Build America, Buy America Act update and webinar
By: Elisa Bottos, State Aid Project Delivery Engineer
The Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in federally funded infrastructure projects be produced in the United States.
The BABA Act enacted under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) on November 15, 2021 establishes domestic content requirements for federal financial assistance used in infrastructure projects.
BABA applies to three major product categories:
- Iron or steel products
- Manufactured products
- Construction materials (exceptions apply to cement, cementitious materials, aggregates such as stone, sand or gravel, aggregate binding agents or additives or asphalt)
Beginning with federal aid projects obligated on October 1, 2026, manufactured items must meet the 55 percent requirement, which means that 55 percent of components based on cost must be made in the United States.
FHWA is hosting a webinar to review these requirements on Thursday, September 30, 2026 from Noon - 1:30 p.m. for all internal in external stakeholders. Please register for this Zoom meeting at
https://usdot.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_MN926r-wQYycS5v7mAIpBQ.