[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45148-45149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18911]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5374-N-12]


Buy American Exceptions Under the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-05, approved February 17, 2009) (Recovery Act), 
and implementing guidance of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
this notice advises that certain exceptions to the Buy American 
requirement of the Recovery Act have been determined applicable for 
work using Capital Fund Recovery Formula and Competition (CFRFC) grant 
funds. Specifically, exemptions were granted to the Tampa Housing 
Authority for the purchase and installation of tankless hot water 
heaters at the North Boulevard Homes and mini-split ductless Heating, 
Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems at the Mary Bethune 
High Rise, and to the King County Housing Authority for the purchase of 
energy efficient bathroom ventilation fans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dominique G. Blom, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Public Housing Investments, Office of Public Housing 
Investments, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4130, Washington, DC 
20410-4000, telephone number 202-402-8500 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Persons with hearing- or speech-impairments may access this 
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay 
Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1605(a) of the Recovery Act provides 
that none of the funds appropriated or 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 unless all 
of the iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in the project are 
produced in the United States. Section 1605(b) provides that the Buy 
American requirement shall not apply in any case or category in which 
the head of a Federal department or agency finds that: (1) Applying the 
Buy American requirement would be inconsistent with the public 
interest; (2) iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not 
produced in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities 
or of satisfactory quality, or (3) inclusion of iron, steel, and 
manufactured goods will increase the cost of the overall project by 
more than 25 percent. Section 1605(c) provides that if the head of a 
Federal department or agency makes a determination pursuant to section 
1605(b), the head of the department or agency shall publish a detailed 
written justification in the Federal Register.
    In accordance with section 1605(c) of the Recovery Act and OMB's 
implementing guidance published on April 23, 2009 (74 FR 18449), this 
notice advises the public that on the following dates, HUD granted the 
following two exceptions to the Buy American requirement:
    1. Tampa Housing Authority. On May 14, 2010, upon request of the 
Tampa Housing Authority, HUD granted an exception to the applicability 
of the Buy American requirements with respect to work, using CFRFC 
grant funds, based on the fact that the relevant manufactured goods 
(tankless water heaters and mini-split ductless HVAC systems) are not 
produced in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities 
or of satisfactory quality.

[[Page 45149]]

    2. King County Housing Authority. On June 30, 2010, upon request of 
the King County Housing Authority, HUD granted an exception to the 
applicability of the Buy American requirements with respect to work, 
using CFRFC grant funds, based on the fact that the relevant 
manufactured goods (energy efficient bathroom ventilation fans) are not 
produced in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities 
or of satisfactory quality.

    Dated: July 21, 2010.
Deborah Hernandez,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2010-18911 Filed 7-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P