Part 525 - Foreign Acquisition

(a) Public Interest.

(1) Only the head of the agency may make the determination required by FAR 25.103(a). The head of the agency may not redelegate this authority.

(2)  The determination must consider the cost advantages of any foreign sourced steel, iron, or manufactured goods.

(b) Nonavailability.

(1)  Class Determinations. FAR 25.103(b)(1)(i) does not allow for class determinations to be made at the agency level

(2) Class Determinations– Notice of Availability. Regarding FAR 25.103(b)(1)(iii)(C), documentation supporting removal of an item from the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104 should be submitted by the contracting officer to the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) in the Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer. The SPE will determine whether the documentation should be forwarded to the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).

(3) Individual Determinations. Only the HCA may make the determination required by FAR 25.103(b)(2)(i). The HCA may not redelegate this authority.

(4) Individual Determinations—Notice of Nonavailability. Regarding when the contracting officer considers that non-availability of an item will affect future acquisitions (see FAR 25.103(b)(2)(ii)), documentation supporting the addition of articles to the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104 should be submitted by the contracting officer to the SPE. The SPE will determine whether the documentation should be forwarded to the CAAC.

(a) Public Interest.

(1) Only the head of the agency may make the determination required by FAR 25.202(a)(1). The head of the agency may not redelegate this authority.

(2) The determination described in FAR 25.202(b) must consider the cost advantages of any foreign sourced steel, iron, or manufactured goods.

(b) Nonavailability. Only the HCA may make the determination required by FAR 25.202(a)(2). The HCA may not redelegate this authority.

Regarding potentially fraudulent noncompliance under FAR 25.206(c)(4), refer the matter to the appropriate Office of Inspector General Office.

The contracting officer’s determination of nonavailability in accordance with FAR 25.502(b)(3) shall be made via a written determination and findings in accordance with FAR 1.704 and shall be submitted for HCA approval before the contracting officer may make an award for items that are not manufactured or substantially transformed in the U.S. or a country listed in FAR 25.003. A copy of the approved and signed D&F must be forwarded to the SPE via email to spe.request@gsa.gov.

(a) The Berry Amendment, 10 U.S.C. 4862, applies domestic-source requirements to certain food, clothing, fabrics, specialty metals, and hand or measuring tools when purchased with DoD appropriated funds. The Berry Amendment, as applicable to purchases using DoD appropriated funds, is implemented at DFARS Subpart 225.70 and in clauses prescribed there.

(b)  GSA acquisition personnel are responsible for reviewing requests for purchases using DoD appropriated funds to ensure that all special funding and procurement requirements, e.g., Berry Amendment applicability, have been disclosed to GSA.