Grit-Sync

Classified Bid Items

Complete Caltrans database

Expert Answers

Curated knowledge base

Indexed Documents

FHWA & Caltrans guidance

Classification Breakdown 7,022 total items

Steel & Iron 869 Manufactured 747 Construction 1,236 Excluded 1,164 N/A 819 Unclassified 2,184

Recent Activity

Bid item lookup

#120100 — Structural Steel

De Minimis calculated

EA-07-1234 — Within threshold

18m

AI query answered

"Is HDPE pipe manufactured?"

Waiver draft saved

Non-Availability — EA-04-5678

Classification override

Traffic signal → Manufactured

System Status

Curated Expert Q&A

1,777 answers

Document Index

346 documents

Bid Item Database

7,022 items

METS API

Connected

No generative AI. All responses sourced from curated expert content and indexed documents. DD 54 R4 compliant.

BABA Phase Timeline

Enacted

May 2022

OMB Guidance

Nov 2022

Final Rule

Jan 2025

Phase 1

Oct 2025

Phase 2

Oct 2026

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What is the small grants waiver?

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BABA Bid Item Classifications

6,626

All Items

817

Steel & Iron

528

Manufactured

527

Construction

722

Excluded

1,081

N/A

2,951

Unclassified

ℹ️ Field Definitions & BABA Categories

Column Definitions

Item No – Standard Bid Item Number from DD-119
Type – Std Standard BIL or NS Non-Standard BIL
Sec – Section number per Standard Specifications
2025 – BABA 2025 Phase Compliance: Y=Compliant, N=Non-compliant, ?=TBD
F – Final Payment eligible per CCD Guide Section 7

BABA Classifications (CEM-3101)

STEEL – Iron/steel products (100% domestic, melted & poured in USA)
MANUFACTURED PRODUCT – Final assembly in USA; 55%+ cost domestic (2026+)
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL – 100% domestic manufacturing required
EXCLUDED MATERIAL – Exempt from BABA (temp materials, equipment, etc.)
NOT APPLICABLE – No materials involved (labor, services)
UNCLASSIFIED – Pending classification by METS

Source: BABA Bid Items.xlsx (Oct 2025) | Reference: DRAFT DD-119 R1, CEM-3101

Showing 2,634 items

Item No	Description	Unit	Sec	Type	Classification	2025	F

De Minimis Costs Waiver Worksheet

DE MINIMIS WAIVER THRESHOLDS:

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance):
0.1% of Total Bid OR $2,500 (whichever is GREATER)
Per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4) - Not included in De Minimis calc

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver:
5% of Total Applicable Costs OR $1,000,000 (whichever is LESSER)
Per DOT Departmental Waiver

Project Information

Project EA / Project ID

Date

DIST/COUNTY/ROUTE/PM

Resident Engineer

Contractor

Total Bid/Contract Cost ($)

✓ ALL ITEMS COMPLIANT

Add items below to calculate De Minimis waiver eligibility

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance)

NC Iron/Steel

$0.00

I/S Threshold

$2,500.00

✓ Within I/S Allowance

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver

NC (CM+MP)

$0.00

Waiver Limit

$0.00

TA (Total Applicable)

$0.00

X = NC / TA

0.0000%

Bid Item Code	Bid Item Description	Component Description	Classification	BABA Compliant	Cost ($)

📈

No items in worksheet yet

Add materials to track de minimis costs against the federal threshold. Each item's cost is checked against Iron/Steel and CM/MP limits.

Important Notes:

De Minimis waiver applies to manufactured products and construction materials only
Iron/Steel has a separate minimum use allowance (greater of 0.1% of bid or $2,500)
Excluded materials do not count toward NC or TA
Update worksheet before approving change orders to ensure De Minimis costs remain within limits

Classification Reference:

EXCLUDED MATERIAL:
Cement, aggregates, binding agents - not subject to BABA

IRON OR STEEL:
≥50% iron/steel cost, or iron/steel in precast/ITS enclosures

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL (2 CFR 184.3):
Non-ferrous metals, plastic/polymer, glass, fiber optic, optical fiber, lumber, engineered wood, drywall

MANUFACTURED PRODUCT (23 CFR 635.410):
Processed into form/shape OR combined with different properties

Quick Reference: De Minimis Threshold Tables

Iron & Steel Minimum Use Allowance (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

Threshold = 0.1% of Total Bid Cost OR $2,500 (whichever is GREATER)

Total Bid/Contract Cost	0.1% of Total	I+S Threshold	Which Applies
$500,000	$500	$2,500	$2,500 min applies
$1,000,000	$1,000	$2,500	$2,500 min applies
$2,500,000	$2,500	$2,500	Break-even point
$5,000,000	$5,000	$5,000	0.1% applies
$10,000,000	$10,000	$10,000	0.1% applies
$50,000,000	$50,000	$50,000	0.1% applies

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver (DOT Departmental Waiver)

Threshold = 5% of Total Applicable Costs OR $1,000,000 (whichever is LESSER)

Total Applicable Cost (I+S+CM+MP)	5% of Total	CM+MP Threshold	Which Applies
$100,000	$5,000	$5,000	5% limit
$1,000,000	$50,000	$50,000	5% limit
$5,000,000	$250,000	$250,000	5% limit
$10,000,000	$500,000	$500,000	5% limit
$20,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	Break-even point
$50,000,000	$2,500,000	$1,000,000	$1M cap applies
$100,000,000	$5,000,000	$1,000,000	$1M cap applies

BABA Implementation Task Matrix

Showing 0 tasks

Step	Task	Assigned To	Target Date	Status

DD-119 Division Chiefs

Total Chiefs

BAIT Assigned

Office/Division	BAIT Team Member	Division Chief	Actions

All Curated Answers

Total Answers

System (Read-only)

User-Added (Editable)

Source	Question / Keywords	Answer Preview	Category	Actions

BAIT Email Contacts

Total Contacts

Current

Past/Ghost

Last Name	First Name	Division	Office	Cell Number	Email	Type	Actions

Important BABA Dates & Deadlines

Date	Requirement/Event	Description	Actions

BABA 3.0 Decision Tree — Flowchart

REV: 10/17/2025 | For projects with E-76 approval date on/after 10/01/2025 with nSSP 6-1.04

Note: This flowchart is only for projects advertised after 10/01/2025 that include nSSP 6-1.04 and sub-section 6-1.04F. For examples, see CPD FAQs.

STEP 1

Determine Category

Based on item's status at time it is brought to the work site for incorporation

START: Is item Exempt / Excluded Material?

Temporary Works (scaffolding, formwork, shoring, temp bridges)
Consumables, tools/equipment, incidental supplies
Section 70917(c):
- Cement and Cementitious Materials
- Aggregates (stone, sand, gravel)
- Aggregate Binding Agents or Additives
Other materials not meeting any BABA classification

YES →

Category 8: EXCLUDED MATERIALS

✓ STOP - Not subject to BABA requirements

NO ↓

Is item predominantly (50%+ of cost) STEEL or IRON?

OR Iron/Steel Components within precast concrete or ITS enclosures

YES →

= Iron or Steel Product
COC states 100% melted & manufactured in USA?

YES → Cat 1: Melted & Mfg in US

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101

NO → Cat 2: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04C

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

NO ↓

Is item ONLY one of the following single materials? (per 2 CFR 184.3)

• Non-ferrous metals (Al, Cu, brass) • Plastic/polymer products (PVC) • Glass (including optic glass) • Fiber optic cable (incl. drop cable) • Optical fiber • Lumber • Engineered wood • Drywall

Minor additions of articles, materials, supplies, or binding agents do not change categorization

YES →

= Construction Material
COC states produced/manufactured in USA? (per 2 CFR 184.6)

YES → Cat 6: Domestic

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101

NO → Cat 7: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04F

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

NO ↓

Has item been processed or combined?

Processed into a specific form & shape; OR
Combined with other materials to create different properties

YES →

= Manufactured Product

Phase 1 (Oct 1, 2025)

Final assembly in US?

Phase 2 (Oct 1, 2026)

55%+ domestic component cost?

Both YES → Cat 4: 55%+ AND Final Assembly

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101 (Phase 2, eff. 10/1/26)

Phase 1 only → Cat 3: Final Assembly in US

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101 (Phase 1, eff. 10/1/25)

Neither → Cat 5: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04F

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

STEP 2

CEM-3101 Categories Summary

Iron/Steel - Domestic

100% Melted & Manufactured in US

Iron/Steel - Non-Domestic

Does not meet 100% requirement

Mfg Product - Final Assembly

Final assembly in US (Phase 1)

Mfg Product - Full Compliance

55%+ domestic AND final assembly

Mfg Product - Non-Domestic

Does not meet requirements

Construction Material - Domestic

Produced in USA

Construction Material - Non-Domestic

Not produced in USA

Excluded Materials

Not subject to BABA

DE MINIMIS EXCEPTION: Non-compliant items may qualify:
• Iron/Steel (Cat 2): Greater of 0.1% of total bid OR $2,500 per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4)
• CM + MP (Cat 5, 7): Lesser of 5% of applicable costs OR $1,000,000 per 6-1.04F
See 2 CFR 184.5 for cost definition.

Enter Product/Material Name

Enter the name of the product or material you want to classify. The system will check if it's already in our database.

Quick Select - Traffic Signal & ITS Equipment

AML Caltrans Approved Materials List

Before classifying, check if your vendor/product is already on the Caltrans Authorized Materials List. Products on the AML have pre-verified compliance documentation.

Open Caltrans AML

1 IRON/STEEL

Domestic - Melted & Manufactured in US

Requirement: 100% melted AND manufactured in USA

COC States: Iron/steel components are 100% US origin

Examples: Structural steel, rebar, guardrail, steel pipe

✓ COMPLIANT

2 IRON/STEEL

Non-Domestic

Requirement: Does NOT meet 100% US requirement

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04C)

Examples: Imported steel, foreign-manufactured components

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

3 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Final Assembly in US (Phase 1)

Phase 1 (Oct 2025): Final assembly in United States

Note: Does not yet meet Phase 2 (55% domestic cost)

Examples: Traffic signals, controllers, prefab structures

✓ PHASE 1 COMPLIANT

4 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Full Compliance (Phase 2)

Phase 2 (Oct 2026): 55%+ domestic component cost

AND: Final assembly in United States

Examples: Fully domestic manufactured products

✓ FULLY COMPLIANT

5 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Non-Domestic

Requirement: Does NOT meet Phase 1 or 2 requirements

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04F)

Examples: Imported manufactured goods, foreign assembly

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

6 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Domestic - Produced in USA

Requirement: Produced in the United States

Single materials: Aluminum, copper, plastic, glass, fiber optic, lumber, drywall

Examples: US-produced PVC pipe, domestic lumber, US glass

✓ COMPLIANT

7 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Non-Domestic

Requirement: NOT produced in the United States

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04F)

Examples: Imported copper, foreign-produced PVC

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

8 EXCLUDED

Excluded Materials

Not Subject to BABA:

Temporary works, consumables, tools
Cement, aggregates, binding agents

Examples: Scaffolding, formwork, cement, sand, gravel

○ EXEMPT

What material do you need to classify?

Type any product or material name. We'll instantly match it against 650+ pre-classified BABA items.

Need step-by-step guidance? Use the Step-by-Step wizard

Quick Classify by Category

🔩 Steel/Iron Items Cat 1-2

🔧 Non-Ferrous Metals Cat 6-7

🔵 Plastic/Polymer Cat 6-7

🚦 Traffic Equipment Cat 3-5

🧱 Cement/Aggregate Cat 8

🪵 Lumber/Wood Cat 6-7

Decision Tree Editor

HEADER

Title

Revision

Note

EXCLUDED MATERIALS Category 8

Question

Criteria (one per line)

IRON/STEEL PRODUCTS Cat 1-2

Question

Additional Condition

Compliance Question

Cat 1 (Compliant)

Cat 2 (Non-Domestic)

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Cat 6-7

Materials List (one per line)

Compliance Question

Cat 6 (Domestic)

Cat 7 (Non-Domestic)

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS Cat 3-5

Definition

Phase 1 Date

Phase 2 Date

Phase 1 Requirement

Phase 2 Requirement

Cat 3 (Phase 1)

Cat 4 (Full)

Cat 5 (Non-Domestic)

FOOTNOTE

Cost Definition Reference

Comments & Discussion

0 Pending 0 Complete

Version History

AML Vendor Compliance Tracker

0 Total Vendors

0 Pending

0 Compliant

0 Non-Compliant

0 Follow-Up Needed

Company	Product Types	Status	9501 Sent	9502 Sent	Follow-Up	Actions
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Recent AML Questions

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Email Template Generator

Select Template

Email Preview

Subject will appear here...

Select a template and fill in the details to generate your email.

Available Templates:

Initial AML Outreach - First contact to vendors for BABA compliance info
Follow-Up Request - Reminder for non-responsive vendors
Compliance Determination (Compliant) - Notify vendor of compliant status
Compliance Determination (Non-Compliant) - Notify vendor of non-compliant status
De Minimis Waiver Request - Project waiver submission template

Vendor / Manufacturer Lookup

Company Name	Product Types	BABA Status	Country	Source	Actions
Enter a vendor name and click Search to look up BABA compliance status.

Data Sources:

Local Database - Unified vendor intelligence profiles
AML Tracker - Vendor compliance from 9501/9502 forms
Manufacturer DB - MEPNN scouting results
METS API - Live vendor data from METS (cached 7 days)

Submit MEPNN scouting request | AASHTO DataMine IDR

COC Documentation Checklist

Required Certificate of Compliance documentation by BABA category. Use this checklist to ensure all required backup documents are collected.

Key References:

23 CFR 635.410 - Iron/Steel requirements
2 CFR Part 184 - BABA implementation
nSSP 6-1.04 - Caltrans specification sections

Compliance Timeline Calculator

Enter your project's Federal Funds Obligation Date to determine which BABA phase requirements apply and relevant nSSP specification sections.

Per FHWA Final Rule (23 CFR 635.410): BABA phase requirements are determined by when federal financial assistance is obligated, not when the project is advertised.

For Caltrans: Use the E-76 approval date. Per nSSP 6-1.01: "Use for all Federal Aid projects with E-76 approval date of October 1, 2025, or later."

Federal Funds Obligation Date (E-76)

Key BABA Dates (FHWA Final Rule):

May 14, 2022 - BABA enacted (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)
Nov 10, 2022 - Initial OMB guidance issued
Jan 14, 2025 - FHWA Final Rule published (Federal Register Vol. 90, No. 8)
Oct 1, 2025 - Phase 1: Projects with federal funds obligated on/after this date require Final Assembly in USA for manufactured products
Oct 1, 2026 - Phase 2: Projects with federal funds obligated on/after this date require 55% domestic component cost

Key Clarification:

"Federal-aid projects must comply with the final assembly requirement if obligated on or after October 1, 2025... FHWA believes that the point of obligation represents a clear point after which project requirements are known." - FHWA Final Rule

Source: FHWA Buy America Requirements

Waiver Package Builder

Step-by-step wizard to assemble complete waiver packages for FHWA submission.

Step 1: Select Waiver Type

📋

Clone from Previous Waiver

Copy data from a previously submitted waiver package

Non-Availability Waiver

Products not available domestically in sufficient quantity or quality

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

Requires MEPNN scouting
Min. 3 vendor contacts
FHWA approval required

Unreasonable Cost Waiver

Domestic products would increase project cost by >25%

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

25% cost increase threshold
Detailed cost comparison required
FHWA approval required

Public Interest Waiver

Domestic compliance would be inconsistent with public interest

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

Strong justification required
Cost/schedule impact analysis
Director + FHWA approval

Registry Pre-Check

Before requesting a waiver, FHWA requires documentation that compliant domestic alternatives were investigated. This check searches the vendor compliance registry for known compliant suppliers.

Searches for compliant domestic alternatives

Existing Waiver Check

FHWA has issued general applicability waivers (MIAOs) that may already cover your items. If a matching waiver exists, no individual waiver is needed for those items.

Matches against known FHWA general applicability waivers

Step 2: Enter Project Information

EA/Project Number *

Federal Aid Project # *

District *

County

Route

Post Mile

Project Description *

Advertisement Date *

Obligation Date * (Determines Phase)

AWP Estimate ($)

Step 3: Add Non-Compliant Items

No items added yet. Click "+ Add Item" to add non-compliant items.

Step 4: Applicable Costs & De Minimis Calculation

Total Bid/Contract Cost ($) *

Required for Iron/Steel de minimis calculation (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

Iron/Steel Threshold: 0.1% of Total Bid OR $2,500 (whichever is greater)

BABA Applicable Costs (from Engineer's Estimate)

Category	Item Count	Domestic Cost ($)	Non-Compliant Cost ($)
Iron (I) - CEM Category 2
Steel (S) - CEM Category 2
Construction Materials (CM) - CEM Category 5
Manufactured Products (MP) - CEM Category 7
TOTALS	0	$0.00	$0.00

Iron/Steel De Minimis

Per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4) & nSSP 6-1.04C | 0.1% of Total Bid or $2,500

Non-Compliant Iron/Steel:	$0.00
Total Bid/Contract Cost:	$0.00
0.1% of Total Bid:	$0.00
Minimum Floor:	$2,500.00
De Minimis Threshold (greater of):	$2,500.00

Enter Total Bid Cost and Iron/Steel amounts to calculate

CM + MP De Minimis

Per nSSP 6-1.04F | 5% or $1M cap

Non-Compliant CM + MP:	$0.00
Total Applicable (I+S+CM+MP):	$0.00
5% of Applicable:	$0.00
Applied Threshold (≤$1M):	$0.00

Enter costs to calculate

De Minimis Usage:

0% of threshold used

Overall De Minimis Summary

Step 5: Supporting Documentation

Step 6: Review & Generate Package

📨 Approval Routing Workflow TO BE IMPLEMENTED

👤

RE Prepares

Step 1

👥

DLA Review

Step 2

✅

District Approval

Step 3

🏛️

FHWA (if req'd)

Step 4

Track waiver status through approval chain with email notifications

Master Resolution List (MRL) Tracker

Total Items

Complete

In Progress

At Risk

Not Started

Showing 0 items

#	Description	Division	Person	Due	Status	Progress	Implementation Plan	Status/Support

Contractor's Corner FAQ Comments

Total Comments

Resolved

Pending Action

#	Comment	Source	Status/Response	Action	Edit

NSSP Quick Reference

Search Buy America spec language from nSSP 6-1.04

Quick Jump:

Section Browser

📁 6-1.01 GENERAL

📁 6-1.04 BUY AMERICA

├─ 6-1.04A General (scope, applicability)

├─ 6-1.04B Definitions

│ ├─ Iron or Steel Products

│ ├─ Construction Materials

│ ├─ Manufactured Products

│ └─ Excluded Materials

├─ 6-1.04C Iron or Steel Products ⭐

│ ├─ Domestic Requirements

│ ├─ Manufacturing Processes

│ └─ Coating Requirements

├─ 6-1.04D Manufactured Products ⭐

│ ├─ Phase 1 (Oct 2025)

│ ├─ Phase 2 (Oct 2026)

│ └─ Predominantly Steel Items

├─ 6-1.04E Construction Materials

│ ├─ Non-Ferrous Metals

│ ├─ Plastic/Polymer Products

│ ├─ Glass

│ ├─ Fiber Optic Cable

│ ├─ Optical Fiber

│ ├─ Lumber

│ ├─ Engineered Wood Products

│ └─ Drywall

└─ 6-1.04F De Minimis Waiver ⭐

├─ Threshold Calculation

├─ 5%/$1M Cap

└─ Self-Certifying Waiver

Select a Section

Source: 6-1.04_N10-07-25.docx Effective: Oct 1, 2025

📖

Select a section from the browser on the left, or use the search bar above to find specific spec language.

📄

Document Import Required

To populate this reference, import the following NSSP documents: 6-1.01_N10-07-25.docx, 6-1.04_N10-07-25.docx

Status	What It Means	Action Required
✓ Compliant	Certificate of Compliance received and verified from actual manufacturer (not distributor). Cert is active, not expired, and linked to this material in the Cert Chain Manager.	None — material is cleared.
Excluded	Not subject to BABA (aggregate, cement, soil, binding agents per Section 70917c).	None — no BABA obligations.
✓ De Min Elected	De minimis exception documented. Total category costs are under the FHWA threshold.	None — worksheet on file.
✓ Waived	Active FHWA general, agency-level, or project-specific waiver applies.	None — waiver reference on file.
ER Exempt	Emergency Relief exemption applies to this construction material only. I&S and Manufactured Products on this project still require full compliance.	None for this item — check other items.
Classify	No BABA category assigned. System cannot determine compliance path without it.	Click badge → set category: Steel, CM, MP, or Excluded.
Add Cost	Estimated cost missing. Cost determines whether a certificate is required or de minimis applies.	Click badge → enter estimated material cost.
⚡ Elect De Minimis	Cost entered and qualifies — this item's cost, combined with other items in its category, is under the FHWA de minimis threshold. Worksheet required.	Click badge → complete De Minimis Worksheet.
📋 COC Pending	Category and cost confirmed. Cost exceeds de minimis threshold. Awaiting Certificate of Compliance from the actual manufacturer. If cert is from a distributor, it is invalid — you must get the cert from whoever ran the manufacturing process.	Click badge → upload COC from manufacturer, or go to Cert Chain Manager to link an existing cert.
🔗 Cert Pending Approval	A certification has been uploaded and linked to this material (via Cert Chain Manager), but the prime contractor has not yet approved it. Common for sub-contractor uploaded certs.	Go to Portal → Cert Chain → approve or reject the linked cert.
⚠ Cert Expired	This material was previously compliant, but the linked certification has expired. The material has been automatically flipped to non-compliant. Common at project end when original certs age out.	Request renewed cert from manufacturer. Check Cert Chain → Expiry Alerts.
⚠ Distributor Cert	A cert was uploaded but it is from a distributor, not the actual manufacturer. Per FHWA rules, only the entity that performed the manufacturing process can issue a valid COC. A distributor who buys and resells cannot certify.	Identify the actual manufacturer (e.g., the steel mill, not the dealer) and request a project-specific cert from them.
⚠ Needs Waiver	No domestic source confirmed available. Cost exceeds de minimis. No valid COC obtainable. FHWA waiver required to proceed.	Click badge → check active waivers first, then start Waiver Package.

Date	Title	Type	Agency	Importance	Published	Actions
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Multi-Agency Rule Engine

Configure BABA compliance rules per federal funding agency. Thresholds, categories, waivers, and decision trees adapt automatically.

COMING SOON

How It Will Work

Each federal agency implements BABA with different thresholds, categories, and waiver types. The Multi-Agency Rule Engine will let you select your funding agency and automatically configure all BABA tools — De Minimis Calculator, Decision Tree, Waiver Builder, Compliance Matrix, and COC Checklists — to use that agency's specific rules. No code changes needed. Just select the agency and go.

Current state: All tools are configured for FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) rules per 23 CFR 635.410. The rule engine will abstract this into a configurable profile so any agency's rules can be loaded.

Select Funding Agency

ACTIVE

🛣️

FHWA

Federal Highway Administration

I/S: 100% domestic (melted & manufactured)
MP: Ph1: assembly | Ph2: 55% content
CM: 100% domestic production
De Minimis: I/S: 0.1%/$2,500 | CM+MP: 5%/$1M

COMING SOON

🚇

FTA

Federal Transit Administration

I/S: 100% domestic
Rolling Stock: 70% domestic components + assembly
Small Purchase: <$150K exempt
De Minimis: Agency-specific thresholds

COMING SOON

✈️

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

I/S: 100% domestic
MP: 100% US manufactured goods
Components: 60% cost threshold
De Minimis: Agency-specific thresholds

COMING SOON

💧

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

Baseline: 2 CFR Part 184
Programs: 70+ program-specific waivers
Water/Sewer: Program-specific rules
De Minimis: Program-specific thresholds

COMING SOON

📡

NTIA / BEAD

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment

I/S: 100% domestic
Electronics: Self-certification list
Fiber Optic: Special cable rules
De Minimis: Program-specific thresholds

COMING SOON

🏠

HUD

Housing and Urban Development

Baseline: 2 CFR Part 184
Programs: CDBG, HOME, Lead Hazard
Status: Rules under development
De Minimis: TBD

COMING SOON

⚡

DOE

Department of Energy

Baseline: 2 CFR Part 184
Programs: Grid, EV, Clean Energy
Status: Rules under development
De Minimis: TBD

COMING SOON

🏦

Treasury

Department of the Treasury

Baseline: 2 CFR Part 184
Programs: SLFRF, Capital Projects
Status: Rules under development
De Minimis: TBD

Agency Rules Comparison

Agency	Iron & Steel	Manufactured Products	Construction Materials	De Minimis (I/S)	De Minimis (CM/MP)	Special Rules
FHWA	100% domestic (melted & manufactured in US)	Ph1: final assembly in US Ph2: 55% content + assembly	100% domestic production	Greater of 0.1% or $2,500	Lesser of 5% or $1,000,000	CEM-3101 forms, nSSP 6-1.04
FTA	100% domestic	70% domestic components + final assembly	100% domestic	N/A (separate rule)	$150K small purchase exempt	Rolling stock rules, Buy America pre-award
FAA	100% domestic	100% US manufactured goods	N/A	60% cost threshold	N/A	Airport equipment, AIP grants
EPA	2 CFR 184 baseline	Per program	Per program	Program-specific	Program-specific	70+ programs, CWSRF/DWSRF
NTIA/BEAD	100% domestic	Self-certification list	Fiber optic cable rules	Program-specific	Program-specific	Electronics waivers, broadband
HUD	2 CFR 184 baseline	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	CDBG, HOME
DOE	2 CFR 184 baseline	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Grid, EV infrastructure
Treasury	2 CFR 184 baseline	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	SLFRF programs

What Changes When You Select an Agency

🧮

De Minimis Calculator

Thresholds update to agency-specific values (e.g., FTA $150K small purchase vs FHWA 0.1%/$2,500)

🌳

Decision Tree

Questions and branches adapt (e.g., FTA adds rolling stock path, NTIA adds electronics self-cert)

📋

Waiver Builder

Available waiver types change (e.g., FTA has small purchase waiver, EPA has program-specific waivers)

📊

Compliance Matrix

Category definitions and content % requirements adjust to match the funding agency's BABA rules

✅

COC Checklist

Required documentation changes per agency (e.g., FTA pre-award review, EPA self-certification)

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Form Mapping

Each agency's materials form maps to the compliance matrix (CEM-3101 for Caltrans, equivalents for others)

Why This Matters: Addressable Market

State DOTs (FHWA)

900+

Transit Agencies (FTA)

3,300+

Airports (FAA)

50,000+

Water Systems (EPA)

Multi-agency support expands from 50 state DOTs to every entity receiving federal infrastructure funds. No competing product addresses this market.

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: FHWA (Current) — COMPLETE

All tools hardcoded for FHWA rules. 6,626 bid items classified. De minimis: 0.1%/$2,500 (I/S), 5%/$1M (CM+MP). CEM-3101 form generation.

Phase 2: Rule Engine Architecture — UP NEXT

Create agency_profiles database table. Extract hardcoded FHWA logic into configurable JSON profiles. Build /api/agencies API endpoints. Add agency selector to app header.

Phase 3: FTA + FAA Profiles

Seed FTA profile (rolling stock, 70% content, $150K small purchase). Seed FAA profile (60% cost threshold). Adapt decision tree for transit/aviation paths. Regression test against FHWA.

Phase 4: EPA + NTIA/BEAD Profiles

Seed EPA profile (2 CFR 184 baseline, 70+ program waivers). Seed NTIA/BEAD profile (electronics self-cert list, fiber optic rules). Add program-level sub-configuration.

Phase 5: HUD + DOE + Treasury

Complete remaining agency profiles as rules are finalized. Add state-level sub-configurations for state DOT variations. Enterprise multi-agency project support.

BABA Bid Item Classifications

Column Definitions

BABA Classifications (CEM-3101)

De Minimis Costs Waiver Worksheet

Project Information

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance)

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver

Important Notes:

Classification Reference:

Iron & Steel Minimum Use Allowance (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver (DOT Departmental Waiver)

BABA Implementation Task Matrix

DD-119 Division Chiefs

All Curated Answers

BAIT Email Contacts

Important BABA Dates & Deadlines

BABA 3.0 Decision Tree — Flowchart

Enter Product/Material Name

Is this item an Excluded Material?

Is this item predominantly (50%+ cost) Iron or Steel?

Does the COC state 100% melted AND manufactured in USA?

Is this a single-material Construction Material?

Does the COC state produced/manufactured in USA?

Manufactured Product - Check Compliance

Classification Result

50% Iron/Steel Cost Calculator

Domestic - Melted & Manufactured in US

Non-Domestic

Final Assembly in US (Phase 1)

Full Compliance (Phase 2)

Non-Domestic

Domestic - Produced in USA

Non-Domestic

Excluded Materials

What material do you need to classify?

Quick Classify by Category

Decision Tree Editor

Decision Tree Content

Comments & Discussion

Version History

Add Comment

AML Vendor Compliance Tracker

Recent AML Questions

Email Template Generator

Fill in Details

Vendor / Manufacturer Lookup

COC Documentation Checklist

Compliance Timeline Calculator

Phase Determination

Requirements by Category

Applicable nSSP Sections

BABA Phase Timeline

Waiver Package Builder

Step 1: Select Waiver Type

Non-Availability Waiver

Unreasonable Cost Waiver

Public Interest Waiver

What material needs a waiver?

Registry Pre-Check

Existing Waiver Check

Step 2: Enter Project Information

Key Dates Analysis

Step 3: Add Non-Compliant Items

Step 4: Applicable Costs & De Minimis Calculation

BABA Applicable Costs (from Engineer's Estimate)

Iron/Steel De Minimis

CM + MP De Minimis

Overall De Minimis Summary

Step 5: Supporting Documentation

Step 6: Review & Generate Package

Master Resolution List (MRL) Tracker

Contractor's Corner FAQ Comments

NSSP Quick Reference

Section Browser

Select a Section

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Related Q&A

METS Project Search & Import ⓘ