This will be published on the FAA website July 23, 2010 

Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment Request for Qualifications

The Federal Aviation Administration recently published a notice in the Federal 

Register requesting information from manufacturers of FOD Detection Systems 

(Federal Register Vol. 75, No. 150 / Thursday, August 5, 2010 / Notices Page 

47344). In order for FAA to determine whether AIP grant funds can be used for a 

manufacturer’s FOD Detection equipment, FAA must determine whether the 

equipment meets the requirements of 49 USC §50101, Buy American Preferences. 

Under 49 USC §50101(b)(3), the Secretary of Transportation may waive the 

Buy American preference requirement if the goods are not produced in a sufficient 

and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality. The Secretary 

has delegated this authority to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

On September 30, 2009, FAA published Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5220-24, Airport 

Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment. The AC specified the 

requirements for FOD detection equipment at airports. A link to the Advisory 

Circular is here: http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/

If FAA cannot find that there are enough USA manufacturers of FOD detection 

equipment to produce FOD detection equipment in sufficient and reasonable 

amounts, it will issue a nationwide waiver to the foreign manufacturers of FOD 
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detection equipment that it has identified as being capable of meeting the AC 

requirements. 

To make this determination, manufacturers of FOD detection equipment, both 

domestic and foreign, are requested to complete the form indicated here and 

prepare a letter of technical certification, and email them to Nancy.S.Williams@faa.gov

by September 15, 2010. 

The form “percent calculation.xls” is a spreadsheet that is filled out by the 

manufacturer. Using the complete FOD detection system as the Level 0 product, 

the manufacturer must complete the breakdown through Level 2 indicating the costs 

of the items and placing them in the column for either US product or non-US 

product. The costs listed are for materials only, no costs of labor, installation, 

assembly at the final manufacturing site, overhead, profit or other non-product costs 

may be included. 

On the form, the manufacturer must indicate the city and state where the FOD 

detection system is manufactured. If the computer system that is used to record the 

data and receive the signals is a commercial off-the shelf computer system, it should 

not be included in the percent calculation list, however an explanatory note must be 

included with the form. 
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The second required submittal is a certification prepared by the manufacturer on the 

manufacturer’s letterhead that the equipment listed meets the requirements of the 

AC. The Required Capabilities listed in the AC must be met, however the 

recommended capabilities that are listed in Section 3.2 c.(1)(b), Section 3.2 (c)(2) 

and Section 3.2 (c)(3) are not required to be included in the certification. The letter 

must specify whether the certification is for continuous inspection or mobile 

detection. The letter must be signed by a legally-responsible member of the 

manufacturer who can attest to the technical capabilities of the equipment. 

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy S. Williams, Airports 

Financial Assistance, APP 501, Room 619, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267–8822.