Infrastructure Bill Extends and Expands “Buy American” Rules

HR 3684 includes within it, the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). Buy American provisions will apply to all new infrastructure projects receiving federal funds from The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. BABA expands the requirements to include not only steel and iron products, but “manufactured products” and “construction materials” as well. “Produced” in the U.S. means a product was manufactured in the U.S. and the cost of its components that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the U.S. is greater than 55 percent of the total cost of the manufactured product. BABA also contains provisions for OMB to study increasing the domestic content of certain construction materials beyond 55% to as much as 75%. Waivers may be granted if the iron, steel or manufactured product is not produced in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities, or if the domestic product does not meet “satisfactory” quality standards. n

GVC Construction, Inc. in Manchester, NH