Interim rule requires federal agencies to buy ‘green’ computers

The interim rule amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require federal agencies to purchase only desktop computers, laptops, monitors and related products that are listed on the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) Product Registry. EPEAT is a system that helps purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate computers and electronic products based on how they conform to consensus-based environmental performance standards.

The rule adds a clause to federal contracts that requires contractors to “deliver, furnish for government use, or furnish for contractor use at government-owned facility, only personal computer products that at the time of submission of proposals were EPEAT Bronze registered or higher.”

The interim rule does not apply to printers, copiers and fax machines.

The interim rule was spurred by President Bush’s Jan. 24, 2007, executive order that calls on federal agencies to ensure that at least 95 percent of the electronic products that they purchase for government use are EPEAT-registered.

The General Services Administration, the Department of Defense and NASA published the interim final rule in the Dec. 26 Federal Register. Although the Federal Register notice asserts that "urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment," the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisitions Regulations Council "will consider public comments received in response to this interim rule in the formation of the final rule."