Seeking Public Comment on Proposed Public Interest Waiver of the Build America, Buy America Act for the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF
FEMA is inviting public feedback from all stakeholders—including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments; nonprofit organizations; private industry; and individuals—on the Proposed Public Interest Waiver of Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).
Date: December 23, 2024 - January 7, 2025
Important Date
Event Details
FEMA, in collaboration with interagency partners, proposes to waive BABAA requirements for one year of the Buy America Domestic Content Procurement Preference (referred to as the “Buy America preference”) as it applies to awards under the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF. FEMA proposes that a time-limited period waiver is in the public interest because, at present, FEMA does not have established policies, processes, or compliance mechanisms in place to ensure adherence to its BABAA requirements by loan recipients under the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF, and that the Buy America preference has not been effectively communicated to loan recipients to facilitate compliance.
The one-year adjustment period will give FEMA, states, tribes, territories, the District of Columbia, and loan recipients time to develop the necessary policies and procedures, including providing sufficient time to:
- Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with BABAA; and
- Develop communication and training materials for awardees and loan recipients to inform them of the new compliance obligations.
The proposed waiver would apply to iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in public infrastructure projects funded by FEMA. If finalized, the waiver would be effective for one year, starting from the effective date of the final waiver.
Anyone interested in providing feedback on the proposed waiver is encouraged to do so by Jan. 7, 2025.
After the public comment period closes on Jan. 7, 2025, FEMA will review all submitted feedback. The final waiver, along with a summary of public comments, will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
Respond by Email:
To submit a comment, you can:
- Click the “Submit Comment” button, which will prompt a draft outlook email to FEMA; or
- Email your comment directly to FEMA at FEMA-Grants-BuyAmerica@fema.dhs.gov.
When submitting comments by email, please use the subject line below:
“Public Comment for Proposed Public Interest Waiver: Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF.”