TREASURY DIRECTIVE: 75-05

Date: July 31, 1991

Sunset Date: TBD

Expiration Date: TBD

SUBJECT: Department of the Treasury Metrication Program

1. PURPOSE. This directive establishes policies and assigns responsibilities to implement the metric system of measurement within the Department of the Treasury, as required by section 5164 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 and U.S. Department of Commerce regulations published at 15 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 19, Subpart B.

2. SCOPE. This directive applies to all bureaus, the Departmental Offices (DO), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

3. POLICY. It is the policy of the Department of the Treasury to carry out the Federal metrication requirements to the fullest extent possible consistent with the provisions of this directive and other applicable requirements. Any exclusions to the Department's metric policy must be authorized by the Assistant Secretary (Management).

4. BACKGROUND.

a. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law (Pub.L.) 94-168), as amended, states that the policy of the United States (U.S.) shall be to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States.

b. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub.L. 100-418, section 5164), which amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, declares that:

(1) the metric system of measurement is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and commerce;

(2) each Federal agency, by a date certain and to the extent economically feasible by the end of fiscal year 1992, is required to use the metric system in procurement, grants and other business-related activities, unless metric usage is impractical or would have an adverse impact on the market share of U.S. firms; and

(3) agencies shall seek out ways to increase understanding of the metric system of measurement through educational information and guidance and in Government publications.

c. On January 2, 1991 (56 Federal Resister (FR) 160), the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies (15 CFR Part 19, Subpart B) which provides policy and guidelines for Federal agencies in their transition to use of the metric system of measurement now required by law.

5. DEFINITIONS.

a. Metrication. Activities that increase the predominate use of the metric system, including metric training and conversion of measurement-sensitive processes and products, to the metric system, especially in business-related activities.

b. Metric System. The International System of Units (SI) established by the General Conference on Weights and Measures in 1960, as interpreted or modified from time to time for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce under the authority of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and the Metric Education Act of 1978. SI units are listed in the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Standard 376A, "Preferred Metric Units for General Use by the Federal Government."

c. Interagency Council on Metric Policy (ICMP). The policy level committee of the Federal Government for metric policy development and coordination.

d. Metrication Operating Committee (MOC). The working committee reporting to the ICMP that provides guidance and coordinates the transition to use of the metric system by Federal agencies.

6. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. Treasury bureaus and offices are required to adhere to the program requirements listed below.

a. Implement the metric system in a manner and on a schedule consistent with section 5164 of Pub.L. 100-418 and the Federal metric policy.

b. Support Federal transition and national conversion to the metric system through Treasury participation on the ICMP, the MOC, and other Government/industry subcommittees, working panels and groups.

c. Use the metric system in procurement consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulation System (48 CFR), grants, and other business-related activities, consistent with security, operational, economic, technical, logistical, training and safety requirements.

d. Stimulate industry change to the predominate use of the metric system by acquiring commercially available metric products and services that meet the functional requirements of the Department, so long as competition is maintained.

e. Develop metric specifications and standards for procurements where DO, bureau, and OIG requirements are unique or mission specific. Commercially developed metric specifications and internationally or domestically developed voluntary standards using metric shall be adopted whenever feasible. When metric is not the predominate measurement system used by industry or accepted international standards do not use the metric measurement system, existing products or dual inchpound/metric dimensioned products/systems may be used during the transition period.

f. Retain the measurement units in which a project or product is originally designed for the life of that project or product, unless conversion is necessary or advantageous.

g. Handle metric conversion costs in the Department as normal operating expenses rather than as special one-time costs. Any additional costs and any significant cost savings resulting from metric conversion should be identified and reported, to the extent practical, to the Director, Office of Management Support Systems (OMSS), as part of the annual report.

h. Establish training plans and practices that increase employee awareness and understanding of the metric system and bureau metric programs.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES.

a. The Assistant Secretary (Management) is responsible for providing policy and direction for the Treasury metrication program and shall represent the Department on the ICMP.

b. The Assistant Director (Environment and Planning). OMSS DO, is designated as the Departmental Metrication Program Officer and, under general guidance of the Director, OMSS, provides program support to the Assistant Secretary (Management) in carrying out the requirements of 15 CFR Part 19, Government metric policy and this directive, and shall:

(1) represent the Department on the MOC of the ICMP;

(2) establish and chair a Departmental Metrication Coordinating Committee comprised of DO, bureau, and OIG metrication program officers to coordinate and monitor the Department's metrication program;

(3) prepare an annual Departmental Metric Usage Report for submission to the Congress as part of the annual budget submission and an initial Metric Transition Plan; and

(4) assist in resolving metric-related problems associated with Departmental actions, activities or programs undertaken to comply with this directive or other laws or regulations.

c. The Director, Office of Procurement, DO, shall:

(1) establish policies and procedures for use of the metric system in procurements through the Treasury Acquisition/ Procurement Regulation;

(2) evaluate the effects of metric policies and practices on the Treasury small business program; and

(3) ensure that DO, Treasury bureaus, and OIG accept, without prejudice, products and services dimensioned in metric when they are offered at competitive prices and meet the needs of the Government consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation System (48 CFR), and ensure that acquisition planning considers metric requirements.

d. The Comptroller, DO, shall establish policies and procedures for use of the metric system in the administration of the Department's grant program.

e. The Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration), Heads of Bureaus, and the Inspector General, as it relates to their respective bureaus and offices, shall:

(1) implement the provisions of this directive in all appropriate undertakings within their jurisdiction;

(2) designate a senior management official to have continuing staff responsibility for metrication matters and to represent the bureau or office on the Departmental Metrication Coordinating Committee. Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the bureau designee to the Director, OMSS;

(3) develop, as necessary, procedures to implement this directive and forward proposed procedures to the Director, OMSS, for review prior to implementation;

(4) establish metrication coordinating committees in the respective bureaus or offices chaired by the designated senior management official responsible for metrication and encourage the participation of bureau or office personnel on MOC subcommittees; and

(5) identify measurement-sensitive bureau or office policies and procedures and ensure that regulations, standards, specifications, procurement policies and appropriate legislative proposals are updated to remove barriers to transition to the metric system.

8. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration), bureau heads, and the Inspector General shall submit to the Director, OMSS:

a. an annual report by November 1 each year that includes:

(1) significant metric accomplishments, milestones or other information for the previous fiscal year;

(2) significant problems encountered in metric transition in the previous fiscal year;

(3) actions planned for the current fiscal year to further implement the metric system, including recommendations regarding Departmental metrication program policy or activities; and

(4) any other relevant program information, i.e., cost savings; and

b. an initial metric transition plan for the bureau or office, which incorporates the requirements of the law, to be approved by the Assistant Secretary (Management) and to become effective November 30, 1991. Transition plans shall be forwarded by October 1, 1991, to the Director, OMSS, through the bureau supervisory policy official in DO. The metric transition plan shall specify:

(1) the total scope of the metric transition task for the bureau or office, including firm milestone dates for all planned metric accomplishments for the current and subsequent fiscal years;

(2) plans for specific initiatives for cooperating with industry, especially small business, as it converts to the metric system; and

(3) specific steps and associated schedules through which the bureau or office will seek to increase understanding of the metric system through educational information and guidance, and in DO, bureau or DIG publications.

9. AUTHORITIES.

a. Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Pub.L. 94-168), as amended.

b. Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub.L. 100-418, section 5164).

c. 15 CFR Part 19, Subpart B.

d. Federal Acquisition Regulation System (48 CFR).

10. REFERENCE. GSA Federal Standard 376A, "Preferred Metric Units for General Use by the Federal Government."

11. OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST. Office of Management Support Systems, Management Programs Directorate, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Departmental Finance and Management), Office of the Assistant Secretary (Management).

David M. Nummy

Acting Assistant Secretary (Management)