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                        Buy America


            
            In This Section
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                Buy America
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      Mr. John Johnson
      
                    
            Attorney-Advisor
      
                    
            Buy America
      
                
    **Email:**FRABuyAmerica@dot.gov**Phone:** 202-493-0078
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Buy America
    

    
    
          On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers, to ensure that federal financial assistance awards maximize the use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States. The Buy America requirements of FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, Railroad Crossing Elimination, and Restoration and Enhancement Grants programs reinforce this goal, and aid in encouraging a domestic market in the rail sector. Spending authorized under these programs are subject to the Buy America provision of 49 U.S.C. § 22905(a) (formerly 49 USC § 24405(a)).

In addition, the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), Public Law 117-58, § 70914, applies to FRA’s competitive grants for infrastructure obligated on or after May 14, 2022.

FRA's Buy America: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)describe its procedures for applying the Buy America provision to these programs.

Amtrak also is required to adhere to a domestic spending preference.  Either 49 U.S.C. § 24305 or 49 U.S.C. § 22905may apply to Amtrak projects, depending on the source of funds.  49 U.S.C. § 22905(a) applies when Amtrak is operating under a grant or performing a contract for another grantee applying 49 U.S.C. § 22905(a).  However, 49 U.S.C. § 24305(f) applies when Amtrak is spending from its own capital grant.

FRA will publish incoming waiver requests on this website.  Before becoming final, decisions to grant waiver requests will also be published in the Federal Register and on this site.

Open Waiver Requests



Completed Waivers

(For informational purposes only. Comment period closed.)

NNEPRA Steel Track Nuts non-availability waiver, decided December 16, 2010
	Amtrak Central Block components (power modules, high-speed PLCs, and AGATE controllers) non-availability waiver, decided March 7, 2012
	WSDOT Vossloh Concrete Tie Components (Dowel inserts and SKL-30 tension clamps) non-availability waiver, decided June 19, 2012
	Illinois DOT ITCS Components (ethernet cable, antennae, and router), decided February 12, 2013
	Amtrak 136RE No 32.75 Special Turnouts (ZU 1-60 steel left and right switch point rail sections and Schwihag roller assemblies and plates), decided April 23, 2013
	Amtrak High Speed Rail Prototype Trainsets, decided Nov. 24, 2014
	California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) High Speed Rail Prototype Trainsets, decided Nov. 24, 2014
	Illinois DOT, SureClose Gate Hinge, decided Feb. 4, 2015
	LIRR Turnout Components (ZU 1-60 steel left and right switch point rail sections and Schwihag roller assemblies and plates), decided May 15, 2015
	Sacramento (CA) Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System Waiver Request, decided June 4, 2015
	RIDOT and Amtrak, Turnout/Crossover Components (ZU1-60 switch points and Schwihag roller assemblies and plates), decided June 16, 2015
	Amtrak High Speed Rail Trainset Components, decided Nov. 6, 2015
	Illinois DOT, SureClose Gate Hinge, decided Oct. 13, 2015
	Sacramento (CA) Linoleum Flooring, decided June 9, 2016
	Charlotte NC Locomotive and Railcar Maintenance Facility Fire Alarm System Components, decided April 9, 2018
	Raleigh Union Station Fire Alarm System Components, decided September 29, 2017
	Amtrak Buy America Maintenance Equipment Exemption Request, decided July 1, 2020
	CALIDOT Workstation Table
	CALIDOT Workstation Table Buy America Waiver Request
		CALIDOT Workstation Table Buy America Waiver Decision, effective June 1, 2021Withdrawn Waiver Requests

California High-Speed Rail Authority High-Speed Trainsets Components Waiver Request Withdrawal
	LIRR Catenary System Components Waiver Request WithdrawalSee Also

49 U.S.C. § 24305
	49 U.S.C. § 22905
	41 U.S.C. § 8302
              eLibrary
      
                              
                  
                  Buy America Webinar Presentation
	Sample Component List (illustrative purposes only)
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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