[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14623-14633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7031]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 1, 5, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-32; FAR Case 2009-008; Item I; Docket 2009-0008, Sequence 1]
RIN 9000-AL22


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2009-008, American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act)--Buy American 
Requirements for Construction Material

AGENCY:  Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim 
rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) 
(Recovery Act) with respect to the Buy American provision, section 1605 
in Division A. This rule does not cover procurements funded with 
Federal financial assistance such as Federal grants. Additional 
guidance will be provided by the Office of Management and Budget with 
respect to the application of section 1605 to procurements funded with 
Federal financial assistance.

DATES: Effective Date: March 31, 2009.
    Applicability Date: The rule applies to solicitations issued and 
contracts awarded on or after the effective date of this rule. 
Contracting officers shall modify, on a bilateral basis, in accordance 
with FAR 1.108(d)(3), existing contracts to include the FAR clauses for 
future orders, if Recovery Act funds will be used. In the event that a 
contractor refuses to accept such a modification, the contractor will 
not be eligible for receipt of Recovery Act funds.
    Comment Date: Interested parties should submit written comments to 
the FAR Secretariat on or before June 1, 2009 to be considered in the 
formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-32, FAR case 2009-
008, by any of the following methods:

[[Page 14624]]

     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting ``FAR Case 
2009-008'' under the heading ``Comment or Submission''. Select the link 
``Send a Comment or Submission'' that corresponds with FAR Case 2009-
008. Follow the instructions provided to complete the ``Public Comment 
and Submission Form''. Please include your name, company name (if any), 
and ``FAR Case 2009-008'' on your attached document.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat 
(VPR), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4041, Attn: Hada Flowers, Washington, 
DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-32, FAR 
case 2009-008, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal and/or business confidential information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement 
Analyst, at (202) 208-6925 for clarification of content. Please cite 
FAC 2005-32, FAR case 2009-008. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This interim rule implements the Recovery Act with respect to the 
unique Buy American provision, section 1605 of the Recovery Act, by 
adding a new Subpart 25.6, entitled ``American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act--Buy American Act--Construction Materials,'' and 
adding new provisions and clauses at Part 52, with conforming changes 
to Subparts 1.1, 5.2, 25.0, 25.2, and 25.11.
    On February 17, 2009, the President signed Public Law 111-5, the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes a number 
of provisions to be implemented in Federal Government contracts. Among 
these provisions is section 1605, entitled ``Buy American.'' It 
prohibits the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 
the Act for any 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. The law requires that this prohibition be applied in a 
manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements, 
and it provides for waiver under three circumstances:
    1. Iron, steel, or manufactured goods are not produced in the 
United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of 
a satisfactory quality;
    2. Inclusion of iron, steel, or manufactured goods produced in the 
United States will increase the cost of the contract by more than 25 
percent; or
    3. Applying the domestic preference would be inconsistent with the 
public interest.
    The implementation of section 1605 is expected to stimulate the 
economy by increasing and maintaining jobs in the United States in the 
steel, iron, and manufactured construction materials industries and 
providing new opportunities to construction firms to win contracts for 
construction and public works projects.

B. Discussion

    Because of the need to appropriately segregate the unique Buy-
American provisions of the Recovery Act from the requirements of the 
Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act, the Councils have 
decided to include them in a separate subpart of FAR Part 25. Subpart 
25.6, currently reserved, will be entitled ``American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act--Buy American Act--Construction Materials.'' A 
reference to Subpart 25.6 was added to the ``Scope'' section of Subpart 
25.2, Buy American Act--Construction Materials.
    Subpart 25.6 includes a policy statement at 25.602 that repeats the 
prohibition against using funds appropriated by the Recovery Act for 
U.S. construction projects to purchase iron, steel, or other 
manufactured goods that were not produced in the U.S. It also notes 
that unmanufactured construction materials remain covered by the 
provisions of the Buy American Act. The exceptions to this policy (see 
Background section above) are similar to those for the Buy American 
Act, but the Recovery Act requires publication in the Federal Register 
of the detailed written justification that the agency used to make an 
exception to the statute. The Councils welcome comments on additional 
steps that may enhance transparency consistent with the goals of the 
Recovery Act.
    In order to enable implementation of the policy, the interim rule 
includes definitions of ``steel,'' ``manufactured construction 
material,'' ``unmanufactured construction material,'' ``domestic 
construction material,'' and ``foreign construction material.'' These 
definitions are drawn from existing Federal domestic-sourcing laws and 
the longstanding interpretations that have evolved from them. It also 
includes a cross reference to the definition of ``public work'' at FAR 
22.401, which defines ``public building or public work'' to mean 
``uilding or work, the construction, prosecution, completion, or repair 
of which * * * is carried on directly by authority of, or with funds 
of, a Federal agency to serve the interest of the general public 
regardless of whether title thereof is in a Federal agency.''
    Because section 1605 does not specify a requirement that 
significantly all the components of construction material must also be 
domestic, as does the Buy American Act, the definition of domestic 
construction material under this interim rule does not include a 
requirement relating to the origin of the components of domestic 
manufactured construction material. Unmanufactured construction 
material is not specifically addressed in section 1605 of the Recovery 
Act. However, the Recovery Act's purpose of creating jobs and 
stimulating domestic demand is well served by applying the Buy American 
Act to unmanufactured construction material.
    The rules for preaward determination of the inapplicability of 
section 1605 and the Buy American Act are at FAR 25.604.
    Section 25.605 addresses the evaluation of offers containing 
foreign construction material based on an approved exception for 
unreasonable cost. If the contracting officer determines that an 
exception based on unreasonable cost of domestic construction material 
applies, the contracting officer must evaluate the offer by adding to 
the offered price--
    (1) 25 percent of the offered price, if foreign iron, steel, or 
other manufactured goods are used as construction material based on 
unreasonable cost of comparable manufactured domestic construction 
material; and
    (2) 6 percent of the value of foreign unmanufactured construction 
material included in the offer based on unreasonable cost of comparable 
domestic unmanufactured construction material.
    The text of Subpart 25.6 makes it clear that a determination to 
waive the applicability of section 1605 should be made prior to award. 
However, section 25.606 recognizes certain limited circumstances in 
which a postaward waiver could be made, but only with adequate 
consideration from the contractor. A contractor's noncompliance with 
section 1605 is addressed at FAR 25.607.
    Prescriptions for the use of all of the solicitation provisions and 
contract clauses applicable to FAR Part 25 are

[[Page 14625]]

included in a single subpart, 25.11. The Councils have modified section 
25.1102, entitled ``Acquisition of Construction,'' to add a new 
paragraph that substitutes four new provisions and clauses (with 
appropriate alternates), to be used when contracting with funds 
appropriated by the Recovery Act, for the four clauses otherwise used 
in construction contracts to implement the Buy American Act and U.S. 
obligations under applicable trade agreements. Specifically, when using 
Recovery Act appropriated funds, contracting officers will use--
     52.225-21, Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials, instead 
of 52.225-9, Buy American Act--Construction Materials;
     52.225-22, Notice of Required Use of American Iron, Steel, 
and Other Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials, 
instead of 52.225-10, Notice of Buy American Act Requirement--
Construction Materials;
     52.225-23, Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods and Buy American Act--Construction Materials Under 
Trade Agreements, instead of 52.225-11, Buy American Act--Construction 
Materials under Trade Agreements; and
     52.225-24, Notice of Required Use of American Iron, Steel, 
and Other Manufactured Goods and Buy American Act--Construction 
Materials under Trade Agreements, instead of 52.225-12, Notice of Buy 
American Act Requirement--Construction Materials under Trade 
Agreements.
    The clauses are unique in that, for Recovery Act-funded 
construction projects, the 25 percent price adjustment factor for non-
U.S. iron, steel, and other foreign manufactured construction material 
excepted from the section 1605 requirement on the basis of unreasonable 
cost is applied to the entire price of the project, not only to the 
cost of the foreign materials. The 6 percent adjustment for the Buy 
American Act is retained and applied to the cost of foreign 
unmanufactured goods excepted from the requirements of the Buy American 
Act on the basis of unreasonable cost. Given the applicability of the 
Recovery Act to iron, steel, and manufactured goods, the definition of 
``component'' is unnecessary in these clauses, because the definition 
of domestic construction material no longer includes a requirement 
relating to the origin of components.
    However, if trade agreements apply to the acquisition, the use of 
the provision and clause 52.225-23 and 52.225-24, respectively, ensures 
that eligible construction material from designated countries is 
treated in accordance with Subpart 25.4. No evaluation factor is 
applied to offers on the basis of using eligible construction material. 
This provision and clause retain the same basic processes that are used 
in the standard construction clauses, except for the specific changes 
that have been addressed relating to new requirements of section 1605 
of the Recovery Act.
    In the Recovery Act conference report, Congress expressed its 
intent that least developed countries be excepted from section 1605 and 
that they retain their status as designated countries. However, with 
respect to Caribbean Basin countries, Congress did not express a 
similar intent. Therefore, Caribbean Basin countries are not included 
as designated countries with respect to the Recovery Act.

C. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold

    Section 4101 of Public Law 103-355, the Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act (FASA) (41 U.S.C. 429), governs the applicability of 
laws to contracts or subcontracts in amounts not greater than the 
simplified acquisition threshold. It is intended to limit the 
applicability of laws to them. FASA provides that if a provision of law 
contains criminal or civil penalties, or if the Federal Acquisition 
Regulatory Council makes a written determination that it is not in the 
best interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts or 
subcontracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, the law 
will apply to them.
    Therefore, given section 1605 of the Recovery Act, which 
establishes Buy American requirements for projects funded by the 
Recovery Act, the FAR Council has determined that this rule should 
apply to contracts or subcontracts at or below the simplified 
acquisition threshold, as defined at 2.101.
    This is a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was subject 
to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review under Section 6 of 
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 
30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Councils do not expect this interim rule to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the 
meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., for 
the following reasons. This interim rule will only impact an offeror 
that wants to use non-U.S. iron, steel, and other manufactured goods in 
a construction project in the United States. The Councils believe that 
there are adequate domestic sources for these materials, and the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance M-09-10 issued February 18, 
2009, entitled ``Initial Implementing Guidance for the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,'' provides a strong preference 
for using small businesses for Recovery Act projects wherever possible. 
Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has not been 
performed. The Councils will consider comments from small entities 
concerning the affected FAR Parts 1, 5, 25, and 52 in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and 
should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 2005-32, FAR case 2009-008), in 
all correspondence.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply; however, these changes to 
the FAR do not impose additional information collection requirements to 
the paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Number 9000-
0141. However, the information collection requirements imposed by the 
provisions 52.225-22 and 52.225-24 are currently covered by the 
approved information collection requirements for provisions 52.225-9 
and 52.225-11 (OMB Control number 9000-0141, entitled Buy American 
Act--Construction--FAR Sections Affected: Subpart 25.2; 52.225-9; and 
52.225-11). While the Councils believe no changes will be needed to the 
collection due to the interim regulation, comments are welcome during 
the 60 day comment period with regard to the data elements, the burden, 
or any other part of the collection.

F. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense (DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
became effective upon enactment, and contracts using funds appropriated 
by the Recovery Act will soon be ready to award. However, pursuant to 
Public Law 98-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider public 
comments received in response to this

[[Page 14626]]

interim rule in the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1, 5, 25, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: March 25, 2009.
Al Matera,
Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 1, 5, 25, and 52 as 
set forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 1, 5, 25, and 52 continues 
to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM


1.106  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 1.106, in the table following the introductory 
paragraph, by adding, in numerical sequence, FAR segments 52.225-21 and 
52.225-23, and their corresponding OMB Control Number 9000-0141.

PART 5--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

0
3. Amend section 5.207 by revising paragraph (c)(13)(iii) to read as 
follows:


5.207  Preparation and transmittal of synopses.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (13) * * *
    (iii) If the solicitation will include the FAR clause at 52.225-11, 
Buy American Act--Construction Materials under Trade Agreements, 
52.225-23, Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other Manufactured 
Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials under Trade Agreements, 
or an equivalent agency clause, insert the following notice in the 
synopsis: ``One or more of the items under this acquisition is subject 
to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and 
Free Trade Agreements.''
* * * * *

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION

0
4. Amend section 25.001 by revising paragraph (c)(1) and adding a new 
paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:


25.001  General.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) The Buy American Act uses a two-part test to define a 
``domestic end product'' or ``domestic construction material'' 
(manufactured in the United States and a formula based on cost of 
domestic components). The component test has been waived for 
acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.
* * * * *
    (4) When using funds appropriated under the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5), the definition of ``domestic 
manufactured construction material'' requires manufacture in the United 
States but does not include a requirement with regard to the origin of 
the components.


25.002  [Amended]

0
5. Amend the table in section 25.002, by removing from the sixth row 
``[Reserved]'' and adding ``American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--Buy 
American Act--Construction Materials'' in its place, and in the fifth 
column adding ``X''.

0
6. Add Subpart 25.6 to read as follows:

Subpart 25.6--American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--Buy American 
Act--Construction Materials

Sec.
25.600 Scope of subpart.
25.601 Definitions.
25.602 Policy.
25.603 Exceptions.
25.604 Preaward determination concerning the inapplicability of 
section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act.
25.605 Evaluating offers of foreign construction material.
25.606 Postaward determinations.
25.607 Noncompliance.

Subpart 25.6--American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--Buy American 
Act--Construction Materials


25.600  Scope of subpart.

    This subpart implements section 1605 in Division A of the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) (Recovery Act) 
and the Buy American Act. It applies to construction projects that use 
funds appropriated or otherwise provided by the Recovery Act.


25.601  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart--
    Domestic construction material means--
    (1) An unmanufactured construction material mined or produced in 
the United States; or
    (2) A construction material manufactured in the United States.
    Foreign construction material means a construction material other 
than a domestic construction material.
    Manufactured construction material means any construction material 
that is not unmanufactured construction material.
    Recovery Act designated country means a World Trade Organization 
Government Procurement Agreement country, a Free Trade Agreement 
country, or a least developed country.
    Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, 
between .02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.
    Unmanufactured construction material means raw material brought to 
the construction site for incorporation into the building or work that 
has not been--
    (1) Processed into a specific form and shape; or
    (2) Combined with other raw material to create a material that has 
different properties than the properties of the individual raw 
materials.


25.602  Policy.

    Except as provided in 25.603--
    (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 
the Recovery Act may be used for a project for the construction, 
alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work 
(as defined at 22.401) unless--
    (1) The public building or public work is located in the United 
States; and
    (2) All of the iron, steel, and other manufactured goods used as 
construction material in the project are produced or manufactured in 
the United States.
    (i) Production in the United States of the iron or steel used as 
construction material requires that all manufacturing processes must 
take place in the United States, except metallurgical processes 
involving refinement of steel additives. These requirements do not 
apply to steel or iron used as components or subcomponents of other 
manufactured construction material.
    (ii) There is no requirement with regard to the origin of 
components or subcomponents in other manufactured construction 
material, as long as the manufacture of the construction material 
occurs in the United States.
    (b) Use only domestic unmanufactured construction material, as 
required by the Buy American Act.


25.603  Exceptions.

    (a) When one of the following exceptions applies, the contracting 
officer may allow the contractor to incorporate foreign construction 
materials without regard to the restrictions of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act:

[[Page 14627]]

    (1) Nonavailability. The head of the contracting activity may 
determine that a particular construction material is not mined, 
produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and 
reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality. 
The determinations of nonavailability of the articles listed at 
25.104(a) and the procedures at 25.103(b)(1) also apply if any of those 
articles are acquired as construction materials.
    (2) Unreasonable cost. The contracting officer concludes that the 
cost of domestic construction material is unreasonable in accordance 
with 25.605.
    (3) Inconsistent with public interest. The head of the agency may 
determine that application of the restrictions of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act to a particular construction 
material would be inconsistent with the public interest.
    (b) Determinations. When a determination is made, for any of the 
reasons stated in this section, that certain foreign construction 
materials may be used--
    (1) The contracting officer shall list the excepted materials in 
the contract; and
    (2) The head of the agency shall publish a notice in the Federal 
Register within two weeks after the determination is made, unless the 
construction material has already been determined in the FAR to be 
domestically nonavailable (see list at 25.104). The notice shall 
include--
    (i) The title ``Buy American Exception under the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act of 2009'';
    (ii) The dollar value and brief description of the project; and
    (iii) A detailed justification as to why the restriction is being 
waived.
    (c) Acquisitions under trade agreements. (1) For construction 
contracts with an estimated acquisition value of $7,443,000 or more, 
also see Subpart 25.4. Offers of products determined to be eligible 
products per Subpart 25.4 shall receive equal consideration with 
domestic offers per Subpart 25.4.
    (2) For purposes of the Recovery Act, designated countries do not 
include the Caribbean Basin Countries.


25.604  Preaward determination concerning the inapplicability of 
section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act.

    (a) For any acquisition, an offeror may request from the 
contracting officer a determination concerning the inapplicability of 
section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act for 
specifically identified construction materials. The time for submitting 
the request is specified in the solicitation in paragraph (b) of either 
52.225-22 or 52.225-24, whichever applies. The information and 
supporting data that must be included in the request are also specified 
in the solicitation in paragraphs (c) and (d) of either 52.225-21 or 
52.225-23, whichever applies.
    (b) Before award, the contracting officer must evaluate all 
requests based on the information provided and may supplement this 
information with other readily available information.
    (c) Determination based on unreasonable cost of domestic 
construction material.
    (1) Iron, steel, and other manufactured construction material. The 
contracting officer must compare the offered price of the contract 
using foreign manufactured construction material to the estimated price 
if all domestic manufactured construction material were used. If use of 
domestic manufactured construction material would increase the overall 
offered price of the contract by more than 25 percent, then the 
contracting officer shall determine that the cost of the domestic 
manufactured construction material is unreasonable.
    (2) Unmanufactured construction material. The contracting officer 
must compare the cost of each foreign unmanufactured construction 
material to the cost of domestic unmanufactured construction material. 
If the cost of the domestic unmanufactured construction material 
exceeds the cost of the foreign unmanufactured construction material by 
more than 6 percent, then the contracting officer shall determine that 
the cost of the unmanufactured construction material is unreasonable.


25.605  Evaluating offers of foreign construction material.

    (a) If the contracting officer has determined that an exception 
applies because the cost of certain domestic construction material is 
unreasonable, in accordance with section 25.604, then the contracting 
officer shall apply evaluation factors to the offer incorporating the 
use of such foreign construction material as follows:
    (1) Use an evaluation factor of 25 percent, applied to the total 
offered price of the contract, if foreign iron, steel, or other 
manufactured goods are incorporated in the offer as construction 
material based on an exception for unreasonable cost requested by the 
offeror.
    (2) In addition, use an evaluation factor of 6 percent applied to 
the cost of foreign unmanufactured construction material incorporated 
in the offer based on an exception for unreasonable cost requested by 
the offeror.
    (3) Total evaluated price = offered price + (.25 x offered price, 
if (a)(1) applies) + (.06 x cost of foreign unmanufactured construction 
material, if (a)(2) applies).
    (b) If two or more offers are equal in price, the contracting 
officer must give preference to an offer that does not include foreign 
construction material excepted at the request of the offeror on the 
basis of unreasonable cost.
    (c) Offerors also may submit alternate offers based on use of 
equivalent domestic construction material to avoid possible rejection 
of the entire offer if the Government determines that an exception 
permitting use of a particular foreign construction material does not 
apply.
    (d) If the contracting officer awards a contract to an offeror that 
proposed foreign construction material not listed in the applicable 
clause in the solicitation (paragraph (b)(3) of 52.225-21, or paragraph 
(b)(3) of 52.225-23), the contracting officer must add the excepted 
materials to the list in the contract clause.


25.606  Postaward determinations.

    (a) If a contractor requests a determination regarding the 
inapplicability of section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American 
Act after contract award, the contractor must explain why it could not 
request the determination before contract award or why the need for 
such determination otherwise was not reasonably foreseeable. If the 
contracting officer concludes that the contractor should have made the 
request before contract award, the contracting officer may deny the 
request.
    (b) The contracting officer must base evaluation of any request for 
a determination regarding the inapplicability of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act made after contract award on 
information required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the applicable clause 
at 52.225-21 or 52.225-23 and/or other readily available information.
    (c) If a determination, under 25.603(a), is made after contract 
award that an exception to section 1605 of the Recovery Act or to the 
Buy American Act applies, the contracting officer must negotiate 
adequate consideration and modify the contract to allow use of the 
foreign construction material. When the basis for the exception is the 
unreasonable cost of a domestic construction material, adequate

[[Page 14628]]

consideration is at least the differential established in 25.605(a).


25.607  Noncompliance.

    The contracting officer must--
    (a) Review allegations of violations of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or Buy American Act;
    (b) Unless fraud is suspected, notify the contractor of the 
apparent unauthorized use of foreign construction material and request 
a reply, to include proposed corrective action; and
    (c) If the review reveals that a contractor or subcontractor has 
used foreign construction material without authorization, take 
appropriate action, including one or more of the following:
    (1) Process a determination concerning the inapplicability of 
section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act in accordance 
with 25.606.
    (2) Consider requiring the removal and replacement of the 
unauthorized foreign construction material.
    (3) If removal and replacement of foreign construction material 
incorporated in a building or work would be impracticable, cause undue 
delay, or otherwise be detrimental to the interests of the Government, 
the contracting officer may determine in writing that the foreign 
construction material need not be removed and replaced. A determination 
to retain foreign construction material does not constitute a 
determination that an exception to section 1605 of the Recovery Act or 
the Buy American Act applies, and this should be stated in the 
determination. Further, a determination to retain foreign construction 
material does not affect the Government's right to suspend or debar a 
contractor, subcontractor, or supplier for violation of section 1605 of 
the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act, or to exercise other 
contractual rights and remedies, such as reducing the contract price or 
terminating the contract for default.
    (4) If the noncompliance is sufficiently serious, consider 
exercising appropriate contractual remedies, such as terminating the 
contract for default. Also consider preparing and forwarding a report 
to the agency suspension or debarment official in accordance with 
Subpart 9.4. If the noncompliance appears to be fraudulent, refer the 
matter to other appropriate agency officials, such as the officer 
responsible for criminal investigation.

0
7. Amend section 25.1102 by adding an introductory paragraph; revising 
paragraph (c)(1); and adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


25.1102  Acquisition of construction.

    When using funds other than those appropriated under the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) (Recovery Act), 
follow the prescriptions in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. 
Otherwise, follow the prescription in paragraph (e).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) List in paragraph (b)(3) of the clause all foreign construction 
material excepted from the requirements of the Buy American Act, other 
than designated country construction material.
* * * * *
    (e)(1) When using funds appropriated under the Recovery Act for 
construction, use provisions and clauses 52.225-21, 52.225-22, 52.225-
23, or 52.225-24 (with appropriate Alternates) in lieu of the 
provisions and clauses 52.225-9, 52.225-10, 52.225-11, or 52.225-12 
(with appropriate Alternates), respectively, that would be applicable 
as prescribed in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section if Recovery 
Act funds were not used.
    (2) When using clause 52.225-23, list foreign construction material 
in paragraph (b)(3) of the clause as follows:
    (i) Basic clause. List all foreign construction material excepted 
from the requirements of the Buy American Act, other than Recovery Act 
designated country construction material.
    (ii) Alternate I--List in paragraph (b)(3) of the clause all 
foreign construction material excepted from the requirements of the Buy 
American Act, unless the excepted foreign construction material is from 
a Recovery Act designated country other than Bahrain, Mexico, or Oman.

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
8. Add section 52.225-21 through 52.225-24 to read as follows:


52.225-21   Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials.

    As prescribed in 25.1102(e), insert the following clause:

Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Manufactured Goods-Buy 
American Act--Construction Materials MAR 2009)

    (a) Definitions. As used in this clause--
    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.
    Domestic construction material means--
    (1) An unmanufactured construction material mined or produced in 
the United States; or
    (2) A construction material manufactured in the United States.
    Foreign construction material means a construction material other 
than a domestic construction material.
    Manufactured construction material means any construction material 
that is not unmanufactured construction material.
    Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, 
between .02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.
    United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 
outlying areas.
    Unmanufactured construction material means raw material brought to 
the construction site for incorporation into the building or work that 
has not been--
    (1) Processed into a specific form and shape; or
    (2) Combined with other raw material to create a material that has 
different properties than the properties of the individual raw 
materials.
    (b) Domestic preference. (1) This clause implements--
    (i) Section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009 (Recovery Act) (Pub. L. 111-5), by requiring, unless an exception 
applies, that all iron, steel, and other manufactured goods used as 
construction material in the project are produced in the United States; 
and
    (ii) The Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d) by providing a 
preference for unmanufactured domestic construction material.
    (2) The Contractor shall use only domestic construction material in 
performing this contract, except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) and 
(b)(4) of this clause.
    (3) This requirement does not apply to the construction material or 
components listed by the Government as follows:


[[Page 14629]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[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.
    (A) The cost of domestic iron, steel, or other manufactured goods 
used as construction material is unreasonable when the cumulative cost 
of such material will increase the cost of the contract by more than 25 
percent;
    (B) The cost of unmanufactured construction material is 
unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign 
material by more than 6 percent;
    (ii) The construction material is not mined, produced, or 
manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably 
available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
    (iii) The application of the restriction of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act to a particular construction 
material would be inconsistent with the public interest.
    (c) Request for determination of inapplicability of Section 1605 of 
the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act. (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) Cost;
    (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)(4) of 
this clause.
    (ii) A request based on unreasonable cost shall include a 
reasonable survey of the market and a completed cost comparison table 
in the format in paragraph (d) of this clause.
    (iii) The cost of construction material shall include all delivery 
costs to the construction site and any applicable duty.
    (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 section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act 
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 cost 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 section 
1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act applies, use of 
foreign construction material is noncompliant with section 1605 of the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or the Buy American Act.
    (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 Cost Comparison
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost  (dollars)
              Construction material description                Unit of measure      Quantity            *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 1:
    Foreign construction material............................        --------         --------         --------
    Domestic construction material...........................        --------         --------         --------
Item 2
    Foreign construction material............................        --------         --------         --------
    Domestic construction material...........................        --------         --------         --------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[List name, address, telephone number, and contact for suppliers surveyed. Attach copy of reponse; if oral,
  attach summary.] [Include other applicable supportinginformation.]
*Include all delivery costs to the construction site.]

    (End of clause)


52.225-22   Notice of Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials.

    As prescribed in 25.1102(e), insert the following provision:

NOTICE OF REQUIRED USE OF AMERICAN IRON, STEEL, AND OTHER MANUFACTURED 
GOODS--BUY AMERICAN ACT--CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS (MAR 2009)

    (a) Definitions. ``Construction material,'' ``domestic construction 
material,'' ``foreign construction material,'' ``manufactured 
construction material,'' ``steel,'' and ``unmanufactured construction 
material,'' as used in this provision, are defined in the clause of 
this solicitation entitled ``Required Use of Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials'' (Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.225-21).
    (b) Requests for determinations of inapplicability. An offeror 
requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of section 
1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-5) (Recovery Act) or the Buy American Act should submit the request 
to the Contracting Officer in time to allow a determination before 
submission of offers. The offeror shall include the information and 
applicable supporting data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the 
clause at FAR 52.225-21 in the request. If an offeror has not requested 
a determination regarding the inapplicability of 1605 of the Recovery 
Act or the Buy American Act before submitting its offer, or has not 
received a response to a previous request, the offeror shall include 
the information and supporting data in the offer.
    (c) Evaluation of offers. (1) If the Government determines that an 
exception based on unreasonable cost of domestic construction material 
applies, the Government will evaluate an offer

[[Page 14630]]

requesting exception to the requirements of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act by adding to the offered price of 
the contract--
    (i) 25 percent of the offered price of the contract, if foreign 
iron, steel, or other manufactured goods are used as construction 
material based on unreasonable cost of comparable manufactured domestic 
construction material; and
    (ii) 6 percent of the cost of foreign unmanufactured construction 
material included in the offer based on unreasonable cost of comparable 
domestic unmanufactured construction material.
    (2) If two or more offers are equal in price, the Contracting 
Officer will give preference to an offer that does not include foreign 
construction material excepted at the request of the offeror on the 
basis of unreasonable cost.
    (d) Alternate offers. (1) When an offer includes foreign 
construction material not listed by the Government in this solicitation 
in paragraph (b)(2) of the clause at FAR 52.225-21, the offeror also 
may submit an alternate offer based on use of equivalent domestic 
construction material.
    (2) If an alternate offer is submitted, the offeror shall submit a 
separate Standard Form 1442 for the alternate offer and a separate cost 
comparison table prepared in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (d) of 
the clause at FAR 52.225-21 for the offer that is based on the use of 
any foreign construction material for which the Government has not yet 
determined an exception applies.
    (3) If the Government determines that a particular exception 
requested in accordance with paragraph (c) of the clause at FAR 52.225-
21 does not apply, the Government will evaluate only those offers based 
on use of the equivalent domestic construction material, and the 
offeror shall be required to furnish such domestic construction 
material. An offer based on use of the foreign construction material 
for which an exception was requested--
    (i) Will be rejected as nonresponsive if this acquisition is 
conducted by sealed bidding; or
    (ii) May be accepted if revised during negotiations.
    (End of provision)
    Alternate I (MAR 2009]). As prescribed in 25.1102(e), substitute 
the following paragraph (b) for paragraph (b) of the basic provision:
    (b) Requests for determinations of inapplicability. An offeror 
requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of section 
1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-5) (Recovery Act) or the Buy American Act shall submit the request 
with its offer, including the information and applicable supporting 
data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.225-21.


52.225-23   Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials under 
Trade Agreements.

    As prescribed in 25.1102(e), insert the following clause:

Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other Manufactured Goods--Buy 
American Act--Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements MAR 2009)

    (a) Definitions. As used in this clause--
    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.
    Domestic construction material means-- (1) An unmanufactured 
construction material mined or produced in the United States; or
    (2) A construction material manufactured in the United States.
    Foreign construction material means a construction material other 
than a domestic construction material.
    Free trade agreement (FTA) country construction material means a 
construction material that--
    (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of an 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 an 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.
    Manufactured construction material means any construction material 
that is not unmanufactured construction material.
    Recovery Act designated country means any of the following 
countries:
    (1) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement 
(WTO GPA) country (Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, 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, 
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak 
Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or United Kingdom);
    (2) A Free Trade Agreement country (FTA)(Australia, Bahrain, 
Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, or 
Singapore); or
    (3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, 
Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, East 
Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, 
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, 
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, 
Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, or Zambia).
    Recovery Act designated country construction material means a 
construction material that is a WTO GPA country construction material, 
an FTA country construction material, or a least developed country 
construction material.
    Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, 
between .02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.
    United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 
outlying areas.
    Unmanufactured construction material means raw material brought to 
the construction site for incorporation into the building or work that 
has not been--

[[Page 14631]]

    (1) Processed into a specific form and shape; or
    (2) Combined with other raw material to create a material that has 
different properties than the properties of the individual raw 
materials.
    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) The restrictions of section 1605 of 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) 
(Recovery Act) and the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d) do not 
apply to Recovery Act designated country construction material. 
Consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements, this 
clause implements--
    (i) Section 1605 of the Recovery Act by requiring, unless an 
exception applies, that all iron, steel, and other manufactured goods 
used as construction material in the project are produced in the United 
States; and
    (ii) The Buy American Act by providing a preference for 
unmanufactured domestic construction material.
    (2) The Contractor shall use only domestic or Recovery Act 
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 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 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.
    (A) The cost of domestic iron, steel, or other manufactured goods 
used as construction material is unreasonable when the cumulative cost 
of such material will increase the overall cost of the contract by more 
than 25 percent;
    (B) The cost of unmanufactured construction material is 
unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign 
material by more than 6 percent;
    (ii) The construction material is not mined, produced, or 
manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably 
available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality; or
    (iii) The application of the restriction of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act to a particular construction 
material would be inconsistent with the public interest.
    (c) Request for determination of inapplicability of section 1605 of 
the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act.
    (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) Cost;
    (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)(4) of 
this clause.
    (ii) A request based on unreasonable cost shall include a 
reasonable survey of the market and a completed cost comparison table 
in the format in paragraph (d) of this clause.
    (iii) The cost of construction material shall include all delivery 
costs to the construction site and any applicable duty.
    (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 section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act 
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 cost 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 
section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy American Act applies, use 
of foreign construction material other than that covered by trade 
agreements is noncompliant with the applicable Act.
    (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 Cost Comparison
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Construction material description                Unit of measure      Quantity     Cost (dollars)*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 1:
    Foreign construction material............................        --------         --------         --------
    Domestic construction material...........................        --------         --------         --------
Item 2:
    Foreign construction material............................        --------         --------         --------
    Domestic construction material...........................        --------         --------         --------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[List name, address, telephone number, and contact for suppliers surveyed. Attach copy of response; if oral,
  attach summary.][Include other applicable supporting information.]
[* Include all delivery costs to the construction site.]

    (End of clause)
    Alternate I (MAR 2009). As prescribed in 25.1102(e), add the 
following definition of ``Bahrainian, Mexican, or Omani construction 
material'' to

[[Page 14632]]

paragraph (a) of the basic clause, and substitute the following 
paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) for paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of the 
basic clause:
    Bahrainian, Mexican, or Omani construction material'' means a 
construction material that--
    (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of Bahrain, 
Mexico, or Oman; 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 Bahrain, Mexico, or Oman into a new and different 
construction material distinct from the materials from which it was 
transformed.
    (b) Construction materials. (1) The restrictions of section 1605 of 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) 
(Recovery Act) and the Buy American Act do not apply to Recovery Act 
designated country construction material. Consistent with U.S. 
obligations under international agreements, this clause implements--
    (i) Section 1605 of the Recovery Act, by requiring, unless an 
exception applies, that all iron, steel, and other manufactured goods 
used as construction material in the project are produced in the United 
States; and
    (ii) The Buy American Act providing a preference for unmanufactured 
domestic construction material.
    (2) The Contractor shall use only domestic or Recovery Act 
designated country construction material other than Bahrainian, 
Mexican, or Omani construction material in performing this contract, 
except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this clause.


52.225-24  Notice of Required Use of American Iron, Steel, and Other 
Manufactured Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials under 
Trade Agreements.

    As prescribed in 25.1102(e), insert the following provision:

Notice of Required Use Of American Iron, Steel, and Other Manufactured 
Goods--Buy American Act--Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements 
(MAR 2009)

    (a) Definitions. ``Construction material,'' ``domestic construction 
material,'' ``foreign construction material,'' ``manufactured 
construction material,'' ``Recovery Act designated country construction 
material,'' ``steel,'' and ``unmanufactured construction material,'' as 
used in this provision, are defined in the clause of this solicitation 
entitled ``Required Use of Iron, Steel, and Other Manufactured Goods--
Buy American Act--Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements'' 
(Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.225-23).
    (b) Requests for determination of inapplicability. An offeror 
requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of section 
1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-5) (Recovery Act) or the Buy American Act should submit the request 
to the Contracting Officer in time to allow a determination before 
submission of offers. The offeror shall include the information and 
applicable supporting data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of FAR 
clause 52.225-23 in the request. If an offeror has not requested a 
determination regarding the inapplicability of section 1605 of the 
Recovery Act or the Buy American Act before submitting its offer, or 
has not received a response to a previous request, the offeror shall 
include the information and supporting data in the offer.
    (c) Evaluation of offers. (1) If the Government determines that an 
exception based on unreasonable cost of domestic construction material 
applies, the Government will evaluate an offer requesting exception to 
the requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act or the Buy 
American Act by adding to the offered price of the contract--
    (i) 25 percent of the offered price of the contract, if foreign 
iron, steel, or other manufactured goods are used as construction 
material based on unreasonable cost of comparable manufactured domestic 
construction material; and
    (ii) 6 percent of the cost of foreign unmanufactured construction 
material included in the offer based on unreasonable cost of comparable 
domestic unmanufactured construction material.
    (2) If two or more offers are equal in price, the Contracting 
Officer will give preference to an offer that does not include foreign 
construction material excepted at the request of the offeror on the 
basis of unreasonable cost.
    (d) Alternate offers. (1) When an offer includes foreign 
construction material, other than Recovery Act designated country 
construction material, that is not listed by the Government in this 
solicitation in paragraph (b)(3) of FAR clause 52.225-23, the offeror 
also may submit an alternate offer based on use of equivalent domestic 
or Recovery Act designated country construction material.
    (2) If an alternate offer is submitted, the offeror shall submit a 
separate Standard Form 1442 for the alternate offer and a separate cost 
comparison table prepared in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (d) of 
FAR clause 52.225-23 for the offer that is based on the use of any 
foreign construction material for which the Government has not yet 
determined an exception applies.
    (3) If the Government determines that a particular exception 
requested in accordance with paragraph (c) of FAR clause 52.225-23 does 
not apply, the Government will evaluate only those offers based on use 
of the equivalent domestic or Recovery Act designated country 
construction material, and the offeror shall be required to furnish 
such domestic or Recovery Act designated country construction material. 
An offer based on use of the foreign construction material for which an 
exception was requested--
    (i) Will be rejected as nonresponsive if this acquisition is 
conducted by sealed bidding; or
    (ii) May be accepted if revised during negotiations.
    (End of provision)
    Alternate I (MAR 2009). As prescribed in 25.1102(e), substitute the 
following paragraph (b) for paragraph (b) of the basic provision:
    (b) Requests for determination of inapplicability. An offeror 
requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of section 
1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-5) (Recovery Act) or the Buy American Act shall submit the request 
with its offer, including the information and applicable supporting 
data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of FAR clause 52.225-23.
    Alternate II (MAR 2009). As prescribed in 25.1102(e), add the 
definition of ``Bahrainian, Mexican, or Omani construction material'' 
to paragraph (a) and substitute the following paragraph (d) for 
paragraph (d) of the basic provision:
    (d) Alternate offers. (1) When an offer includes foreign 
construction material, except foreign construction material from a 
Recovery Act designated country other than Bahrain, Mexico, or Oman 
that is not listed by the Government in this solicitation in paragraph 
(b)(3) of FAR clause 52.225-23, the offeror also may submit an 
alternate offer based on use of equivalent domestic or Recovery Act 
designated country construction material other than Bahrainian, 
Mexican, or Omani construction material.
    (2) If an alternate offer is submitted, the offeror shall submit a 
separate Standard Form 1442 for the alternate

[[Page 14633]]

offer and a separate cost comparison table prepared in accordance with 
paragraphs (c) and (d) of FAR clause 52.225-23 for the offer that is 
based on the use of any foreign construction material for which the 
Government has not yet determined an exception applies.
    (3) If the Government determines that a particular exception 
requested in accordance with paragraph (c) of FAR clause 52.225-23 does 
not apply, the Government will evaluate only those offers based on use 
of the equivalent domestic or Recovery Act designated country 
construction material other than Bahrainian, Mexican, or Omani 
construction material. An offer based on use of the foreign 
construction material for which an exception was requested--
    (i) Will be rejected as nonresponsive if this acquisition is 
conducted by sealed bidding; or
    (ii) May be accepted if revised during negotiations.
 [FR Doc. E9-7031 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P