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Practitioner's Guide to Adjusted Peak Performance: The Bureau of Industry and Security is pleased to provide a Practioner's Guide to Adjusted Peak Performance to aid in the calculation of the Weighted Teraflops (WT) values of high performance computers. This Guide has been prepared in conjunction with the Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC).
High Performance Computer Update: On June 24, 2011, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the Wassenaar Arrangement’s December 2009 agreement to raise the Adjusted Peak Performance (APP Value) from 0.75 to 1.5, measured in Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT). The President described the new APP licensing threshold in a report submitted to Congress on February 7, 2011 Report to Congress, pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 1998. This rule also moves Albania and Croatia from Computer Tier 3 to Computer Tier 1.
Note: These pages are designed to serve as a licensing and policy navigation tool for exporters of high performance computers (HPCs) and components. We are providing the information linked to this page in order to help facilitate the licensing process and to make the policy more transparent. We recommend that you review the documents in the order that they appear, so that you may gain a complete understanding of the licensing process.
License Exception APP (Section 740.7 of the EAR) – addresses HPC export control requirements
Control Levels for Computers and Computer Technology and Software – this chart summarizes the APP control levels for commodities, software and technology
License Exception TSR and License Exception APP Levels for Computers and Computer Technology and Software – this chart summarizes the previous APP control levels and the current APP control levels for License Exceptions TSR and APP
Computer Tier 1 and Computer Tier 3 Countries – lists countries in each tier alphabetically
Control Levels in Weighted TeraFLOPS by EAR Section (as set forth in the June 24, 2011 Amendment to the EAR) – summarizes the WT control levels by EAR section
HPC License Processing - explains the lifecycle of an HPC license application
Security and Safeguard Plans (SSPs) - provides information relating to SSP requirements, plus the most commonly required safeguards. Links to a sample Standard SSP
General Policy and Processing Guidance for HPC licenses - general guidance on process and policy issues that often cause confusion or delay in processing licenses
Guidelines for Preparing Export License Applications for HPCs - step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the SNAP-R form for HPC licenses and what additional information and documents must be provided with the license application in order for the license to be processed in a timely manner
End User Certificates for China
If you have additional questions about licensing requirements or HPC policy, please call the number listed below.
Tel: 202-482-0707
Fax: 202-501-0784