[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61377-61378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25577]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5374-N-33]


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, exceptions were granted to the Cambridge Housing 
Authority of Cambridge, MA for the purchase and installation of Venstar 
ColorTouch programmable limiting thermostats for the Harry S. Truman 
Apartments project, and to the Denver Housing Authority for the 
purchase and installation of refrigerators and microwave ovens for its 
1099 Osage Apartments project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. LaVoy, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Office of Field Operations, Office of Public and Indian 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW., Room 4112, Washington, DC 20410-4000, telephone number 202-402-
8500 (this is not a toll-free number); or 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 August 19, 2011, the following 
exceptions were granted:
    1. Cambridge Housing Authority. Upon request of the Cambridge 
Housing Authority, HUD granted an exception to applicability of the Buy 
American requirements with respect to work, using CFRFC grant funds, in 
connection with the Harry S. Truman Apartments project. The exception 
was granted by HUD on the basis that the relevant manufactured goods, 
Venstar ColorTouch programmable limiting thermostats, are not produced 
in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of 
satisfactory quality.
    2. Denver Housing Authority. Upon request of the Denver Housing 
Authority, HUD granted an exception to applicability of the Buy 
American requirements with respect to work, using CFRFC grant funds, in 
connection with its 1099 Osage Apartments project. The exception was 
granted by HUD on the basis that the relevant manufactured goods 
(refrigerators and microwaves) are not produced in the U.S. in 
sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of satisfactory 
quality.


[[Page 61378]]


    Dated: September 27, 2011.
Deborah Hernandez,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2011-25577 Filed 10-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P