement is dependent on the product in question and various governing 
label standards. The intent of the statement was to state a 
probability, not impose a condition on agency heads. Product life-cycle 
cost effectiveness is considered by the Department of Energy and the 
Environmental Protection Agency in the process of identifying ENERGY 
STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated performance levels. ENERGY STAR[reg]-
qualified and FEMP-designated products are assumed to be life-cycle 
cost-effective under typical operating conditions and energy prices. 
The agency head may waive the requirements if the agency head 
determines that no ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product is cost 
effective over the life of the product, regardless of the number of 
such waivers already granted. The Councils have deleted the language 
that was proposed at 23.205(b).
    6. Impact on small business.
    Comment: One respondent suggests that the statement at 23.205(b) 
that exemptions for life-cycle cost should be rare (see previous 
Section A.5.) has a particularly negative impact on small businesses, 
which do not have the resources comparable to large businesses to 
devote to developing new energy efficient technologies. According to 
this respondent, small businesses are at a competitive disadvantage and 
less likely to obtain the ENERGY STAR[reg] label. The respondent 
concludes that such businesses will therefore be more reliant on the 
exceptions in the Energy Policy Act. The respondent recommends that the 
Councils revisit the conclusion that the proposed rule will not have a 
significant impact on small businesses and delete the unnecessary 
language proposed at FAR 23.205(b).
    Response: As discussed in the previous section A.5., the Councils 
have agreed to delete the proposed language that exemptions for life-
cycle cost should be rare.
    Furthermore, the proposed rule does not change the requirements to 
obtain the ENERGY STAR[reg] label. The criteria of obtaining the ENERGY 
STAR[reg] label apply equally to small and large businesses. The 
respondent offers no evidence that small businesses are unable to 
obtain the ENERGY STAR[reg] label. Comments on the ability of a small 
business to obtain the ENERGY STAR[reg] label should be addressed to 
the EPA and the Department of Energy and are outside the parameters of 
this rule. Therefore, the Councils re-affirm the statement in the 
preamble to the proposed rule, that the rule is not expected to 
significantly impact small businesses because the rule only emphasizes 
existing requirements. See also Section B., Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis.
    7. Clarify that prescription applies even if Government does not 
take title.
    Comment: One respondent suggests clarifying the proposed FAR 
23.207(b) to indicate that products furnished by contractors while 
performing at a Federally-controlled facility must meet the ENERGY 
STAR[reg]/FEMP requirements regardless of whether the Government 
receives title at the end of contract performance.
    Response: The Councils did not agree to any change to the proposed 
rule in response to this comment. Since no exclusions are listed, all 
energy consuming products furnished by a contractor at a Government 
facility are covered by the rule, whether or not the Government takes 
title. FAR 23.207(b) (now 23.206(b)) already makes it clear that we are 
not just applying the rule to

[[Page 65871]]

end products delivered by the Contractor and accepted by the 
Government.
    8. Consistency of language between clause prescription, 52.213-
4(b), and paragraph (b) of the clause.
    Comment: One respondent points out that the clause prescription 
does not match the paragraph (b) of the clause 52.223-15. The 
respondent recommends changes to the clause as follows:
    <bullet> (b)(1)--Change ``Delivered'' to ``Delivered by the 
contractor''.
    <bullet> (b)(3) and (4)--Combine into one paragraph to read 
``Specified in the design construction, renovation or maintenance of a 
facility, including any article, material, or supply to be incorporated 
into the facility or work, regardless of whether the designs, plans, or 
specifications utilized have been prepared by an architect-engineer.''
    Response: The Councils reviewed the proposed language at 23.207, 
52.213-4(b)(1)(viii) (which duplicates 23.207), and 52.223-15(b), and 
agreed to make the language consistent in the prescription and clauses.
    The Councils concluded that the statement ``delivered'' was 
sufficient and not ambiguous. When discussing contractual requirements, 
``delivered'' always applies to the contractor (or its subcontractors). 
Although a requirement for the contractor to deliver a particular item 
legally would require the contractor to ensure that any item delivered 
by a subcontractor met the same requirements, the Councils have added 
in paragraph (c) of the clause that the requirements of paragraph (b) 
apply to the contractor (including any subcontractors).
    The Councils did not agree to any change to the phrase ``furnished 
by the contractor.'' There was no substantive inconsistency here 
between text and clause, and the term ``furnished'' could imply 
``furnished by the Government'' as Government-furnished property, so 
including the term ``by the contractor'' makes it unambiguous. The 
Councils added language to include products ``acquired by the 
contractor for use in performing services at a Federally-controlled 
facility'' and products ``furnished by the contractor for use by the 
Government.''
    The Councils agreed to change prescription, 52.213-4, and 
paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of the clause to clarify that ``specified'' 
applies to the design phase, and ``incorporation'' applies to the phase 
of construction, renovation, or maintenance. In addition, the word 
``building or work'' is substituted for facility, because it is a 
defined term, used currently with regard to construction in Parts 22 
and 25. The definition of this term has been moved from 22.4 to Part 2, 
because it is used in more than one FAR part.
    9. Rule should cover other energy savings.
    Comment: One respondent recommends that the rule should be expanded 
to cover water conserving products and low standby power. Although the 
respondent recognizes that these issues could be addressed in another 
FAR case at a later time, the respondent points out advantages of 
combining these new ideas in this case, because of similarity of 
purpose and urgency of achieving energy efficiency more quickly.
    Response: The underlying rationale for the current FAR case is 
implementation of Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act. Section 104 of 
the Act makes no mention of low standby power or water efficiency and 
such coverage is outside the scope of this case.
    However, in considering whether such coverage would be necessary or 
desirable, the Councils have determined that low standby power is one 
of the FEMP energy attributes and is already included at FAR 23.203. 
Low standby power is addressed separately at FAR 23.203 because there 
is a separate Executive order related to low standby power. However, 
separate mention in the clause is unnecessary. If acquiring a product 
that has standby power requirements, one would be expected to deliver, 
furnish, or specify a product meeting the FEMP designation.
    Water efficient products are also covered to some extent by FEMP 
and ENERGY STAR[reg]. For example, FEMP covers faucets, shower heads, 
and urinals. Although water efficiency is not the primary focus of 
ENERGY STAR[reg], it is also one of the factors that is considered in 
rating the energy efficiency of such appliances as washing machines or 
dishwashers. To the extent that FEMP or ENERGY STAR[reg] standards 
cover water efficient products, they are covered by the proposed FAR 
clause. If there is a need to expand the focus on water efficiency, it 
needs to be achieved through expansion of the coverage of water 
efficient products by ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP.
    10. Other changes to the proposed rule.
    <bullet> ``Energy-efficient product'' is already defined in FAR 
Part 2, and within that definition, are the descriptions of ENERGY 
STAR[reg] and FEMP. Therefore, the proposed definition of ``FEMP-
designated product'' at FAR 23.201 and in the clause have been deleted, 
and the restriction on the meaning of the term ``product'' has been 
added to the definition of ``energy-efficient product'' in FAR Part 2. 
This revised definition of ``energy-efficient product'' has been added 
to the clause.
    <bullet> The website for FEMP has been updated, both in the text at 
FAR 23.204 (now 23.203) and paragraph (d) of the clause.
    <bullet> The statutory cite has been added at 52.212-5(b)(26).
    This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, is not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. The rule is 
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because it only emphasizes 
existing requirements. Whereas the Councils recognize that the rule may 
affect small entities performing contracts for those agencies that have 
not fully implemented the program in service and construction 
contracts, public comments did not indicate that the number of entities 
affected, or the extent to which they will be affected, will be 
significant. The rule may affect the types of products these businesses 
use during contract performance. Assistance (including product listings 
and recommendations) is available to all firms at the ENERGY STAR[reg] 
and FEMP websites, http://www.energystar.gov/products and http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_requirements.html, 
respectively. Options to comply with the requirements of the rule can 
be as simple as purchasing ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated products 
when performing service and construction contracts. The final rule has 
eliminated the one aspect of the proposed rule that was criticized in a 
public comment as having a potentially adverse impact on small 
businesses. No Initial or Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, 
therefore, been performed.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require 
the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.

[[Page 65872]]

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 22, 23, 36, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: November 16, 2007.
Al Matera,
Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 2, 22, 23, 36, and 52 
as set forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 22, 23, 36, and 52 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 2--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

0
2. Amend section 2.101 in paragraph (b)(2) by adding, in alphabetical 
order the definition ``Building or work''; and revising the definition 
``Energy-efficient product'' to read as follows:


2.101  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    Building or work means construction activity as distinguished from 
manufacturing, furnishing of materials, or servicing and maintenance 
work. The terms include, without limitation, buildings, structures, and 
improvements of all types, such as bridges, dams, plants, highways, 
parkways, streets, subways, tunnels, sewers, mains, power lines, 
pumping stations, heavy generators, railways, airports, terminals, 
docks, piers, wharves, ways, lighthouses, buoys, jetties, breakwaters, 
levees, canals, dredging, shoring, rehabilitation and reactivation of 
plants, scaffolding, drilling, blasting, excavating, clearing, and 
landscaping. The manufacture or furnishing of materials, articles, 
supplies, or equipment (whether or not a Federal or State agency 
acquires title to such materials, articles, supplies, or equipment 
during the course of the manufacture or furnishing, or owns the 
materials from which they are manufactured or furnished) is not 
``building'' or ``work'' within the meaning of this definition unless 
conducted in connection with and at the site of such building or work 
as is described in the foregoing sentence, or under the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 and the Housing Act of 1949 in the construction or 
development of the project.
* * * * *
    Energy-efficient product-- (1) Means a product that--
    (i) Meets Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency 
criteria for use of the Energy Star trademark label; or
    (ii) Is in the upper 25 percent of efficiency for all similar 
products as designated by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy 
Management Program.
    (2) As used in this definition, the term ``product'' does not 
include any energy-consuming product or system designed or procured for 
combat or combat-related missions (42 U.S.C. 8259b).
* * * * *

PART 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS


22.401  [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 22.401 by removing the definition ``Building or 
work''.

PART 23--ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY 
TECHNOLOGIES, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

0
4. Amend section 23.201 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


23.201  Authorities.

* * * * *
    (b) National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253, 8259b, 
8262g, and 8287).
* * * * *

0
5. Revise section 23.203 to read as follows:


23.203  Energy-efficient products.

    (a) Unless exempt as provided at 23.204--
    (1) When acquiring energy-consuming products listed in the ENERGY 
STAR[reg] Program or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)--
    (i) Agencies shall purchase ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated 
products; and
    (ii) For products that consume power in a standby mode and are 
listed on FEMP's Low Standby Power Devices product listing, agencies 
shall--
    (A) Purchase items which meet FEMP's standby power wattage 
recommendation or document the reason for not purchasing such items; or
    (B) If FEMP has listed a product without a corresponding wattage 
recommendation, purchase items which use no more than one watt in their 
standby power consuming mode. When it is impracticable to meet the one 
watt requirement, agencies shall purchase items with the lowest standby 
wattage practicable; and
    (2) When contracting for services or construction that will include 
the provision of energy-consuming products, agencies shall specify 
products that comply with the applicable requirements in paragraph 
(a)(1) of this section.
    (b) Information is available via the Internet about--
    (1) ENERGY STAR[reg] at http://www.energystar.gov/products; and
    (2) FEMP at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_requirements.html.


23.204  [Redesignated as 23.205]

0
6. Redesignate section 23.204 as new section 23.205.

0
7. Add new section 23.204 to read as follows:


23.204  Procurement exemptions.

    An agency is not required to procure an ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-
designated product if the head of the agency determines in writing 
that--
    (a) No ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product is reasonably 
available that meets the functional requirements of the agency; or
    (b) No ENERGY STAR[reg] or FEMP-designated product is cost 
effective over the life of the product taking energy cost savings into 
account.

0
8. Add new section 23.206 to read as follows:


23.206  Contract clause.

    Unless exempt pursuant to 23.204, insert the clause at 52.223-15, 
Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products, in solicitations and 
contracts when energy-consuming products listed in the ENERGY STAR[reg] 
Program or FEMP will be--
    (a) Delivered;
    (b) Acquired by the contractor for use in performing services at a 
Federally-controlled facility;
    (c) Furnished by the contractor for use by the Government; or
    (d) Specified in the design of a building or work, or incorporated 
during its construction, renovation, or maintenance.

PART 36--CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS

0
9. Amend section 36.601-3 by redesignating paragraph (a) as paragraph 
(a)(1) and adding a new paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:


36.601-3  Applicable contracting procedures.

    (a)(1) * * *

[[Page 65873]]

    (2) Facility design solicitations and contracts that include the 
specification of energy-consuming products must comply with the 
requirements at subpart 23.2.
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
10. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the clause date to read ``(DEC 
2007)''; redesignating paragraphs (b)(26) through (b)(38) as paragraphs 
(b)(27) through (b)(39); and adding a new paragraph (b)(26) to read as 
follows:


52.212-5  Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes 
or Executive Orders--Commercial Items.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (26) FAR 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming 
Products (DEC 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).
* * * * *

0
11. Amend section 52.213-4 by revising the clause date to read ``(DEC 
2007)''; redesignating paragraphs (b)(1)(viii) through (b)(1)(xi) as 
paragraphs (b)(1)(ix) through (b)(1)(xii); and adding a new paragraph 
(b)(1)(viii) to read as follows:


52.213-4  Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than 
Commercial Items).

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (viii) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products 
(DEC 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b) (Unless exempt pursuant to 23.204, 
applies to contracts when energy-consuming products listed in the 
ENERGY STAR[reg] Program or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) 
will be--
    (A) Delivered;
    (B) Acquired by the Contractor for use in performing services at 
a Federally-controlled facility;
    (C) Furnished by the Contractor for use by the Government; or
    (D) Specified in the design of a building or work, or 
incorporated during its construction, renovation, or maintenance.)
* * * * *

0
12. Section 52.223-15 is added to read as follows:


52.223-15  Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products.

    As prescribed in 23.206, insert the following clause:

    ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ENERGY-CONSUMING PRODUCTS (DEC 2007)
    (a) Definition. As used in this clause--
    Energy-efficient product-- (1) Means a product that--
    (i) Meets Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 
Agency criteria for use of the Energy Star trademark label; or
    (ii) Is in the upper 25 percent of efficiency for all similar 
products as designated by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy 
Management Program.
    (2) The term ``product'' does not include any energy-consuming 
product or system designed or procured for combat or combat-related 
missions (42 U.S.C. 8259b).
    (b) The Contractor shall ensure that energy-consuming products 
are energy efficient products (i.e., ENERGY STAR[reg] products or 
FEMP-designated products) at the time of contract award, for 
products that are--
    (1) Delivered;
    (2) Acquired by the Contractor for use in performing services at 
a Federally-controlled facility;
    (3) Furnished by the Contractor for use by the Government; or
    (4) Specified in the design of a building or work, or 
incorporated during its construction, renovation, or maintenance.
    (c) The requirements of paragraph (b) apply to the Contractor 
(including any subcontractor) unless--
    (1) The energy-consuming product is not listed in the ENERGY 
STAR[reg] Program or FEMP; or
    (2) Otherwise approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.
    (d) Information about these products is available for--
    (1) ENERGY STAR[reg] at http://www.energystar.gov/products; and
    (2) FEMP at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_requirements.html.

    (End of clause)
[FR Doc. 07-5799 Filed 11-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S