# Subpart 908.71—Acquisition of Special Items

## 908.7100 Scope of subpart.

This subpart sets forth requirements and procedures for the acquisition of special items by DOE and contractors authorized to use special sources of supply to the extent indicated herein.

## 908.7101 Motor vehicles.

## 908.7101-1 Scope of section.

Acquisitions by purchase of motor vehicles shall be in accordance with this section.

## 908.7101-2 Consolidated acquisition of new vehicles by General Services Administration.

(a) New vehicles shall be procured in accordance with Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) 41 CFR 101-26.501, and 41 CFR 102-1 through 102-220, and Department of Energy Property Management Regulations (DOE-PMR) 41 CFR 109-26.501. Orders for all motor vehicles must be placed utilizing GSA's online vehicle purchasing system (AutoChoice).

(b) Orders for all motor vehicles shall be submitted utilizing GSA's on-line system (Auto Choice), in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.501. Requisitions for sedans, station wagons, and certain light trucks as specified by GSA, should contain a certification that the acquisition is in conformance with Pub. L. 94-163, and Executive Order 12003 and 12375 and subsequent implementations.

(c) The schedule of dates for submission of orders is contained in FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.501-4. The Heads of Contracting Activities shall consolidate and submit their requirements for passenger automobiles early in the fiscal year. Requisitions for sedans, station wagons and certain types of light trucks shall be submitted through Headquarters as outlined in 908.7101-6. Requisitions for all other types of vehicles shall be submitted directly to GSA.

## 908.7101-3 Direct acquisition.

Vehicles may be acquired by DOE activities directly rather than through GSA when a waiver has been granted by GSA. A copy of the activity's request to GSA for a waiver shall be forwarded to the Director, Personal Property Policy Division, within the Headquarters procurement organization. In cases involving general purpose vehicles where GSA refuses to grant a waiver and where it is believed that acquisition through GSA would adversely affect or otherwise impair the program, authority for direct acquisition shall be obtained from the above-mentioned Headquarters official, prior to acquisition. In the acquisition of special purpose vehicles for use by DOE and its authorized contractors, the Head of the Contracting Activity may authorize direct purchases. The purchase price for sedans and station wagons, shall not exceed any statutory limitation in effect at the time the acquisition is made. (See 41 CFR 109-26.501-1).

## 908.7101-4 Replacement of motor vehicles.

(a) The replacement of motor vehicles shall be in accordance with the replacement standards prescribed in 41 CFR 102-34.270 and 109-38.402.

(b) The Heads of Contracting Activities may arrange to sell, as exchange sales, used motor vehicles being replaced and to apply the proceeds to the purchase of similar new vehicles. However, in the event personnel are not available to make such sales, or it is in the best interest of the DOE office, GSA may be requested to sell the used vehicles.

## 908.7101-5 Used vehicles.

Normally, DOE does not purchase or authorize contractors to purchase used vehicles. However, the Heads of Contracting Activities may authorize the purchase of used vehicles where justified by special circumstances; e.g., when new vehicles are in short supply, the vehicles are to be used for experimental or test purposes, or the vehicles are acquired from exchange sale. In accordance with 41 CFR 109-26.501-50 and 109-26.501-51, the statutory passenger vehicle allocation requirements for DOE shall apply to any purchase of used vehicles except in the case of vehicles to be used exclusively for experimental or test purposes.

## 908.7101-6 Acquisition of fuel-efficient vehicles.

(a) All purchases of sedans and station wagons, and certain types of light trucks as specified by GSA, are subject to the requirements of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), Pub. L. 94-163, and of Executive Orders 12003 and 12375 and subsequent implementing regulations. Accordingly, the Director of Administration and the Heads of Contracting Activities will submit annually to the Director, Personal Property Policy Division, within the Headquarters procurement organization, for approval, a forecast of plans for the purchase of such vehicles during the fiscal year. Such forecast shall be submitted to the Property Executive, or designee.

(b) Approved sedans, station wagons, and light trucks requisitioned, but not contracted for by GSA until the subsequent fiscal year, shall be included in the acquisition plan for the miles-per-gallon criteria of the year in which GSA signs the purchase contract along with the new vehicles planned for acquisition that year.

## 908.7101-7 Government license tags.

(a) Government license tags shall be procured and assignments recorded by DOE offices in accordance with 41 CFR 102-34.140.

(b) The letter “E” has been designated as the prefix symbol for all DOE official license tags. Assignment of new tag numbers will be made by UNICOR via the UNICOR online vehicle license tag ordering data base. Contractors must obtain approval from their Federal fleet manager or OPMO for authorization to utilize the UNICOR data base. Director, Personal Property Policy Division, within the Headquarters procurement organization will maintain tag assignment records issued by UNICOR.

(c) Special license tags for security purposes shall be purchased in accordance with state and local laws, regulations, and procedures.

(d) In the District of Columbia, official Government tags shall be obtained from the Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicles Services Branch, District of Columbia, for all motor vehicles (except vehicles exempt for security purposes) based or housed in the District.

(e) See 41 CFR 109-38.202-2 and 109-38.202-3 for additional guidance.

## 908.7102 Aircraft.

Acquisition of aircraft shall be in accordance with 41 CFR 102-33, subpart B and DOE Order 440.2B latest revision.

## 908.7103 [Reserved]

## 908.7104 Office furniture and furnishings.

Acquisitions of office furniture and furnishings by DOE offices shall be in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-25.104, 101-25.302, 101-25.302-5, 101-25.302-7, 101-25.404 and 101-26.505, and DOE-PMR 41 CFR 109-25.302, and 109-25.350.

## 908.7105 Filing cabinets.

Acquisitions of filing cabinets shall be in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.308 and 101-25.302-2 and DOE-PMR 41 CFR 109-25.302.

## 908.7106 Security cabinets.

(a) Acquisitions of security cabinets shall be in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.507 and the “prerequisites to ordering” criteria contained in FPMR 41 CFR 101-25.302-2 and DOE-PMR 41 CFR 109-25.302.

(b) Fixed-price prime contractors and lower tier subcontractors may use GSA acquisition sources for security cabinets in accordance with 48 CFR part 51.

## 908.7107 Procurement and use of industrial alcohol.

(a) This section covers the procurement of industrial alcohol by DOE or authorized contractors and the applicable policies and delegations of authority to submit industrial alcohol user application to procure and use tax-free alcohol or specially denatured spirits. To the fullest extent practicable, industrial alcohol for use by DOE or its contractors shall be procured on a tax-free basis.

(b) The procurement of tax-free alcohol or specially denatured spirits shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations, policy, and procedures of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), of the Department of Treasury. The applicable TTB regulations and forms may be accessed at the following Web site: http://www.ttb.gov/foia/err.shtml#regulations. For further information, contact the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Director, National Revenue Center, 550 Main St., Suite 8002, Cincinnati, OH 45202-5215 or toll free at 1-877-882-3277.

(c) The applying office should coordinate, as necessary, with the local State Alcohol Control Board, or its equivalent, to obtain the appropriate State license.

(1) Tax-free alcohol. TTB regulations relating to the procurement and use of alcohol free of tax, by Government agencies, are set forth in 27 CFR part 22, subpart N, §§ 22.171 to 22.176.

(2) Specially denatured spirits. TTB regulations relating to the acquisition and use of alcohol free of tax, by Government agencies, are set forth in 27 CFR part 20, subpart N, §§ 20.241 to 20.245.

(d) For the user permits to procure and use tax-free alcohol and specially denatured spirits submit the application on the TTB Form 5150.22, “Application for Industrial Alcohol User Permit,” (or the current TTB form). When permits are no longer required, they should be forwarded to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for cancellation. Industrial alcohol procured by use of the TTB form referred to in this subsection shall be used exclusively on DOE work.

(e) The Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) has the authority to sign the TTB application, Form 5150.22. The SPE may delegate this authority to sign the application to specifically named DOE personnel. Requests for new authorizations or changes to existing authorizations shall be submitted by letter to the SPE. A copy of the TTB approved permit shall be sent to the SPE.

(f) Abandoned and forfeited alcohol which has come into the custody or control of a Federal agency may be obtained by following the procedure set forth in the FMR at 41 CFR part 102-41.

## 908.7108 [Reserved]

## 908.7109 Fuels and packaged petroleum products.

Acquisitions of fuel and packaged petroleum products by DOE offices shall be in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.602. When contractors are authorized, consistent with 951, to acquire such products from Defense sources, they shall do so in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.602.

## 908.7110 Coal.

DOE offices and authorized contractors may participate in the Defense Fuel Supply Center (DFSC) coal contracting program for carload or larger lots. If participation is desired, estimates shall be submitted to DFSC in accordance with FPMR 41 CFR 101-26.602.

## 908.7111 Arms and ammunition.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4655, the Secretary of the Army is authorized to furnish arms, suitable accouterments for use therewith, and ammunition for the protection of public money and property.

(a) The Department of the Army has granted clearance for Federal agencies to procure, without further reference to or clearance from that Department, all arms and ammunition of types which are not peculiar to the military services, and which are readily procurable in the civilian market.

(b) Acquisition of arms and ammunition readily procurable in the civilian market shall be made in accordance with regular acquisition procedures.

(c) Acquisition of arms and ammunition which are peculiar to the military services shall be made by submission of order form to the Commanding General, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command, 9301 Chapek Road, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5527.

## 908.7112 Materials handling equipment replacement standards.

Materials handling equipment shall be purchased for replacement purposes in accordance with the standards in FPMR 41 CFR 101-25.405 and DOE-PMR 41 CFR 109-25.4. The Heads of Contracting Activities are authorized to replace an item earlier than the date specified in such standards under unusual circumstances. A written justification shall be placed in the purchase file.

## 908.7113 Calibration services.

Orders for calibration services may be placed with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2300, by either DOE acquisition offices or its authorized contractors. Copies of the letters authorizing contractors to order calibration services on behalf of DOE shall be sent to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attention: “Calibration Services.”

## 908.7114 Wiretapping and eavesdropping equipment.

Acquisition by DOE offices and contractors of devices primarily designed to be used surreptitiously to overhear or record conversations is prohibited.

## 908.7115-908.7117 [Reserved]

## 908.7118 Rental of post office boxes.

DOE offices and authorized contractors may rent post office boxes on an annual basis, or for shorter periods by quarters, where necessary. Payments for annual rentals are to be made in advance at the beginning of the fiscal year, and for periods of less than a year, either in advance for the whole period or at the beginning of each quarter in which the box is to be used.

## 908.7119-908.7120 [Reserved]

## 908.7121 Special materials.

This section covers the purchase of materials peculiar to the DOE program. While purchases of these materials may be unclassified, the specific quantities, destination or use may be classified (see appropriate sections of the Classification Guide). Contracting officers shall require authorized contractors to obtain the special materials identified in the following subsections in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) Heavy water. The Senior Program Official or designee controls the acquisition and production of heavy water for a given program. Request for orders shall be placed directly with the cognizant Senior Program Official or designee.

(b) Precious metals.

(1) NNSA, Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN is responsible for maintaining the DOE supply of precious metals. These metals are platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, ruthenium, gold and silver. The NNSA Y-12 National Security Complex has assigned management of these precious metals to its Management and Operating (M&O) contractor. DOE and NNSA offices and authorized contractors shall coordinate with the Y-12 M&O contractor regarding the availability of these metals prior to purchasing in the open market.

(2) For contractor inventory containing precious metals or possessing precious metals excess, see 945.604-1 for contractor identification and reporting.

(c) Lithium. Lithium is available from Y-12 at no cost other than normal packing, handling, and shipping charges from Oak Ridge. The excess quantities at Y-12 are the first source of supply prior to procurement of lithium compounds from any other source.