Construction Exceptions to Plans, Specifications and Materials Acceptance Program In addition to unacceptable materials or work, the RE must document all exceptions and deviations from the plans, specifications, and materials acceptance program (MAP). This may include testing materials at a reduced frequency, not following specified procedures, or construction changes to plan details. There are many other circumstances that may result in exceptions. All exceptions must be documented on Form C-196 Attachment A, throughout construction, with the form and attachment being submitted at the end of the project for final review and the concurrence and approval of the RME and District Engineer. The RE should document and coordinate all exceptions with these individuals throughout construction to avoid delaying contract closeout or non-participation on Federally-funded projects.
Buy America (Federal-aid Projects Only) (Reference Section 01455, 23 CFR 635.410, and FHWA Contract Administration Core Curriculum Manual and Reference Guide – Other Contract Provisions – Buy America) Buy America provisions require that no Federal-aid highway construction project is to be authorized for advertisement or otherwise authorized to proceed unless the project either includes no permanently incorporated steel or iron materials or, if steel or iron materials are to be used, all manufacturing processes, including application of a coating for these materials, must occur in the United States. Coating includes all processes which protect or enhance the value of the material to which the coating is applied. Alternatively, if a Contractor submits a bid that is based on furnishing foreign steel and iron and the lowest bid based on furnishing domestic steel and iron exceeds that bid by more than 25 percent, that Contractor may incorporate foreign steel and iron. Manufacturing processes include, but are not limited to, melting, rolling, extruding, machining, bending, grinding, drilling, and coating. Raw iron ore may be of foreign origin but all subsequent manufacturing processes must occur in the United States. Because the domestic supply of pig iron and processed, pelletized, and reduced iron ore is not adequate, a nationwide waiver of the Buy America requirements was granted for these specific iron components in 1995 and remains in effect. Pig iron is made from molten iron which has been cast in the shape of “pigs”, as it comes from a blast furnace. Processing, pelletizing, and reducing
81