Overview
This section establishes the primary mandate of the Buy American Act, requiring federal agencies to procure only domestic end products for use within the United States unless a specific regulatory exception applies.
Key Rules
- Domestic Preference: Procurement is restricted to "domestic end products" as defined by the FAR.
- Geographic Limitation: This policy applies specifically to items intended for "public use inside the United States."
- Conditional Requirement: The mandate is mandatory unless one of the specific exceptions listed in FAR 25.103 (such as nonavailability, unreasonable cost, or public interest) is met.
Practical Implications
- Contracting officers must default to domestic sources and can only consider foreign offers if a formal exception is documented and justified.
- Contractors must accurately certify the country of origin for their products, as this policy dictates the application of price evaluation preferences or outright prohibitions on foreign goods.