FHWA's Buy America Q and A for Federal-aid Program
Background:
The FHWA's Buy America policies require a domestic manufacturing process for all steel or iron products that are permanently incorporated in a Federal-aid highway construction project. Title 23 Section 313 and FHWA's regulations in 23 CFR 635.410 provide that the Administrator may issue a waiver if, (1) the application of Buy America provisions would be inconsistent with the public interest or (2) iron and steel materials/products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities which are of satisfactory quality. The statute and regulations also waive Buy America provisions at the time of contract award if a State elects to include an alternate bidding provision in the project advertisement for foreign and domestic steel and iron products, and the lowest overall bid based on using domestic products is 25 percent more than the lowest overall bid based on using foreign products. Additionally, the FHWA's regulations permit a minimal use of foreign steel and iron in the amount of $2,500 or one-tenth of one percent, whichever is greater, to be used in a Federal-aid project. Below are questions and answers pertaining to Buy America inquiries that have been presented to the Office of Program Administration. The Office of Program Administration is posting these questions and answers so that FHWA Division Offices, State DOTs, and the general public will be aware of the FHWA's responses. Questions and answers were updated March 6, 2023.
Policy
Q# 1. Where can I find FHWA's Buy America policies?
A# 1. The FHWA Buy America statutory provisions are in 23 U.S.C.313 and the regulatory provisions are in 23 CFR 635.410. For other policy and guidance links, see the Construction Program Guide.
Q# 2. Can a waiver be granted for the Buy America requirements?
A# 2. Yes. Under 23 CFR 635.410 (c)(1)(i), a waiver of Buy America requirements may be granted on a project-by-project basis if:
The application of Buy America provisions would be inconsistent with the public interest, or
Steel and iron materials/products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities which are of a satisfactory quality. Also, FHWA regulations also waive the applicability of Buy America when alternate bidding procedures are used and lowest overall total bid based on using domestic steel is 25% more than the lowest overall total bid based on using foreign steel.
Q# 3. Who may request a Buy America waiver?
A# 3. The (Local Public Agency (LPA)/State DOT) administering the Federal-aid project may request a project specific waiver.
Q# 4. May the FHWA issue a standing national or regional waiver?
A# 4. Yes. FHWA may issue a standing national or regional waiver if it is warranted.
Q# 5. On what basis may a nationwide waiver be granted?
A# 5. A nationwide waiver of a specific iron or steel product may be granted by the Secretary of Transportation if the product is not manufactured in the United States and the public rulemaking process demonstrates that non-domestic availability of the product would adversely impact the Federal-aid program in multiple states, specific region and/or nationwide.
Q# 6. Has FHWA granted any nationwide waivers?
A# 6. Yes. FHWA has granted two nationwide waivers, 1) on February 9, 1994 for ferryboat equipment and machinery parts, and 2) on March 24, 1995 for pig iron and processed, pelletized, and reduced iron ore. For more details, see https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/contracts/020994.cfm and https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/contracts/032495.cfm.
Q# 7. Who may request a nationwide waiver?
A# 7. The LPAs/State DOTs may request a nationwide waiver.
Q# 8. How often does FHWA approve waivers based on public interest?
A# 8. Not very often. An example of when a public interest waiver may be considered could be during an emergency situation. Another example may be where a certain steel or iron product is to be evaluated on an experimental basis.
Q# 9. What is the FHWA's minimum threshold for Buy America to apply?
A# 9. Per regulation, the FHWA's minimum threshold for Buy America to apply is $2,500 (the total amount of iron and steel products as delivered to the project) or 0.1% of the total contract amount, whichever is greater.
Q# 10. In emergency situations, does FHWA offer any type of relief to Buy America policy?
A# 10. The Buy America requirements apply during emergency situations. However, when the responsible agency demonstrates that the application of Buy America requirements would be inconsistent with the public interest, or that the necessary steel or iron is not available domestically, the FHWA may grant a waiver.
Q# 11. Can states have Buy America requirements that are more restrictive than FHWA's Buy America?
A# 11. Yes. Under 23 U.S.C. 313(d) and 23 CFR 635.410 (b) (2), State DOTs may establish standard contract provisions requiring the use of domestic materials or products to the same or greater extent than the FHWA Buy America requirements. However, State DOTs cannot establish less restrictive requirements for Federal-aid funded projects.
Q# 12. Do Buy America requirements apply to manufactured products?
A# 12. No. The FHWA's 1983 final Buy America regulations (see https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/contracts/112583.cfm) waive the application of Buy America to manufactured products that do not include steel and iron components. However, Buy America requirements apply to any steel or iron component of a manufactured product regardless of the overall composition of the manufactured product (e.g., Buy America applies to the steel wire mesh or steel reinforcing components of a precast reinforced concrete pipe).
Project Applicability
Q# 13. Does Buy America apply to recycled steel?
A# 13. No. Although raw materials used in the steel manufacturing process may be imported, all manufacturing processes to produce steel products must occur domestically, including the addition of additives and the application of coatings. However, raw materials such as iron ore, limestone and waste products are not covered. The FHWA's November 25, 1983 final rule defined waste products to include scrap as steel that is no longer useful in its present form (e.g. steel from old automobiles, machinery, pipe, railroad tracks, etc.).
Q# 14. Do Buy America requirements apply to coating materials and the process of applying a coating?
A# 14. Yes. Section 1041(a) of the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act expressly provides that the application of a coating for iron or steel is subject to Buy America. In 1993, the FHWA amended its regulations at 23 CFR 635.410(b)(1) to implement ISTEA section 1041(a) to clarify that the manufacturing process for the application of a coating is covered by Buy America requirements; however, the material being applied as a coating is not covered under Buy America. A coating means any process that protects or enhances the value of a material or product to which it is applied, such as epoxy coatings, galvanizing or painting.
Q# 15. Does Buy America apply to aluminum products (like aluminum light poles)?
A# 15. Yes. Buy America applies to aluminum products permanently installed into Federal-aid project obligated after November 10, 2022. Note that aluminum is part of non-ferrous metals listed as construction materials in section VIII of the OMB memo M-22-11. See Construction materials Q&As; https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/buyam_qa_baba_post10232023.cfm for additional guidance.
Q# 16. Can a State DOT apply the Buy America requirements on an incremental basis by allowing a very small amount of foreign steel to be used as the work progresses?
A# 16. No. State DOTs cannot apply Buy America requirements on an incremental basis. A State DOT must track the amount of incorporated foreign steel and iron as the work proceeds to ensure that the minimal use threshold amount is not exceeded at any point in the contract (0.1% of the total contract amount or $2,500 whichever is greater).
Q# 17. Does Buy America apply if a State DOT makes the cost of eligible iron and steel products Federal-aid non-participating in construction of a Federal-aid project?
A# 17. Yes. Buy America applies to all steel and iron products supplied and permanently incorporated into a Federal-aid project regardless of the funding source actually used to purchase the product.
Q# 18. Does Buy America apply if the steel or iron for a Federal-aid funded project is procured by the State through a separate contract?
A# 18. Yes. Buy America applies to all iron and steel products permanently incorporated into Federal-aid funded project, regardless of how they were procured.
Q# 19. Does Buy America apply to iron and steel (sheet piling, scaffolding, etc) products used on a temporary basis for construction of a Federal-aid project.
A# 19. No. Buy America applies only to iron and steel products required to be permanently incorporated into a Federal-aid construction project. Temporary use means that the contract specifications provide that the iron and steel products used on the project either must be removed at the end of the project or may be removed at the contractor's convenience. Also, where a contracting agency is able to document that phased construction is imminent and the steel or iron product will be removed in subsequent near term stages, then the iron or steel product may be considered temporary and not subject to Buy America. However, if the iron or steel product is required to remain in place at the end of the contract (per contract documents) and where phased construction is not imminent, then the product is deemed permanent and Buy America applies.
Q# 20. Can a State DOT transfer a Buy America waiver granted for an item from one Federal-aid project to another Federal-aid project (i.e. utilize an approved waiver on multiple projects)?.
A# 20. No. Buy America waivers are approved on a project-by-project basis and they are not transferable. Therefore a waiver that is approved for one particular project cannot be used on another project. Only a nationwide waiver can be used for multiple projects.
Q# 21. Do Buy America apply to iron and steel products that were competitively procured in one project, for construction of a Federal-aid project?
A# 21. Yes. With accompanying certification showing that the products were manufactured domestically, if they are for permanent installation and a public interest finding as required by 23 CFR 635.407 for the use of state-furnished material.
Waivers
Q# 22. What does the FHWA need in order to consider a project waiver request?
A# 22. The agency administering Federal-aid project submits the waiver request with supporting information to the FHWA Division Office. The Division Office is responsible for ensuring that the request includes the necessary information before the information is submitted to the Office of Program Administration. Relevant supporting information includes the following information:
- the project number,
- project description,
- project cost, waiver item,
- cost of waiver item,
- country of origin of the product (if known at the time),
- reasons for the waiver request,
- a description of the efforts made by the State to locate a domestically manufactured product, and
- an analysis of re-design of the project using alternate or approved equal domestic product.
- Also, each proposed waiver submitted to MIAO should include information listed in section VII “issuing Buy America Waiver” in OMB memo M-22-11; https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/M-22-11.pdf as applicable
Q# 23. Has FHWA denied any waiver request?
A# 23. Yes. If FHWA discovers a domestic product during the review of waiver request, the request will be denied. See https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm for Buy America waiver requests denied.
Q# 24. How often does FHWA receive and approve waivers based on non-availability?
A# 24. FHWA frequently receives Buy America waiver requests and conducts preliminary reviews on each to ensure that waiver request is warranted before they are formally processed. FHWA actually approves most waiver requests that are formally processed because they are usually thoroughly vetted before being submitted for approval.
Q# 25. What is the process for submitting a waiver request?
A# 25. The agency (State DOT/LPA) administering the Federal-aid project is responsible for submitting a waiver request to the FHWA Division Office for preliminary reviews and recommendations. The Division Office will then forward the request to the FHWA's Office of Program Administration for formal in-depth review and coordination with Made in America Director’s office for a final decision.
Q# 26. Is a waiver necessary for an item that would otherwise be non-participating?
A# 26. Yes. A Buy America waiver request is necessary for all foreign iron and steel products permanently incorporated into a Federal-aid project even if there is no Federal funding involved in the purchase of the iron and steel products.
Q# 27. What process does the FHWA follow once a waiver request has been submitted to the Office of Program Administration?
A# 27. FHWA's process for reviewing a Buy America waiver request is posted at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm in compliance with the Public Law 111.117 "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010" and SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Bill (Public Law No. 110-244, Section 117).
Counting the Value of Domestic/Foreign Steel
Q# 28. What are the costs associated with the value of iron and steel as delivered to the project?
A# 28. The total cost of iron and steel includes the cost of the material plus the cost of transportation to the project site, as evidenced by delivery receipt, but does not include labor costs involved in final assembly.
Q# 29. If a U.S supplier purchases foreign steel, performs domestic fabrication on the foreign steel and then supplies the fabricated product to a contractor on a Federal-aid construction project, should the cost of domestic fabrication be included as part of cost of foreign steel as delivered to the project?
A# 29. No. Since the regulation requires that all manufacturing process on iron and steel products must take place domestically, the cost of domestic manufacturing process(es) performed on the foreign iron or steel products should not be included in the value of materials as delivered to the project. However, the cost of domestic manufacturing process(es) must be clearly documented.
Q# 30. When a domestic steel product leaves the country for non-domestic fabrication, how should I calculate the value of non-domestic content?
A# 30. Fabrication is a manufacturing process that must take place in the United States. If a domestic steel product leaves the country for non-domestic fabrication, the entire steel product becomes foreign steel.
Other Applicabilities
Q# 31. What Buy America requirements apply to projects funded with ARRA TIGER I funding?
A# 31. For TIGER I grant projects funded solely with TIGER I funds, ARRA Section 1605 applies. Title XII of the Recovery Act specifically provides that ARRA-funded highways are to be administered as if apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code. Accordingly, ARRA-funded highway projects are administered in accordance with the requirements of title 23, United States Code, including the provisions of Buy America at 23 USC 313. The implementing regulations are in 2 CFR Part 176, Subpart B. For FHWA TIGER I grant projects funded with either Title 23 funds or regular apportioned ARRA funding, 23 USC 313 applies. The implementing regulations are in 23 CFR 635D. See PO-10 of the ARRA Q&As (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/qandas.htm#a4).
Q# 32. What Buy America requirements apply to projects funded with TIGER II funds?
A# 32. FHWA projects funded solely with TIGER II funds, or a combination of TIGER II and Title 23 funds, shall apply the 23 U.S.C. 313 requirements if the project is to construct or reconstruct a highway.
Q# 33. Are there differences between Buy America requirements of 23 U.S.C. 313 and Buy American requirements of 41 U.S.C. 10a - 10d?
A# 33. Yes. Buy America requirements apply to Federal-aid projects, while the Buy American requirements apply to direct Federal procurement contracts.
Q# 34. Can you apply Buy American provisions to Federal-aid projects?
A# 34. No. Buy American provisions do not apply to Federal-aid projects. It applies to direct Federal procurement contracts using Federal Acquisition Regulations. However, if a Federal agency is acting as the direct contracting entity for a project involving Federal-aid funding, such as an arrangement between a State DOT and a FHWA Federal Lands Division Office, the project will be procured pursuant to the FAR and Buy American will apply.
Q# 35. Do NAFTA (USMCA), WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, or other international trade agreements affect the Buy America requirements applicable to the Federal-aid Highway Program?
A# 35. No. The NAFTA (USMCA) agreement expressly exempts grants, loans, cooperative agreements, and other forms of Federal financial assistance from its coverage. The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, and most other free trade agreements, specifically exclude highway and mass transit projects from coverage. For U. S. international obligations see: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/government-procurement/us-obligations-under-international-agreements
Q# 36. Do Buy America provisions apply to Federal-aid construction projects that are not considered to be highway construction?
A# 36. Yes. All iron or steel products that are permanently incorporated in a Title 23-funded project are covered by Buy America requirements. The coverage for Title 23 eligible projects includes projects that may not have been historically considered to be highway construction (e.g. harbor cranes, bicycle racks, railroad stations, trains, motor vehicles, etc).
Q# 37. Does Buy America apply to iron and steel products donated by State DOT, Public Local Agency, or Contractor for construction of Federal-aid projects?
A# 37. Yes. Buy America applies to all donated iron and steel products.
Q# 38. When a project is jointly funded by FHWA and FTA, which Buy America provisions should be used by the contracting agency?
A# 38. When a project combines funding from both the FTA and the FHWA programs, an agency should transfer the project funds to whichever agency is serving as the lead agency. When FHWA funds are transferred to FTA for a transit project, then FTA Buy America requirements apply, and when FTA funds are transferred to the FHWA for a highway project, FHWA Buy America requirements apply. For joint funded projects involving other Federal agencies where there is no established lead agency, 23 USC 313 continues to apply to the FHWA funding and other agencies' requirements apply as well.
Q# 39. For compliance purposes, when does a contractor need to provide a certification that iron and steel products for a Federal-aid project are of domestic products?
A# 39. Certification is required prior to permanent incorporation of iron and steel products into a Federal-aid project.
Q# 40. What is step certification?
A# 40. A step certification is a process under which each handler (supplier, fabricator, manufacturer, processor, etc) of the iron and steel products certifies that their step in the process was domestically performed.
Q# 41. What is "green rod" and is it subject to Buy America coverage?
A# 41. Green rod is basically mild steel that is hot drawn and rolled with scale. It is used by welding rod manufacturers to produce welding rod. Since the green rod is typically an iron/steel product, it is covered by Buy America requirements.
Q# 42. Is welding process covered by Buy America requirements?
A# 42. Yes. All welding process must take place domestically since the welding rod itself is typically an iron/steel product and the welding process substantially alters the rod.
Q# 43. Does Buy America apply to work constructed by a railroad under a contract or agreement?
A# 43. Yes. MAP-21 Section 1518 requires the application of Buy America to all contracts eligible for assistance under the scope of NEPA project if Federal-aid funds were obligated after October 1, 2012 for any project (by contract or agreement) under the approved NEPA document. In that case, Buy America requirements will apply to railroad agreement/contract regardless of the funding source. The only exception is if the railroad work is ineligible for Federal-aid Highway Program funding.
Q# 44. Do Buy America requirements apply to an eligible utility contract/agreement being completed by the utility company under a State/Utility company relocation contract/agreement?
A# 44. Yes. MAP-21 Section 1518 requires the application of Buy America to all contracts eligible for assistance under the scope of NEPA project if Federal-aid funds were obligated after October 1, 2012 for any project (by contract or agreement) under the approved NEPA document. In that case, Buy America requirements will apply to utility agreement/contract regardless of the funding source (see Q&A #45 for an exception).
Additional Buy America utility guidance is located at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/utilities/buyam.cfm.
Q# 45. Do the Buy America requirements apply to the relocation of utilities necessitated by a highway improvement project where State law, does not allow the State DOT to reimburse the utility for relocation costs?
A# 45. No. When State law prohibits State DOTs from reimbursing utilities, 23 U.S.C. 123(a) prohibits Federal-aid participation. Such work is then not subject to Buy America requirements.
Additional Buy America utility guidance is located at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/utilities/buyam.cfm.
Q# 46. Does Buy America apply to domestic iron/steel products purchased by contractor and shipped overseas for use in physical assembly (i.e. reinforcement bars for formation of concrete pipes, and shapes)?
A# 46. No. Buy America does not apply to iron/steel products shipped overseas strictly for physical assembly. Note that if any of the manufacturing process (bending, extruding, drilling, coating etc.) occurs on the domestic iron/steel product while overseas, the resulting product becomes foreign and does not conform with Buy America requirements.
Q# 47. In using the alternate bid procedure mentioned in 23 CFR 635.410(b)(3), is the comparison for the 25% differential based on the value of the total iron/steel products in each bid?
A# 47. No. The comparison must be between the total lowest bid using domestic iron/steel product and the total lowest bid using foreign iron/steel product. Note that if the state elects to use alternate bid provisions, all bidders must be required to submit a bid based on furnishing domestic iron/steel. The contract must be awarded to bidder who submits the lowest total bid based on furnishing domestic steel, unless this bid is more than 25% higher than the total bid based on foreign steel or iron products
Q# 48. How does FHWA resolve an after-the-fact discovery of an inadvertent incorporation of foreign iron and steel products into a Federal-aid project?
A# 48. For resolving an after-the-fact discovery of incorporated foreign iron and steel products exceeding the minimal use amount (the greater amount of $2,500 or 0.1% of the contract value), FHWA will review the following information to determine the appropriate resolution:
- The state's material certification procedures for determining Buy America compliance.
- Degree of diligence by the State DOT and contracting agency in ensuring Buy America compliance.
- Contract provisions prescribing Buy America requirements.
- Availability of domestic iron and steel products or its equivalent at the time when excess foreign iron and steel products were incorporated into the project.
- Issues associated with removal and replacement with domestic iron and steel products during construction/completion.
With the Headquarters' concurrence, available options based on the conclusion of the reviews include the following:
- Remove the excess foreign iron and steel products and replace with domestic iron and steel products.
- Make the non-compliant iron and steel products Federal-aid non-participating.
- In instances where there is evidence of carelessness, negligence, incompetence, or understaffing on the part of the contracting agency, the Division Office may determine that all project costs are ineligible.