§2533. Determinations of public interest under the Buy American Act

(a) In determining under section 2 of the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a) whether application of such Act is inconsistent with the public interest, the Secretary of Defense shall consider the following:

(1) The bids or proposals of small business firms in the United States which have offered to furnish American goods.

(2) The bids or proposals of all other firms in the United States which have offered to furnish American goods.

(3) The United States balance of payments.

(4) The cost of shipping goods which are other than American goods.

(5) Any duty, tariff, or surcharge which may enter into the cost of using goods which are other than American goods.

(6) A need to ensure that the Department of Defense has access to advanced, state-of-the-art commercial technology.

(7) The need to protect the national technology and industrial base, to preserve and enhance the national technology employment base, and to provide for a defense mobilization base.

(8) A need to ensure that application of different rules of origin for United States end items and foreign end items does not result in an award to a firm other than a firm providing a product produced in the United States.

(9) Any need-

(A) to maintain the same source of supply for spare and replacement parts for an end item that qualifies as an American good; or

(B) to maintain the same source of supply for spare and replacement parts in order not to impair integration of the military and commercial industrial base.

(10) The national security interests of the United States.

(b) In this section, the term "goods which are other than American goods" means-

(1) an end product that is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States; or

(2) an end product that is manufactured in the United States but which includes components mined, produced, or manufactured outside the United States the aggregate cost of which exceeds the aggregate cost of the components of such end product that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 100–370, §3(a)(1), July 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 855 , §2501; renumbered §2506, Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VIII, §821(b)(1)(A), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2014 ; renumbered §2533, Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLII, §4202(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2659 ; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title VIII, §812(a), (b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2815 , 2816; Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, §4321(b)(20), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 673 ; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, §1073(a)(54), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1903 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Section is based on Pub. L. 93–365, title VII, §707, Aug. 5, 1974, 88 Stat. 406 .

References in Text

The Buy American Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is title III of act Mar. 3, 1933, ch. 212, 47 Stat. 1520 , as amended, which is classified generally to sections 10a, 10b, and 10c of Title 41, Public Contracts. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 10a of Title 41 and Tables.

Amendments

1997-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted "(41 U.S.C. 10a)" for "(41 U.S.C. 10a))".

1996-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–106 substituted "the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a)) whether application of such Act" for "title III of the Act of March 3, 1993 (41 U.S.C. 10a), popularly known as the 'Buy American Act', whether application of title III of such Act".

1994-Pub. L. 103–337, §812(b)(1), substituted "Determinations of public interest under the Buy American Act" for "Limitation on use of funds: procurement of goods which are other than American goods" as section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–337, §812(a)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: "Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense may not be obligated under a contract for procurement of goods which are other than American goods (as defined in subsection (c)) unless adequate consideration is given to the following:

"(1) The bids or proposals of firms located in labor surplus areas in the United States (as designated by the Department of Labor) which have offered to furnish American goods.

"(2) The bids or proposals of small business firms in the United States which have offered to furnish American goods.

"(3) The bids or proposals of all other firms in the United States which have offered to furnish American goods.

"(4) The United States balance of payments.

"(5) The cost of shipping goods which are other than American goods.

"(6) Any duty, tariff, or surcharge which may enter into the cost of using goods which are other than American goods."

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 103–337, §812(a), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: "Consideration of the matters referred to in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) shall be given under regulations of the Secretary of Defense and subject to the determinations and exceptions contained in title III of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a, 10b), popularly known as the 'Buy American Act'."

1992-Pub. L. 102–484 renumbered section 2506 of this title as this section.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For effective date and applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 104–106, see section 4401 of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 251 of Title 41, Public Contracts.