Government Contracts Monitor

Update: USDA Designates New Categories of Biobased Products to Receive Preferential Treatment in Federal Procurement

June 18, 2013

As we previously reported here, the Federal Government has a procurement preference program for biobased products called BioPreferred.  On June 11, 2013, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated eight new categories of products that qualify for this program.  They are: aircraft and boat cleaners, automotive care products, engine crankcase oil, gasoline fuel additives, metal cleaners and corrosion removers, microbial cleaning products, paint removers, and water turbine bearing oils.  Effective July 11, 2013, federal agencies will be required, generally, to purchase biobased products within these categories when the purchase price exceeds $10,000 or the quantity of such products purchased during the preceding fiscal year equaled $10,000 or more.

To qualify for the BioPreferred program, a designated product must meet a minimum biobased content level.  The final rule contains the minimum biobased content levels for each of the new categories.  USDA set these minimum standards based on product samples submitted voluntarily by manufacturers.  

USDA determined that these categories are being produced with biobased products and that their procurement will carry out the objectives of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act) – namely, to improve demand for biobased products, to spur development of the industrial base through value-added agricultural processing and manufacturing in rural communities, and to enhance the Nation’s energy security by substituting biobased products for products derived from imported oil and natural gas. 

To find out more information about the program and other product categories currently receiving preferential treatment, visit www.biopreferred.com.

 

Katie Calogero is the attorney responsible for the content of this article.