Notice of Buy America Waiver, 55529-55530 [2014-21992]

Agencies

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55529-55530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21992]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0090]


Notice of Buy America Waiver

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Buy America waivers.

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SUMMARY: This Notice provides NHTSA's finding with respect to five 
requests from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) to 
waive the requirements of Buy America. NHTSA finds that a non-
availability waiver of the Buy America requirements is appropriate for 
the purchase of a portable data projector and a wireless remote control 
presenter, digital video discs (DVDs) and twenty high-visibility 
motorcyclist vests using Federal highway safety grant funds because 
there are no suitable products produced in the United States. In 
addition, NHTSA finds that a cost waiver is appropriate for OHSP to 
purchase twenty foreign-made training motorcycles using Federal grant 
funds because the cost of domestically produced products is twenty-five 
percent more than the cost of the foreign-made products. However, NHTSA 
finds that a non-availability waiver of the Buy America requirements is 
inappropriate for the lease of a copy/printer/fax machine.

DATES: The effective date of this waiver is October 16, 2014. Written 
comments regarding this notice may be submitted to NHTSA and must be 
received on or before: October 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted using any one of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: Written comments may be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
     Internet: To submit comments electronically, go to the 
Federal regulations Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All comments submitted in relation to this waiver 
must include the agency name and docket number. Please note that all 
comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may also call the Docket at 202-366-9324.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues, contact Barbara 
Sauers, Office of Regional Operations and Program Delivery, NHTSA 
(phone: 202-366-0144). For legal issues, contact Andrew DiMarsico, 
Office of Chief Counsel, NHTSA (phone: 202-366-5263). You may send mail 
to these officials at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice provides NHTSA's finding that a 
waiver of the Buy America requirements, 23 U.S.C. 313, is appropriate 
for the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) to purchase a 
portable data projector, a wireless remote control presenter, DVDs, 
high-visibility motorcycle vests and twenty training motorcycles using 
grant funds authorized under 23 U.S.C. 402 (section 402) and 23 U.S.C. 
405(g) (section 405) for training motorcycles. This Notice also 
provides NHTSA's finding that a Buy America waiver is inappropriate for 
the purchase of a copy/printer/fax machine.
    Section 402 funds are available for use by State Highway Safety 
Programs to reduce traffic accidents and deaths, injuries and property 
damage. 23 U.S.C. 402(a). Section 405(g) funds are available for use by 
State Highway Safety Programs to implement effective programs to reduce 
the number of single and multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists 
that, among other things, includes supporting resources and training of 
motorcyclists. Buy America provides that NHTSA ``shall not obligate any 
funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Surface 
Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 2097) or [Title 23] and 
administered by the Department of Transportation, unless steel, iron, 
and manufactured products used in such project are produced in the 
United States.'' 23 U.S.C. 313. However, NHTSA may waive those 
requirements if (1) their application would be inconsistent with the 
public interest; (2) such materials and products are not produced in 
the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and 
of a satisfactory quality; or (3) the inclusion of domestic material 
will increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 25 
percent. 23 U.S.C. 313(b). In this instance, NHTSA has determined that 
non-availability waivers are appropriate for the purchase of a portable 
data projector, a wireless remote control presenter, DVDs and twenty 
high-visibility motorcycle vests because there are no sufficient 
products produced domestically that meet the needs identified by OHSP. 
The agency also finds that a cost waiver is appropriate for the twenty 
training motorcycles because domestically produced motorcycles would 
increase the cost by more than 25 percent. A waiver is not appropriate 
for the lease of a copy/printer/fax machine since OHSP did not show 
that no multi-function printers are made domestically or provide cost 
information to show that purchasing domestically produced multi-
function printers would increase the cost by more than 25 percent.
    OHSP seeks waivers (1) to purchase an Epson EX series projector and 
a Kensington wireless remote control presenter for use in its traffic 
crash report trainings and presentations; (2) to lease a Ricoh MP 5001 
Aficio copy/printer/fax machine for use by its staff; (3) to purchase 
5,000 DVDs for distribution of media messages related to highway 
safety; (4) to purchase twenty high-visibility motorcyclist vests from 
a combination of manufacturers: Fly Racing, Icon and Joe Rocket; and 
(5) to purchase twenty 2015 Suzuki TU250X motorcycles. We first address 
the office products and then address the motorcycles.
    OHSP aims to use the office products in its highway safety programs 
throughout the state of Michigan and the high-visibility motorcycle 
vests for motorcycle training. However, OHSP is unable to identify any 
portable data projectors, wireless remote control presenters, DVDs or 
high-visibility motorcyclist vests that meet the Buy America 
requirements. The Michigan State Police's Criminal Justice Information 
Center evaluated the location of manufacturing for the projectors and 
remote control presenters. Despite this assessment, Michigan was unable 
to find any American made products. Michigan also researched the 
manufacturers of blank DVDs and determined that there are no domestic 
DVD manufacturers and at least three manufacturers produce DVDs 
overseas: CMC (Taiwan and China), MBI (India) and Ritek (Taiwan). 
OHSP's investigation of domestic motorcyclist

[[Page 55530]]

vest manufacturers consisted of phone calls and emails to manufacturers 
and suppliers, Internet searches and, specifically, included an inquiry 
with the largest on-line supplier of motorcyclist riding gear in the 
United States, which reported it was unaware of such vests manufactured 
domestically. NHTSA conducted similar assessments and is not aware of 
any such portable data projectors, wireless remote control presenters, 
blank DVDs or high-visibility motorcyclist vests produced in the United 
States. Since these items are unavailable from a domestic manufacturer, 
the Buy America waivers are appropriate. NHTSA invites public comment 
on this conclusion.
    OHSP also seeks a waiver to purchase twenty 2015 Suzuki TU250X 
motorcycles for its motorcyclists training program. The starting price 
for a Suzuki TU250X is $4169. OHSP wishes to use these motorcycles for 
its motorcyclist training program because they are designed 
specifically with smaller engine displacement (250 CC), less unladen 
weight, and smaller seat height. Michigan is unable to identify any 
training motorcycles that meet the Buy America requirements. OHSP 
researched motorcycle models made by the two American motorcycle 
manufacturers, Harley Davidson, Inc. and Victory Motorcycles. Harley 
Davidson plans to produce a 500 CC motorcycle called the Street 500, 
with an estimated MSRP between $6,700 and $7500. Victory Motorcycles 
(including Indian Motorcycles) produces much heavier and larger engine 
displacement than 500 CC, with the lowest MSRP of $12,499. OHSP was 
unable to find a motorcycle that meets the requirements for training 
motorcycles that would meet the Buy America requirements. NHTSA is not 
aware of any training motorcycles currently produced in the United 
States, with Harley Davidson's Street set to start production sometime 
this year. Since the Harley Davidson Street has an estimated $6,700 to 
$7500 MSRP, it is more than 25 percent higher than the cost of a Suzuki 
TU250X and, since no other domestic manufacturer produces a motorcycle 
engine displacement of 500 CC or less, a Buy America waiver is 
appropriate. NHTSA invites public comment on this conclusion.
    Although OHSP seeks a waiver to lease a Ricoh MP 5001 Aficio copy/
printer/fax machine for use by its staff, NHTSA has determined this 
waiver is inappropriate. OHSP provided no evidence that similar items 
are not produced domestically. OHSP merely states that it cannot comply 
with the requirements of Buy America because Michigan's State approved 
contractor does not offer any other brand for OHSP to purchase and that 
the State is unable to deviate from its existing contracts to make 
provisions for Buy America. In addition, it failed to provide any 
showing that it made efforts to find an American made machine that 
complies with the Buy America requirements. NHTSA has found no basis 
under Buy America to grant a non-availability waiver for leasing a 
Ricoh copy/printer/fax machine. If the State of Michigan requires OHSP 
to lease a Ricoh MP 5001 Aficio copy/printer/fax machine pursuant to 
its State procurement regulations, nothing in Buy America or NHTSA's 
grantee requirements prohibits OHSP from using state funds to acquire 
this item.
    In light of the above discussion, and pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 
313(b)(2), NHTSA finds that it is appropriate to grant a waiver from 
the Buy America requirements to OHSP in order to purchase a Epson EX 
series projector and a Kensington wireless remote control presenter, 
DVDs, twenty high-visibility motorcyclist vests and twenty Suzuki 
TU250X motorcycles. These waivers apply to Michigan and all other 
States seeking to use section 402 and 405 funds to purchase these items 
for the purposes mentioned herein. These waivers will continue through 
fiscal year 2015 and will allow the purchase of these items as required 
for Michigan's Highway Safety Office and its training programs. 
Accordingly, this waiver will expire at the conclusion of fiscal year 
2015 (September 30, 2015). NHTSA also determines that it is 
inappropriate to grant a waiver from the Buy America requirements to 
OHSP for the lease of a Ricoh MP 5001 Aficio copy/printer/fax machine. 
In accordance with the provisions of Section 117 of the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of 
Users Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-244, 122 Stat. 
1572), NHTSA is providing this notice as its finding that a waiver of 
the Buy America requirements is appropriate for the portable data 
projector and wireless remote control presenter, but not the copy/
printer/fax machine. Written comments on this finding may be submitted 
through any of the methods discussed above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 313; Pub. L. 110-161.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 9, 2014 under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 1.95.
O. Kevin Vincent,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-21992 Filed 9-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P