12445523R0001 Revised 12 6 2022.docx

12445523R0001

FR 10 CULVERT REPLACEMENT

GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

Table of Contents

PART I—THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Schedule of Items for each location are on the following pages.

OFFEROR NAME

UNIQUE ENTITY ID

OFFEROR EMAIL ADDRESS

OFFEROR PHONE NUMBER

Contractor Acceptance Statement: By signing the offer, the Contractor agrees to all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation and agrees to furnish any awarded items at the price set in the schedule unless otherwise excepted as follows:

B.2 SCHEDULE NOTES

a) Contractor must be registered at www.sam.gov to be considered. THIS IS A FREE REGISTRATION.

b) A pre-proposal meeting will not be held for this project. The directions to the site are included in the attached plans and the site is accessible without notice to the Government. Contractors are urged and expected to inspect the site where the work will be performed (Reference 52.236-27 Site Visit (Construction)). Directions to site are included in this solicitation package. Contact the Contracting Officer for additional information if required.

c) There is a requirement to submit a technical proposal with your offer. See Section L &M for preparation instructions.

d) Payment for bond premiums in accordance with Clause 52.232‐5, Payments under Fixed‐ Price Construction Contracts, shall not be in addition to the contract price. Include bond payments under 151.01 Mobilization.

e) Payment will be made on actual work performed as described in FP‐14 109.01 unless otherwise noted.

f) Award will be made to one contractor. The Schedule of Items includes 2 schedules for the performance of this project. Contractor shall provide pricing for all items on Schedule 1 and Schedule Alternate 2. Selection of schedule to be used will be determined before award.

g) All clearing, grubbing, bedding, borrow, backfill, detours, diversions, signing, and other miscellaneous items not listed above with unique bid items shall be considered incidental to the contract. See 109.05 Quantities for aggregate are compacted in place volumes.

h) This is a construction project which has the following bonding requirements:

1. 20% bid bond for offers over $150,000 required with offer submission.

2. 100% performance and payment bonds for offers over $150,000 upon award.

3. See Section I for details.

4. Proper bonding forms must be utilized. SF24, SF25 & SF25A forms can be accessed at https://www.gsa.gov/reference/forms

i) Due to mail/delivery limitations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, quote guarantees must be submitted electronically via email with quotes. NO FAXES OR HARDCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

FR10-8.4 Culvert Replacement - Schedule of Items Green Mountain National Forest Manchester Ranger District - Rutland County

CONTRACT LINE ITEM

TOTAL =

LPSM- Lump Sum; LNFT- Linear Foot; CUYD- Cubic Yard; SQYD-Square Yard; EACH-Each; LB- Pound

FR10-11.53 Culvert Replacement - Schedule of Items Green Mountain National Forest Manchester Ranger District - Bennington County

TOTAL =

SECTION C--DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

This contract includes the replacement of two (2) culverts on Forest Road 10.

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified), to perform the State of Work/Specifications referenced. Each culvert replacement has its own Schedule of Items and Drawings. The Contractor shall coordinate all work and scheduling for the replacement of both culverts within the contract period of performance.

The Forest Road 10 – 8.4 Culvert Replacement work shall include, but is not limited to, the removal/transportation/unloading of temporary bridge and abutments, excavation, removal of existing culvert, layout and construction of the cast-in-place concrete abutments, furnishing, fabricating, preparing, assembling and erecting the new metal culvert, associated backfill and embankment construction, guardrail installation and associated road and site work.

The Forest Road 10 – 11.53 Culvert Replacement work shall include, but is not limited to, excavation, removal of existing culvert, layout, furnishing, fabricating, preparing, assembling and erecting the new precast culvert, associated backfill and embankment construction, guardrail installation and associated road and site work.

C.2 PROJECT LOCATON

FR10-8.4 culvert is located on the Green Mountain National Forest in Mt. Tabor, VT in Rutland County.

FR10-11.53 culvert is located on the Green Mountain National Forest in Peru, VT in Bennington County.

C.3 MAGNITUDE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

The Government Estimate is between $500,000 and $1,000,000.

C.4 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

See Attachments

452.211-72 Statement of Work/Specifications (FEB 1988) The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified), to perform the Statement of Work/Specifications referenced in Section J.

452.211-73 Attachments to Statement of Work/Specifications (FEB 1988) The attachments to the Statement of Work/Specifications listed in Section J are hereby made part of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

SECTION D--PACKAGING AND MARKING

D-1 PACKING AND MARKING

All shipments of materials, equipment and/or supplies shall be addressed to the Contractor and not to the Government.

D-2 PROJECT LABELING FOR OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE

The Government singularly identifies each project with a contract number at time of award. The contract number is a unique identifier to purposely and permanently represent an awarded project. The Government issued contract number is to be referenced on all official communication starting upon notice of award.

SECTION E--INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 CLAUSES

52.246-12 Inspection of Construction (AUG 1996)

SECTION F--DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 CLAUSES

52.211-10 Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work (APR 1984) The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 10 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than: The project may start after the roads are open in the spring. The roads are seasonally closed until at least May 1st and maybe later due to mud season. On-site construction start date of June 1, 2023 with in-stream work being completed between July 1 and Sept 30, 2023. Project completion by October 31st. Performance period is changed from 365 days to 270 days with the previously stated limitations. after Notice to Proceed. The time stated for completion shall include final cleanup of the premises.

F.2 OTHER REQUIREMENTS

SECTION G--CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CLAUSES

452.215-73 Post Award Conference (NOV 1996) A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled and held within _10_days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at _TBD_.

G.2 OTHER REQUIREMENTS

SECTION H--SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 CLAUSES

452.228-71 Insurance Coverage (NOV 1996) Pursuant to FAR clause 52.228-5, Insurance-Work on a Government Installation, the Contractor will be required to present evidence to show, as a minimum, the amounts of insurance coverage indicated below:

(a) Workers Compensation and Employer's Liability. The Contractor is required to comply with applicable Federal and State workers' compensation and occupational disease statutes. If occupational diseases are not compensable under those statutes, they shall be covered under the employer's liability section of the insurance policy, except when contract operations are so commingled with a Contractor's commercial operations that it would not be practical to require this coverage. Employer's liability coverage of at least $100,000 shall be required, except in States with exclusive or monopolistic funds that do not permit worker's compensation to be written by private carriers.

(b) General Liability. (1) The Contractor shall have bodily injury liability coverage written on a comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence. (2) The Contractor shall have property damage liability insurance shall be required in the amount of ____*___ per occurrence.

(c) Automobile Liability. The Contractor shall have automobile liability insurance written on a comprehensive form of policy. The policy shall provide for bodily injury and property damage liability covering the operation of all automobiles used in connection with performing the contract. Policies covering automobiles operated in the United States shall provide coverage of at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage or loss.

(d) Aircraft Public and Passenger Liability. When aircraft are used in connection with performing the contract, the Contractor shall have aircraft public and passenger liability insurance. Coverage shall be at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, other than passenger injury. Coverage for passenger injury shall be at least $200,000 multiplied by the number of seats or passengers, whichever is greater.

452.237-74 Key Personnel (FEB 1988)

(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: _____________________________________________________________________________.

(b) During the first ninety (90) days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (c) to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

(c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

H.2 OTHER REQUIREMENTS

PART II--CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I--CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 CLAUSES

52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clauses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far (FAR clauses begin with 52) Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Clauses: https://www.acquisition.gov/agar (AGAR clauses begin with 452) Deviations to clauses may be viewed at: Policies & Regulations | USDA

52.203-8 Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity (MAY 2014) 52.203-10 Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity (MAY 2014)

52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest when Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (NOV 2021)

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] ☐ By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or ☐ By the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract.

52.219-32 Orders Issued Directly Under Small Business Reserves (MAR 2020)

52.232-27 Prompt Payment for Construction Contracts (JAN 2017)

Alternate I (NOV 1991)

Alternate 1 (APR 1984)

Alternate I (APR 1984) Alternate II (APR 1984)

Alternate I (MAR 1994)

Alternate I (APR 1984)

52.219-13 Notice of Set Aside of Orders (MAR 2020)

(a) The Contracting Officer may set aside orders for the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3).

(b) The Contracting Officer will give notice of the order or orders, if any, to be set aside for small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) and the applicable small business program. This notice, and its restrictions, will apply only to the specific orders that have been set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3).

52.223-9 Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (May 2008)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— “Postconsumer material” means a material or finished product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal or recovery, having completed its life as a consumer item. Postconsumer material is a part of the broader category of “recovered material.”

“Recovered material” means waste materials and by-products recovered or diverted from solid waste, but the term does not include those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process.

(b) The Contractor, on completion of this contract, shall—

(1) Estimate the percentage of the total recovered material content for EPA-designated item(s) delivered and/or used in contract performance, including, if applicable, the percentage of post-consumer material content; and

(2) Submit this estimate to Contracting Officer’s Representative.

52.225-9 Buy American Act-Construction Materials (NOV 2021)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause- Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item-

(1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is-

(i) A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of “commercial product” at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101);

(ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and

(iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and

(2) Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products.

"Construction material" means an article, material, or supply brought to the construction site by the Contractor or a subcontractor for incorporation into the building or work. The term also includes an item brought to the site preassembled from articles, materials, or supplies. However, emergency life safety systems, such as emergency lighting, fire alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that are discrete systems incorporated into a public building or work and that are produced as complete systems, are evaluated as a single and distinct construction material regardless of when or how the individual parts or components of those systems are delivered to the construction site. Materials purchased directly by the Government are supplies, not construction material.

Cost of components means-

(1) For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the construction material (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or

(2) For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the construction material.

Domestic construction material means-

(1) For construction material that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both-

(i) An unmanufactured construction material mined or produced in the United States; or

(ii) A construction material manufactured in the United States, if-

(A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 55 percent of the cost of all its components. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind for which nonavailability determinations have been made are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign; or

(B) The construction material is a COTS item; or

(2) For construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, a construction material manufactured in the United States if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all components used in such construction material. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the construction material and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the construction material contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such construction material is calculated in accordance with the definition of "cost of components".

Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws.

Foreign construction material means a construction material other than a domestic construction material.

Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign.

Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners.

Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.

"United States" means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

(b) Domestic preference. (1) This clause implements 41 U.S.C.chapter 83, Buy American, by providing a preference for domestic construction material. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for construction material that is a COTS item, except that for construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the domestic content test is applied only to the iron and steel content of the construction materials, excluding COTS fasteners. (See FAR 12.505(a)(2)). The Contractor shall use only domestic construction material in performing this contract, except as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this clause.

(2) This requirement does not apply to information technology that is a commercial product or to the construction materials or components listed by the Government as follows:

[Contracting Officer to list applicable excepted materials or indicate "none"]

(3) The Contracting Officer may add other foreign construction material to the list in paragraph (b)(2) of this clause if the Government determines that-

(i) The cost of domestic construction material would be unreasonable. The cost of a particular domestic construction material subject to the requirements of the Buy American statute is unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign material by more than 20 percent;

(ii) The application of the restriction of the Buy American statute to a particular construction material would be impracticable or inconsistent with the public interest; or

(iii) The construction material is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality.

(c) Request for determination of inapplicability of the Buy American statute. (1) (i) Any Contractor request to use foreign construction material in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this clause shall include adequate information for Government evaluation of the request, including-

(A) A description of the foreign and domestic construction materials;

(B) Unit of measure;

(C) Quantity;

(D) Price;

(E) Time of delivery or availability;

(F) Location of the construction project;

(G) Name and address of the proposed supplier; and

(H) A detailed justification of the reason for use of foreign construction materials cited in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this clause.

(ii) A request based on unreasonable cost shall include a reasonable survey of the market and a completed price comparison table in the format in paragraph (d) of this clause.

(iii) The price of construction material shall include all delivery costs to the construction site and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free certificate may be issued).

(iv) Any Contractor request for a determination submitted after contract award shall explain why the Contractor could not reasonably foresee the need for such determination and could not have requested the determination before contract award. If the Contractor does not submit a satisfactory explanation, the Contracting Officer need not make a determination.

(2) If the Government determines after contract award that an exception to the Buy American statute applies and the Contracting Officer and the Contractor negotiate adequate consideration, the Contracting Officer will modify the contract to allow use of the foreign construction material. However, when the basis for the exception is the unreasonable price of a domestic construction material, adequate consideration is not less than the differential established in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this clause.

(3) Unless the Government determines that an exception to the Buy American statute applies, use of foreign construction material is noncompliant with the Buy American statute.

(d) Data. To permit evaluation of requests under paragraph (c) of this clause based on unreasonable cost, the Contractor shall include the following information and any applicable supporting data based on the survey of suppliers:

Foreign and Domestic Construction Materials Price Comparison

Construction Material Description Unit of Measure Quantity Price (dollars)* Item1:

Item2:

[* Include all delivery costs to the construction site and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued)].

[List name, address, telephone number, and contact for suppliers surveyed. Attach copy of response; if oral, attach summary.] [Include other applicable supporting information.]

52.225-11 Buy American Act-Construction Materials under Trade Agreements (NOV 2021)(DEVIATION JUL 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause- Caribbean Basin country construction material means a construction material that–

(1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a Caribbean Basin country; or

(2) In the case of a construction material that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a Caribbean Basin country into a new and different construction material distinct from the materials from which it was transformed.

Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item-

(1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is-

(i) A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of “commercial product” at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101);

(ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and

(iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and

(2) Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C.40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products.

Component means an article, material, or supply incorporated directly into a construction material.

Construction material means an article, material, or supply brought to the construction site by the Contractor or subcontractor for incorporation into the building or work. The term also includes an item brought to the site preassembled from articles, materials, or supplies. However, emergency life safety systems, such as emergency lighting, fire alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that are discrete systems incorporated into a public building or work and that are produced as complete systems, are evaluated as a single and distinct construction material regardless of when or how the individual parts or components of those systems are delivered to the construction site. Materials purchased directly by the Government are supplies, not construction material.

Cost of components means-

(1) For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the construction material (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or

(2) For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the construction material.

Designated country means any of the following countries:

(1) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country (Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, or United Kingdom);

(2) A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) country (Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea (Republic of), Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, or Singapore);

(3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, or Zambia); or

(4) A Caribbean Basin country (Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saba, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, or Trinidad and Tobago).

"Designated country construction material" means a construction material that is a WTO GPA country construction material, an FTA country construction material, a least developed country construction material, or a Caribbean Basin country construction material.

Domestic construction material means-

(1) For construction material that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both-

(i) An unmanufactured construction material mined or produced in the United States; or

(ii) A construction material manufactured in the United States, if-

(A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 55 percent of the cost of all its components. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind for which nonavailability determinations have been made are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign; or

(B) The construction material is a COTS item; or

(2) For construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, a construction material manufactured in the United States if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all components used in such construction material. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the construction material and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the construction material contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such construction material is calculated in accordance with the definition of "cost of components".

Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws.

Foreign construction material means a construction material other than a domestic construction material.

Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign.

Free Trade Agreement country construction material means a construction material that-

(1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) country; or

(2) In the case of a construction material that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a FTA country into a new and different construction material distinct from the materials from which it was transformed.

Least developed country construction material means a construction material that-

(1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a least developed country; or

(2) In the case of a construction material that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a least developed country into a new and different construction material distinct from the materials from which it was transformed.

Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners.

Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.

United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

WTO GPA country construction material means a construction material that-

(1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a WTO GPA country; or

(2) In the case of a construction material that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a WTO GPA country into a new and different construction material distinct from the materials from which it was transformed.

(b) Construction materials. (1) This clause implements 41 U.S.C.chapter 83, Buy American, by providing a preference for domestic construction material. In accordance with 41 U.S.C.1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for construction material that is a COTS item, except that for construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the domestic content test is applied only to the iron and steel content of the construction material, excluding COTS fasteners. (See FAR 12.505(a)(2)). In addition, the Contracting Officer has determined that the WTO GPA and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) apply to this acquisition. Therefore, the Buy American restrictions are waived for designated country construction materials.

(2) The Contractor shall use only domestic or designated country construction material in performing this contract, except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this clause.

(3) The requirement in paragraph (b)(2) of this clause does not apply to information technology that is a commercial item or to the construction materials or components listed by the Government as follows: ________________________________________________________

[Contracting Officer to list applicable excepted materials or indicate "none"]

(4) The Contracting Officer may add other foreign construction material to the list in paragraph (b)(3) of this clause if the Government determines that-

(i) The cost of domestic construction material would be unreasonable. The cost of a particular domestic construction material subject to the restrictions of the Buy American statute is unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign material by more than 20 percent;

(ii) The application of the restriction of the Buy American Act to a particular construction material would be impracticable or inconsistent with the public interest; or

(iii) The construction material is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality.

(c) Request for determination of inapplicability of the Buy American statute. (1) (i) Any Contractor request to use foreign construction material in accordance with paragraph (b)(4) of this clause shall include adequate information for Government evaluation of the request, including-

(A) A description of the foreign and domestic construction materials;

(B) Unit of measure;

(C) Quantity;

(D) Price;

(E) Time of delivery or availability;

(F) Location of the construction project;

(G) Name and address of the proposed supplier; and

(H) A detailed justification of the reason for use of foreign construction materials cited in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this clause.

(ii) A request based on unreasonable cost shall include a reasonable survey of the market and a completed price comparison table in the format in paragraph (d) of this clause.

(iii) The price of construction material shall include all delivery costs to the construction site and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free certificate may be issued).

(iv) Any Contractor request for a determination submitted after contract award shall explain why the Contractor could not reasonably foresee the need for such determination and could not have requested the determination before contract award. If the Contractor does not submit a satisfactory explanation, the Contracting Officer need not make a determination.

(2) If the Government determines after contract award that an exception to the Buy American statute applies and the Contracting Officer and the Contractor negotiate adequate consideration, the Contracting Officer will modify the contract to allow use of the foreign construction material. However, when the basis for the exception is the unreasonable price of a domestic construction material, adequate consideration is not less than the differential established in paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this clause.

(3) Unless the Government determines that an exception to the Buy American statute applies, use of foreign construction material is noncompliant with the Buy American statute.

(d) Data. To permit evaluation of requests under paragraph (c) of this clause based on unreasonable cost, the Contractor shall include the following information and any applicable supporting data based on the survey of suppliers:

Foreign and Domestic Construction Materials Price…