Buy_America_Regulations.pdf

The document is a detailed guide on Buy America regulations for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), specifically applying to Recreational Trails Program (RTP) projects. The regulations mandate that for all RTP projects, manufacturing processes for iron and/or steel products, including their coatings, must occur within the United States. The policy requires that all grant-funded projects comply with executive orders, federal, state, and local laws, and meet specific standards from organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM).

The Buy America requirements stipulate that no federal-aid highway construction project can proceed unless it meets specific criteria, such as using no permanently incorporated steel/iron materials or ensuring all manufacturing processes for such materials occur in the United States. Projects can use a minimal amount of foreign steel and iron materials (not exceeding 0.1 percent of the total contract cost or $2,500) without needing a waiver. Waivers may be requested under certain conditions, such as when the provisions would be inconsistent with public interest or when steel and iron materials are not sufficiently produced in the United States. The regulations apply to both grant dollars and match dollars, and the Authorized Organization (AO) must maintain a running expense log to track purchases related to iron and steel.