August 17, 2023

By Lane Kimble

New guidance issued this week should clear up confusion – and many concerns – over Build America, Buy America’s (BABA) impact on transportation projects.

ARTBA has been pushing the White House’s Made in America Office to consider what kind of expense implementing American-made requirements on certain products and materials could have on infrastructure work.

The Association also worked to ensure construction materials such as cement and aggregates are not included in the BABA requirements unless they are part of a manufactured product brought to a job site.

ARTBA says wet concrete and hot mix asphalt will remain exempt.

The rules also include waivers on federal and federally funded projects, such as when the Buy America requirements lead to “unreasonable costs” (increasing project’s cost by 25 percent or more.)