Building on a robust “Buy American” policy established by the Trump Administration, President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order to update a process for choosing domestic products for federal procurement.
Biden’s action directs agencies to close loopholes in how domestic content is measured and increase domestic content requirements. It replaces the component test used to identify domestic end products and construction materials with a test that measures domestic content by the value added to the product through U.S. production or U.S. job-supporting economic activity. This will increase the numerical threshold for domestic content requirements for end-products and construction materials.
Biden’s action will also increase the price preferences for domestic end-products and domestic construction materials. The order does not provide specific numbers for domestic content requirements or domestic price preferences. It is unclear how much the percentages will increase.
The executive order creates a Made in America Office under the Office of Management and Budget to update and centralize the Made in America waiver process. This is meant to increase oversight of potential waivers of domestic preference laws.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Oct 14, 2016
ASCE issues first tsunami-safe building standards
The new standards will become part of international building code.
Codes and Standards | Oct 12, 2016
Making concrete greener
The high energy-consuming material can be made more sustainably.
Codes and Standards | Oct 11, 2016
Historic preservation moving beyond saving grand old buildings
National Trust for Historic Preservation CEO says the focus is on saving cities, not just buildings
Codes and Standards | Oct 10, 2016
Los Angeles voters will decide whether high-density developments should be harder to build
A March vote on the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative would put 2-year ban on zoning changes
Codes and Standards | Oct 10, 2016
New sustainable landscape development and management credential launched
GBCI offered the first testing opportunity Oct. 3 at Greenbuild
Codes and Standards | Oct 6, 2016
Obama administration will spend $80 million for smart cities initiatives
The technology is targeted for climate, transportation, resiliency.
Codes and Standards | Oct 6, 2016
New York City files criminal charges on owner for deadly building façade accident
The owner allegedly did not heed warning about danger of the crumbling exterior.
Codes and Standards | Oct 5, 2016
New York becomes the first city to adopt a target for energy storage
Mayor de Blasio also announces increased solar generation goals
Codes and Standards | Oct 4, 2016
New global residential floor space measurement standard unveiled
The new standards will produce better transparency and are said to benefit investors.
Codes and Standards | Sep 29, 2016
Dept. of Energy forecasts big jump in LED use, resulting energy savings
Big gains are expected in both commercial and residential markets.
