[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77585-77586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31993]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice to Manufacturers of Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid 
Equipment

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

ACTION: Notice to manufacturers of airport lighting and navigation aid 
equipment.

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SUMMARY: Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) 
must meet the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 50101, Buy American 
Preferences. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering 
issuing waivers to foreign manufacturers of certain airport lighting 
and navigation aid equipment that is lit with Light Emitting Diode 
(LED) lighting. This notice requests information from manufacturers of 
systems meeting the technical requirements to determine whether a 
waiver to 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) 267-3831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
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.
    The purpose of this notice is to request manufacturers of L-850A, 
L850B, L852K, and L852S LED airport lighting equipment, LED Runway End 
Identified Lighting (REIL) equipment, and LED Precision Approach Path 
Indicator (PAPI) equipment, both domestic and foreign, to advise FAA of 
the system that they manufacture and whether it can meet the FAA 
Advisory Circular technical requirements. The detailed instructions for 
submitting the qualifications statement, including

[[Page 77586]]

forms, may be found on the FAA Web site at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/procurement/federal_contract_provisions/at the tab 
entitled, Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid Equipment Request For 
Qualifications. The FAA wants to determine if there is sufficient 
quantity of domestic manufacturers capable of meeting the FAA technical 
requirements. If the FAA cannot find that there are USA manufacturers, 
it will issue a nationwide waiver to the foreign manufacturers 
identified as being capable of meeting the technical requirements.
    Technical Requirements: FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5345-46D, 
Specification for Runway and Taxiway Light Fixtures provides the 
technical requirements for the L-850A, L-850B, L-852K and L-852S 
lighting equipment. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5345-51B, Specifications 
for Discharge-Type Flashing Light Equipment, provides the technical 
requirements for the REILs. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5345-28G, 
Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) Systems, provides the 
technical requirements for the PAPI equipment.
    After review, the FAA may issue a nationwide waiver to Buy American 
Preferences for foreign manufacturers or United States manufacturers 
that do not meet the Buy American Preference requirements. Waivers will 
not be issued for manufacturers that do not fully meet the technical 
requirements. This ``nationwide waiver'' allows equipment to be used on 
airport projects without having to receive separate project waivers. 
Having a nationwide waiver allows projects to start quickly without 
have to wait for the Buy American analysis to be completed for every 
project, while still assuring the funds used for airport projects meet 
the requirements of the Act.
    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 on December 7, 2011.
Frank J. San Martin,
Manager, Airports Financial Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-31993 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
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