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In October 2022, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a two-year partial general non-availability waiver from the Buy America requirements for certain commercially produced minivans and vans used in public transportation. Today, FTA published a Federal Register notice announcing a five-year extension of that waiver.
FTA recipients typically use standard mass-produced model vans and minivans to operate vanpools and other public transportation services for passengers who do not require an ADA-accessible vehicle. Today’s waiver extension ensures FTA grantees will continue to be able to procure certain commercially produced minivans and vans using FTA funds.
FTA’s Buy America statute requires that rolling stock, including vans and minivans, must have more than 70-percent domestic content and that final assembly must occur in the United States. FTA concluded there are currently no mass-produced, unmodified non-ADA accessible passenger vans or minivans that meet FTA’s domestic content requirement.
As a result, FTA has extended its waiver for five years in response to stakeholder requests. Final assembly of these vehicles must occur in the United States, and to maximize domestic content, the waiver requires that the engines or motors must be manufactured in the United States, as reported under the American Automobile Labeling Act. FTA may publish a rescission notice if it determines that a fully Buy America-compliant vehicle has become available.
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