DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ACQUISITION AND MATERIEL MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON DC 20420

FEB 26 2007

TheSI@nist.gov

Laws & Metric Group

Weights and Measures Division
NIST

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2600

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Annual Metric Report, as
required by Executive Order 12770 and the Metric Conversion Law
(15 USC 205b).

The Metric Report for Fiscal Year 2006 identifies VA’s metric conversion
accomplishments, barriers, and current status. VA will continue to take an active
role in implementing the metric system in its procurements, grants, and other
business-related matters.

Your interest in VA is appreciated.

Sincerely,

NN EN fe —

Charles E. Roberson

Enclosure


Department of Veterans Affairs
Annual Metrics Report
Fiscal Year 2007

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to report an increase in the
awareness and use of metrics in its daily operations. Responses from field
facilities indicate that metrics conversion (MC) initiatives are continuing
throughout VA. The annual report shows the steps the Veterans Integrated
Service Networks have taken to implement, train, and enforce the use of metrics
within their facilities.

1. Scope. VA has seen an increase in the usage and awareness of metrics
in its daily operations. VA has mandated its contracting department to solicit
construction contracts in both metric and hard units. Each construction contract
issued by the VA includes the following clause: “Products manufactured to
metric dimensions will be considered on an equal basis with those manufactured
using inch/pound units provided they fall within the tolerances specified using
conversion tables contained in the latest revision of Federal Standard No. 376
and all other requirements of this document are met. If a product is
manufactured to metric dimensions and those dimensions exceed the tolerances
specified in the inch/pound units, a request should be made to the contracting
officer to determine if the product is acceptable. The contracting officer technical
representative (COTR) will accept or reject the product.” Many medical supplies
and most pharmaceuticals are provided in metric units. With nutrition and food
service using prime vendor contracts, needed metric compliance has become
standard practice. Field facilities utilizing VA’s Generic Inventory Management
software can find a complete list of products available by selecting “metric items.”
Many of our facilities have established metric task force committees to
concentrate on compliance and enhancements to areas other than those
previously mentioned.

To increase understanding of metrics, many facilities routinely provide links to the
National Institute of Standards and Technology metrics conversion chart.
Educational training sessions are being held with administrative, nursing, and
executive staff to promote metric awareness.

Roadblocks to metric conversion still remain. The department still encounters
difficulties with small, disadvantaged, and veteran-owned business. They usually
do not have the resources or staff to perform metric conversion.

Due to the slow progress seen in the private sector to convert to the metric
system, it is difficult to estimate a timetable for successful adoption by the
department. The agency will continue to promote metric conversion contingent
upon available financial resources.


2. Proposed Exceptions. VA continues to find that many smaller
businesses do not have the capability to work in metrics and have difficulty
providing metric materials. The use of metrics for construction drawings is not
standard practice in the business community and often leads to confusion. Most
construction supplies are not available in metric measurements. If small
businesses are required to convert to metrics in order to do business with the
federal government, many will simply drop out of competition. It is, therefore,
anticipated that VA will request exemptions to meet our source 1 and economic
goals if the small business partners fail to adopt the metric conversion system.

3. Initiatives. Interaction with other federal agencies has had minimal
impact on the conversion process. VA continues to work with our Federal Supply
Schedule contractors to require only metric use and prepare for the subsequent
price fluctuations by imposing such a standard on the contractors. VA finds it
more beneficial to utilize schedule contractors than to seek out contracts who
deal in metric units of measure. To be successful, NIST needs to take the lead in
publicizing the mandate to convert to the metric system. VA will continue to do
what it can to implement the metrics program in all areas of operations where it is
economically feasible.