What is the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA)?

BABA is the Build America, Buy America Act. BABA requires any "infrastructure project" funded by any "Federal Financial Assistance" (FFA) apply a domestic content procurement preference, meaning that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the infrastructure project have been produced in the United States, unless the awarding agency has issued a waiver of this requirement. This is called the "Buy American Preference" (BAP).

The purpose of BABA (www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf) is to bolster America's industrial base, protect national security, and support high-paying jobs.

For additional information, please see Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (BABA).

To read OMB's guidance on the implementation of BABA, please see 2 CFR 184 (www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-184).

To learn about the Administration's priority to maximize the use of products made in the U.S., see Executive Order 14005 (www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-02038).