Memoranda to Africa Field Posts on Special Procurement Policy Rules Governing the Development Fund for Africa
A Mandatory Reference for ADS 312
New Edition: 02/06/2012
Responsible Office: GC
File Name: 312mab_020612
Overview
Until very recently, the "Buy America" provision of the Foreign Assistance At of 1961, as amended, FAA Section 604(a), stated in essence that FAA funds may be used for procurement outside the U.S. only if such procurement will not result in adverse effects on the U.S. economy which outweigh the economic or other advantages of less costly non-U.S. procurement. Authority to make the judgements called for in this section was delegated largely to A.I.D.'s field missions, and detailed waiver procedures were established (see AID Handbooks IB and 15). Waiver of the Buy America requirement under these procedures required extensive written justifications, multiple clearances (by personnel not present in most missions, such as lawyers, contracting and commodity management officers) and, in some cases, Washington approvals.
