BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA


 

GENERAL

This IM is intended to provide additional instruction to the Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Standard Specification 1107.06. 

 

With the exception of the excluded items listed below, the IIJA requires the following three BABA preferences. An article, material, or supply shall only be classified into one of these categories, and not multiple categories.

 

1.    Products of Iron and Steel

All iron and steel permanently incorporated into the project must be produced in the United States, including all manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings.

A manufactured product that is predominantly steel or iron shall be treated as an item of iron and steel.

 

2.    Manufactured Products

Items that consist of two or more construction or non-construction materials that have been combined together through a manufacturing process will be treated as a manufactured product rather than a construction material. Manufactured products are exempt from the requirements of BABA.

 

3.    Construction Materials

All construction materials must be manufactured in the United States. 

 

 

4.    Excluded items-The following items are excluded from the requirements of BABA:

·         cement and cementitious materials

·         asphalt binders

·         chemical admixtures

·         aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel

·         asphalt release agents

·         aggregate binding agents

·         additives 

 

PRODUCTS of Iron and Steel

The following lists of Iron and Steel products, at a minimum, are subject to the Buy America requirements. 

 

Group 1 – Products requiring mill test reports with shipments to projects

 

IM 440 - Trenchless Steel Casing and/or Carrier Pipe

IM 451 – Steel Reinforcement

IM 451.02 – Galvanized Steel Bars

IM 451.03B – Epoxy-Coated Steel Reinforcement

IM 452 – Deformed and Plain Stainless Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement

IM 453.06B – High Strength Fasteners

IM 453.07 – Stainless Steel Fasteners

IM 453.08 – Anchor Bolts

IM 467 – Steel Piles

IM 467.01 – Steel H-Piles

IM 467.02 – Steel Sheet Piles

IM 467.03 – Steel Pipe Piles

IM 468 – Pile Points for Steel H-Piles

IM 557 – Qualification of Steel Fabrication Shops & Plants

 

Group 2 – Products not requiring mill test reports with shipments to projects, when the product is from an approved fabricator/supplier

IM 411 – Truncated Domes/Detectable Warning Systems

IM 441 – Corrugated Metal Culvert Pipe

IM 441.01 – Coupling devices for corrugated metal culvert pipe

IM 443.01 – Rodent Guards

IM 443.02 – Safety Grates

IM 444 – Corrugated Zinc-Coated Steel Plates for Pipes & Arches

IM 445 – Precast Concrete

IM 445.01 – Concrete Pipe & Special Sections

IM 445.02 – Precast Box Culverts

IM 445.03 – Mechanically-Stabilized Earth (MSE) Retaining Wall Panels

IM 445.06 – Precast Concrete Noise Walls

IM 449.05 – Inspection & Acceptance of Utility Access Adjustment Rings

IM 451.01 – Reinforcing Steel Supports

IM 453.04 – Steel Castings (Carbon), Gray Iron Castings, and Ductile Iron Castings

IM 453.09 – Concrete Anchors

IM 453.10 – Shear Stud Connectors

IM 454.10 – Chain-Link Fence and Field Fence

IM 455.01 – High Tension Cable Guardrail

IM 455.02 – Formed Steel Beam Railing, Cable Rail, Anchor Cable & Steel Post for Guardrail

IM 485 – Light Pole Bases

IM 485.10 – Inspection & Acceptance of Rigid Steel Conduit

IM 486.10 – Perforated Square Steel Tube Post and Anchor

IM 558 – Structural Field Welding & Inspection

IM 565 – Steel Fabrication Shop Documentation

IM 570 – Precast & Prestressed Concrete Bridge Units

IM 571 – Plants for Production of Precast Concrete Barrier

Standard Specification Section 4185 – Junction boxes, control cabinets and control boxes

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

The required documentation for all iron and steel products incorporated in a project will be at a minimum the mill test report and materials identification in addition to all product specific information identified in the pertinent IM.

 

The mill test report must include the following information:  Steel mill name and location, material heat number, material grade, product specifications met, material dimensions, mechanical properties, chemical analysis, heat treatment (if applicable), certified mill signature.

 

The materials identification must provide traceability by heat number, grade, and type.  As an example, the bill of lading may help provide this traceability.

 

Additionally, mill test reports must contain a certification statement indicating all steel or iron has been melted and manufactured in the USA in accordance with the Buy America requirements.  All coated steel or iron must have a certification statement indicating all coatings have been applied in the USA.

 

Products from Approved Fabricators/Suppliers

The approved fabricator/supplier is required to maintain a file containing all required documentation for a minimum of seven years from the time the products are shipped for incorporation into a project.  The required documentation will be at a minimum the information indicated above plus anything product specific identified in the pertinent IM.

 

Project Documentation from Approved Fabricators/Suppliers

 

If an item is not identified as a group 2 item, then the product is classified as a group 1 item.

 

Product IMs identified above in Group 1 indicate the fabricator/supplier will be required to provide mill test reports with shipments to the project.

 

For products in Group 2, the fabricator/supplier must provide a letter certifying all of the materials are in compliance with Buy America and the necessary supporting documentation will be retained as indicated in A above. Documentation shall be made available to the Engineer upon request.

 

Products from Unapproved Fabricators/Suppliers

All documentation from unapproved fabricators/suppliers must be provided at the time of shipment and prior to incorporation.

 

Construction Materials

 

The producer/supplier must provide a letter certifying all construction materials are in compliance with BABA in addition to all product specific information identified in the pertinent IM. Necessary supporting documentation will be retained for a minimum of seven years from the time the products are shipped for incorporation into a project. Documentation shall be made available to the Engineer upon request.