4/25/2011
Media Spotlight
Air Force Waives “Buy American” Provision for Fasteners on Alaska Construction Project
Media Spotlight – On March 21, 2011, the U.S. Air Force waived the “Buy American” provision for a construction project at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.
The Huffington Post reported Michael Mandel, chief economic strategist for the Progressive Policy Institute, discovered the waiver in the Federal Registry.
The waiver covers construction of stimulus-funded housing and contractors were unable to find domestic supply for screws, ceiling fans, shower rods, towel racks and toilet-paper holders.
According to the Federal Register, a contracting official determined the items are not produced in the U.S. in sufficient quantities and quality.
In 2009 there were more than 44,000 waivers of federal “Buy American” provisions were granted, Mandel reported.
A fastener industry lobbyist said the collated screws are “largely, if not entirely imports” from China. Jennifer Baker Reid, who represents the Industrial Fasteners Institute. The waiver “appears to have been issued appropriately based on market research,” Reid acknowledged.
The IFI did complain to the Environmental Protection Agency over some 2009 waivers granted for fasteners for stimulus-funded wastewater treatment upgrades, Reid told Huffington Post. In that case, there were two U.S. manufacturers who could have supplied the necessary fasteners. “These waivers have come out fast and furious without checking to see if a U.S. supplier is available,” she told the Huffington Post.
Editor’s Note: Articles in Media Spotlight are excerpts from publications or broadcasts which show the industry what the public is reading or hearing about fasteners and fastener companies. ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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