October 9, 2026

By Lane Kimble

WisDOT’s upcoming letting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 will be the first to include the federal Buy America “55 Percent Requirement.”

The rule applies to manufactured products permanently used in federally supported construction projects.

At least 55 percent of the total cost of each product must come from components that are mined, produced or manufactured in the United States.

WisDOT released a flow chart to help contractors ahead of the Oct. 13 let.

Certain construction materials including glass, lumber and fiber optic cable are considered domestic when they meet specific Code of Federal Regulations standards. Some products, such as cement (and related materials), aggregates, and binding agents are exempt from the rule.

WisDOT notes that its guide is for information only. Contractors should refer to the Buy America/Domestic Materials provision in each specific contract along with the corresponding Construction and Materials manuals beginning with the Oct. 13 letting and beyond.

WTBA members with questions can contact Director of Engineering Matt Grove.

The Buy America Act rule change came at the tail end of the Biden administration, when the former president eliminated the manufactured products waiver.

FHWA had used its waiver authority since 1983 to exempt a wide array of items used on federal-aid highway projects — including electronics, ITS hardware, electrical equipment, signal boxes, pumps and many more – from provisions mandating that they be produced in the United States.

The Trump administration initially paused the implementation for review before deciding to proceed.