01054062

Monograph

State departments of transportation (DOTs) and their funding subrecipients are subject to federal Buy America requirements. These requirements mandate that recipients of federal mass transportation funds conducting procurements totaling $100,000 or more certify that grant-funded vehicles contain more than 60% domestic parts content and that final vehicle assembly occurs within the United States. Alternatively, grant recipients can obtain a waiver from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The guidelines apply equally to all motor vehicles purchased with federal funds, including station wagons, minivans, full-size vans, and small and large buses. This research (1) examined the Buy America requirements applicable to state DOTs and their subrecipients in purchases of paratransit vehicles and (2) considered opportunities for change. The primary focus of this study was on vehicles procured by state DOTs or their grant recipients with grants from the federal Section 5310 (49 U.S.C.) Elderly and Persons with Disabilities program and the Section 5311 (49 U.S.C.) Rural and Small Urban Area program. Researchers conducted a literature review and surveyed procurement officials at state DOTs, transit agencies, Section 5310 and Section 5311 grant recipient agencies, vehicle vendors, and in-plant vehicle inspectors. This digest summarizes the results of this investigation.

NCHRP Project 20-65, Task 8A

English

45p

2007-7

NCHRP Research Results Digest

Print

Appendices (5) ; Tables (4)

Grant aid; Literature reviews; Paratransit vehicles; Procurement; State departments of transportation; Surveys

Buy America; U.S. Federal Transit Administration; United States Code. Title 49. Section 5310; United States Code. Title 49. Section 5311

Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation

TRIS, TRB

Jul 16 2007 1:40PM