[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47344-47345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19272]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice to Manufacturers of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection 
Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), US DOT.

ACTION: Notice to manufacturers of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) 
detection equipment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

[[Page 47345]]

must meet the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 50101, Buy American 
Preferences. The Federal Aviation Administration is considering issuing 
waivers to foreign manufacturers of FOD detection equipment that meet 
the requirements of FAA Advisory Circular 150/5220-24, Airport Foreign 
Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment. This notice requests 
information from manufacturers of equipment meeting the Advisory 
Circular requirements to determine whether a waiver of the Buy American 
Preferences should be issued.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy S. Williams, Airports 
Financial Assistance, APP 501, Room 619, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-8822.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration manages 
a federal grant program for airports called the Airport Improvement 
Program (AIP). AIP grant recipients must follow 49 U.S.C. 50101, Buy 
American Preferences.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 50101(b)(3), the Secretary of Transportation may 
waive the Buy American preference requirement if the goods are not 
produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of 
a satisfactory quality.
    On September 30, 2009, FAA published Advisory Circular (AC) 150/
5220-24, Airport Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment. The 
AC specified the requirements for FOD detection equipment at airports. 
While developing this AC, FAA was unable to locate enough United States 
of America (USA) manufacturers of stationary FOD detection equipment to 
produce them in a sufficient and reasonably available amount.
    If FAA cannot find that there are enough USA manufacturers of FOD 
detection equipment, it will issue a nationwide waiver to the foreign 
manufacturers of FOD detection that it has identified as being capable 
of meeting the AC requirements.
    The purpose of this notice is to request manufacturers of FOD 
detection equipment, both domestic and foreign, to advise FAA of 
equipment that they manufacture that can meet the AC requirements. The 
detailed instructions for submitting the qualifications statement, 
including forms, may be found on the FAA Web site at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/procurement/federal_contract_provisions/ at 
the tab entitled, FOD Detection Equipment Request for Qualifications.
    After review, FAA may issue a nationwide waiver to Buy American for 
the foreign manufacturers of FOD detection equipment. This ``Nationwide 
Waiver'' would allow the equipment to be used on airport projects 
without having to receive separate project waivers. Having a nationwide 
waiver would allow projects to start quickly without having to wait for 
the Buy American analysis to be completed for every project, while 
still assuring that the requirements of Buy American have been met.
    The items that have been granted a ``Nationwide Waiver'' can be 
found on the FAA Web site at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/procurement/federal_contract_provisions/ at the tab entitled, 
Equipment Meeting Buy American Requirements.

    Issued in Washington, DC, July 23, 2010.
Frank J. San Martin,
Manager, Airports Financial Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-19272 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P