Part 525 - Foreign Acquisition

Subpart 525.1 - Buy American Act—Supplies

525.103 Exceptions

Subpart 525.2 - Buy American Act—Construction Materials

525.202 Exceptions.

525.206 Noncompliance.

Subpart 525.10 - Additional Foreign Acquisition Regulations

525.1070 Purchases Using Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriated Funds.

Parent topic: General Services Administration Acquisition Manual

Subpart 525.1 - Buy American Act—Supplies

525.103 Exceptions

(a) Public Interest.

(1) Only the head of the agency may make the determination required by FAR 25.103(a). The head of

the agency may not redelegate this authority.

(2) The determination must consider the cost advantages of any foreign sourced steel, iron, or

manufactured goods.

(b) Nonavailability.

(1) Class Determinations. FAR 25.103(b)(1)(i) does not allow for class determinations to be made at

the agency level

(2) Class Determinations– Notice of Availability. Regarding FAR 25.103(b)(1)(iii)(C), documentation

supporting removal of an item from the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104 should be

submitted by the contracting officer to the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) in the Office of the

Chief Acquisition Officer. The SPE will determine whether the documentation should be forwarded

to the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).

(3) Individual Determinations. Only the HCA may make the determination required by FAR

25.103(b)(2)(i). The HCA may not redelegate this authority.

(4) Individual Determinations—Notice of Nonavailability. Regarding when the contracting officer

considers that non-availability of an item will affect future acquisitions (see FAR 25.103(b)(2)(ii)),

documentation supporting the addition of articles to the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104

should be submitted by the contracting officer to the SPE. The SPE will determine whether the

documentation should be forwarded to the CAAC.
Subpart 525.2 - Buy American Act—Construction Materials

525.202 Exceptions.

(a) Public Interest.

(1) Only the head of the agency may make the determination required by FAR 25.202(a)(1). The

head of the agency may not redelegate this authority.

(2) The determination described in FAR 25.202(b) must consider the cost advantages of any foreign

sourced steel, iron, or manufactured goods.

(b) Nonavailability. Only the HCA may make the determination required by FAR 25.202(a)(2). The

HCA may not redelegate this authority.

525.206 Noncompliance.

Regarding potentially fraudulent noncompliance under FAR 25.206(c)(4), refer the matter to the

appropriate Office of Inspector General Office.

Subpart 525.10 - Additional Foreign Acquisition Regulations

525.1070 Purchases Using Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriated Funds.

(a) The Berry Amendment, 10 U.S.C. 4862, applies domestic-source requirements to certain food,

clothing, fabrics, specialty metals, and hand or measuring tools when purchased with DoD

appropriated funds. The Berry Amendment, as applicable to purchases using DoD appropriated

funds, is implemented at DFARS Subpart 225.70 and in clauses prescribed there.

(b) GSA acquisition personnel are responsible for reviewing requests for purchases using DoD

appropriated funds to ensure that all special funding and procurement requirements, e.g., Berry

Amendment applicability, have been disclosed to GSA.