U.S. General Services Administration
MadeInAmerica.gov: Transparency in federal procurement
Post filed in: Acquisition
GSA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are working together to help ensure the future is made in all of America by all of America’s workers. The new MadeInAmerica.gov website is a resource from GSA and OMB’s Made In America Office (MIAO) promoting transparency in federal procurement. Its goal is to maximize opportunities for U.S. producers to supply goods, products, and materials to the federal government as well as ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars support domestic suppliers.
But what happens if a mission-critical product isn’t available domestically? That’s where waivers come in.
Waivers
Federal agencies may apply for a waiver (an exception to Made In America laws) if:
- a product is not made in the U.S. in the quantities needed and of a satisfactory quality (known as a “nonavailability waiver”)
- purchasing a U.S.-made product would be inconsistent with public interest
- the product is not available at a reasonable cost
- or other reasons, as outlined in FAR 25.103.
The new digital waiver form and review process is the first of its kind to be applied governmentwide. It streamlines the process for about 40,000 federal contracting officers to easily and securely submit non-availability waivers via SAM.gov to the MIAO for review.
Government buyers — whether they’re contracting officers or purchase cardholders — are making buying decisions that meet the Biden-Harris administration’s socioeconomic and climate goals, and this website helps by providing public information on these waivers and whether they’ve been granted.
This new level of transparency allows existing and potential federal contractors to see what the government is purchasing outside of the U.S., as well as provides resources for companies who wish to do business with the federal government. This transparency will soon extend to additional types of waivers. The website will centralize waiver data and help inform policies to fill gaps in critical domestic supply chains, including health care and clean energy.
If you have questions about MadeInAmerica.gov or the waiver process, visit the website or email the OMB Made In America office at MadeInAmerica@omb.eop.gov.
