Overview
The Department of Transportation is committed to maximizing the economic benefits of the Obama Administration’s historic infrastructure investments through Buy America provisions that keep American companies healthy and families working.
Buy America provisions ensure that transportation infrastructure projects are built with American-made products. That means that Department of Transportation investments are able to support an entire supply chain of American companies and their employees.
In the past, however, it has been difficult for companies to locate Buy America waiver requests posted only to the Federal Register. Now, we are improving access to business opportunities by posting all waiver requests on this page – in one central location – so that any American company can easily see if they can fill a particular need. The website also houses comprehensive information about each of our agencies’ Buy America provisions, requirements and waiver processes. And companies can subscribe to receive alerts when new information on Buy America for U.S. Department of Transportation-funded infrastructure projects is posted.
Together, I believe we can make sure American businesses reap the full benefits of the Obama Administration’s investments in transportation infrastructure. Thanks for visiting.
- Anthony Foxx
Quick links to DOT Buy America provisions
- Download Side-by-Side Comparison Information Sheet
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Section 1605 – Buy American
- Federal Aviation Administration 49 U.S.C. § 50101
- Federal Highway Administration 23 U.S.C. § 313 – Buy America; 23 C.F.R. § 635.410
- Federal Railroad Administration High Speed Rail Program 49 U.S.C. Chapters 244, 246; § 24405
- AMTRAK 49 U.S.C. § 24305
- Federal Transit Administration 49 U.S.C. § 5323(j); 49 C.F.R. Part 661.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Section 1605 – Buy American (100% Domestic Content of items below)
Buy American
The Recovery Act prohibits use of recovery funds for a project for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work unless all of the iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States.
Waivers
The head of the Federal department or agency finds that:
(1) It would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) Iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
(3) Inclusion of iron, steel, or manufactured goods produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
Other
There are provisions in the Recovery Act for the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Highway Administration to apply their own grant requirements, including Buy America(n).
All waivers have to be posted in Federal Register.
U.S. international obligations (World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, U.S. Free Trade Agreements, U.S.-EC Exchange of Letters [May 15, 1995], and Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement) apply. Read about international agreement obligations.
For further guidance on the Recovery Act requirements in the eDocket system.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
49 U.S.C. § 50101 (see discretionary waiver when 60% Domestic Content of items below)
Buy American
The FAA will not obligate any funds authorized to be appropriated for any project unless steel and manufactured products used in such projects are produced in the United States.
Waivers
The Administrator has delegated authority to grant waivers to this requirement to Director of Acquisition and Contracting; Regional Administrators; and Center Directors upon finding that compliance with the Act would:
(1) It would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) The steel and goods produced in the United States are not produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality;
(3) When procuring a facility or equipment under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982:
(A) the cost of components and subcomponents produced in the United States is more than 60 percent of the cost of all components of the facility or equipment; and
(B) final assembly of the facility or equipment has occurred in the United States; or
(4) Including domestic material will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
Other
Labor costs involved in final assembly are not included in calculating the cost of components.
U.S. international obligations (World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, U.S. Free Trade Agreements, U.S.-EC Exchange of Letters [May 15, 1995], and Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement) do not apply. Read about international agreement obligations.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
23 U.S.C. § 313 – Buy America; 23 C.F.R. § 635.410 (100% Domestic Content of items below)
Buy America
The Secretary of Transportation shall not obligate any funds unless steel, iron, and manufactured products used in such project are produced in the United States.
Applies to iron and steel products and their coatings that are to be permanently incorporated into the project. The FHWA, in its 1983 rulemaking, determined that Buy America did not apply to raw materials and waived its application to manufactured products, although in the statute, based on the public interest. Lack of adequate domestic supply resulted in a 1995 nationwide waiver for iron ore, pig iron, and reduced/processed/pelletized iron ore. In 1994, a nationwide waiver for specific ferryboat parts came into effect.
Waivers
The Secretary of Transportation may waive the requirement if the Secretary finds that:
(1) It would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) Such materials and products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
(3) Inclusion of domestic material will increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 25 percent (this is a standing waiver codified in regulations when alternate bidding procedures are used).
Other
Labor costs involved in final assembly are not included in calculating the cost of components.
U.S. international obligations (World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, U.S. Free Trade Agreements, U.S.-EC Exchange of Letters [May 15, 1995], and Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement) do not apply. Read about international agreement obligations.
All waivers have to be posted in Federal Register. All proposed waivers are first posted on the FHWA’s website for a 15-day comment period prior to publishing the final decision in the Federal Register.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
High Speed Rail Program 49 U.S.C. Chapters 244, 246; § 24405 (100% Domestic Content of items below)
Buy America
The Secretary of Transportation may obligate funds for a project only if the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States.
Waivers
The Secretary of Transportation may waive the requirement if the Secretary finds that:
(1) It would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) The steel, iron, and goods produced in the United States are not produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality;
(3) Rolling stock or power train equipment cannot be bought and delivered in the United States within a reasonable time; or
(4) Including domestic material will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
Other
The requirements only apply to projects for which the costs exceed $100,000.
Labor costs involved in final assembly are not included in calculating the cost of components.
U.S. international obligations (World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, U.S. Free Trade Agreements, U.S.-EC Exchange of Letters [May 15, 1995], and Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement) do not apply. Read about international agreement obligations.
All waivers have to be posted in Federal Register.
To date, FRA has not approved any Buy America waivers involving FRA’s high-speed and intercity passenger rail program and Recovery Act funds
To learn more about FRA's Buy America efforts, please visit our site and our FAQs.
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK)
49 U.S.C. § 24305
Domestic Buying Preferences
Amtrak shall buy only:
(A) unmanufactured articles, material, and supplies mined or produced in the United States; or
(B) manufactured articles, material, and supplies manufactured in the United States substantially from articles, material, and supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States.
Waivers
The Secretary may exempt Amtrak from this subsection if the Secretary decides that:
(A) for particular articles, material, or supplies--
(i) the requirements are inconsistent with the public interest;
(ii) the cost of imposing those requirements is unreasonable; or
(iii) the articles, material, or supplies, or the articles, material, or supplies from which they are manufactured, are not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and are not of a satisfactory quality; or
(B) rolling stock or power train equipment cannot be bought and delivered in the United States within a reasonable time.
Other
The requirements apply only when the cost of those articles, material, or supplies bought is at least $1 million.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
49 U.S.C. § 5323(j); 49 C.F.R. Part 661 (Buy America Requirements);
(See 60% Domestic Content for buses and other Rolling Stock)
Buy America
No funds may be obligated by FTA for a grantee project unless all iron, steel, and manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States.
Waivers
The Administrator may waive the general requirements if the Administrator finds that:
(1) It would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) The materials for which a waiver is requested are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality;
(3) The inclusion of a domestic item or domestic material will increase the cost of the contract between the grantee and its supplier of that item or material by more than 25 percent.
Rolling stock procurements
(a) The Buy America provisions do not apply to the procurement of buses and other rolling stock (including train control, communication, and traction power equipment), if the cost of components produced in the United States is more than 60 percent of the cost of all components and final assembly takes place in the United States.
Other
Labor costs involved in final assembly are not included in calculating the cost of components
U.S. international obligations (World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, U.S. Free Trade Agreements, U.S.-EC Exchange of Letters [May 15, 1995], and Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement) do not apply. Read about international agreement obligations.
Post only “public interest” waivers in Federal Register.