| ***USDA    Rural Utilities Service    Electric Program****Technical Standards Committees***
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**TECHNICAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE “A”**With more than 60 years of experience, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has found    that electric utility construction, operation, and maintenance are best when high-quality,    long-lasting materials are used. Because the quality of materials is so important to    program objectives, RUS continues to require that borrowers observe RUS standards and use    Technical Standards Committee “A” (Electric) or TSC “A” accepted    products on their systems whether they use RUS loan funds, their own general        funds, or other sources of financing assistance.        
 
- What is TSC “A” ?
        TSC “A” or Technical Standards Committee “A” (Electric) is a Rural    Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Program committee which: (1) accepts manufacturers’    products as satisfactory for use on RUS borrowers’ facilities, and (2)        approves all    RUS Electric Program standards and specifications, including RUS construction drawings,    and RUS technical bulletins and Informational Publications. Membership of TSC    “A” consists of five RUS engineers: two from the RUS Regional Division    Engineering branches, two from the Electric Staff Division (ESD), and a permanent    committee Chair. Collectively, these members are subject matter experts in distribution    and transmission engineering standards, specifications, design, and electric utility    construction contracting procedures.        
       - **RUS Product Acceptances**
TSC “A” considers requests from manufacturers and makes determinations as to    whether the products comply with applicable RUS and national industry standards and    specifications and if the products can be expected to perform satisfactorily in the harsh environments of    rural America. TSC limits its acceptance to one product per manufacturer for a specific    category of product; this limitation allows manufacturers to concentrate on one design for    rural electric borrowers, enabling the manufacturers to pass the efficiencies of    standardization on to their customers.        
 
- RUS List Of Materials        

For borrower convenience purposes, materials and equipment accepted by TSC    “A” that meet the RUS domestic origin provisions are included in RUS    Informational Publication 202-1, “List of Materials Acceptable for Use on Systems of    RUS Electrification Borrowers.”    

Domestic origin means manufactured in the United    States or any eligible country substantially all from materials or supplies mined,    produced, or manufactured in the United States or any eligible country. Eligible countries    are determined by the Office of the US Trade Representative. See Federal Register Notice dated February 18, 1997,    (available in pdf and html)    for the    definition of eligible country and a list of eligible countries.    

The List of Materials is    published in a subscription format with the full base issue printed each July followed by    supplements every October, January, and April. RUS borrowers receive one subscription free    of charge each year. Additional copies are available from the US Government Printing    Office, Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Telephone    (202) 512-1800. (See order form.)    

 
- **Types of RUS Acceptances**
TSC “A” considers three types of acceptances:1. FULL ACCEPTANCEDomestic origin products for which no restrictions are placed on use. Included in the        List of Materials;2. CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCEDomestic products for which RUS has limited experience. Acceptance conditions are        noted on acceptance letter to manufacturer and in RUS’ List of Materials. Contractors        also need to obtain borrowers’ approvals before supplying conditionally accepted        items on each project; and3. TECHNICAL ACCEPTANCENon domestic origin products of the same category types as RUS accepted domestic        origin products. Technically accepted products: a) may have conditions, b) are limited to        a one year acceptance after which yearly renewal is considered, and c) are not included in        the List of Materials. Technical acceptance letter issued indicates any conditions and        date of technical acceptance expiration. Contractors need borrowers’ approvals to        supply technically accepted items on each project.                
 
-  Accepted Product Categories

TSC “A” determines the categories of products for which RUS acceptance is    considered. TSC “A” does not grant acceptance for every type of product used by    RUS borrowers. Instead, TSC “A” considers only categories of products central to    electric transmission and distribution systems for which fairly significant use by    borrowers is expected, e.g., air break switches, anchor rods, transformers, etc.    Acceptance is not considered nor is it needed for office equipment, tools and work    equipment, items of electric general plant, consumer-owned wiring facilities, etc.    Borrowers are expected to use their own best judgment when procuring such items and assess    the conformance of such products with applicable national industry standards, codes, and    applicability of the product for the need. Categories are added and eliminated as    conditions of borrower use and technology dictate. 

  
-  **Product Acceptance Procedure** 

The manufacturer of a product that falls within a product acceptance category    desiring RUS acceptance needs to submit a letter of request to:

    Technical Standards Committee “A” (Electric)    Rural Utilities Service    STOP 1569    1400 Independence Ave, SW    Washington, DC 20250-1569    Telephone: 202-720-0980 Fax: 202-720-7491

The manufacturer needs to include the following with each request:
- Description of each product, including specific catalog number and the RUS item    category for which RUS acceptance is requested;
- Drawings or catalog sheets detailing dimensions, materials, etc.;
- Recent certified test data detailing compliance of the product with appropriate    standards, specifications, etc.;
- A sample of each product for most items. [TSC “A” Chair should be    contacted prior to submitting any samples]; and
- If seeking domestic product acceptance, a statement of            origin that reads as    follows:

“[Identify here each product to be considered by catalog number] is manufactured    in [Identify country] substantially all from articles, materials or    supplies mined, produced or manufactured in [identify country].”

All written and printed material has to be submitted in six copies (original and five    copies). Requests need to be signed by an authorized representative of the manufacturer.    RUS does permit agents to assist with certain administrative matters, but applications have    to include an original signature of the manufacturer.    

       - **RUS Application Review**

Personnel in ESD are assigned to review applications and prepare reports to TSC    “A.” The ESD reviewer will contact the manufacturer if any additional    information is needed in order to prepare a report to TSC .

The manufacturer’s application and the product’s corresponding RUS staff    report are presented to TSC “A” for acceptance consideration. Following    discussions of the application, TSC “A” may act to: (1) grant any of the three    types of acceptance described previously, (2) table consideration until receipt of any    additional information TSC “A” deems necessary to make a determination, or    (3) reject the request. The Chair will provide the manufacturer with written notice of TSC    ’s decision.    

 
- **Appeal Process**

Manufacturers may appeal any adverse TSC “A” decisions by writing to    Technical Standards Committee “B” (Electric) (TSC “B”) at Rural    Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave SW, STOP 1569, Washington, DC 20250-1569. TSC    “B” consists of the directors of the Northern and Southern Regional Divisions    and the director of the Electric Staff Division.    

 
- **Questions**

Questions concerning the acceptance process may be directed to the Chair    of TSC "A" at the address above or by e-mail to: [email protected].    Please include your name, e-mail address, telephone number, and company    affiliation in the body of your message so that we may be able to contact    you for additional information, if necessary.

 

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