There is increasing investment in the United States’ water and wastewater infrastructure, funded mainly by federal sources. The Build America, Buy America Act includes regulations on wastewater equipment and projects funded by federal grants. These requirements are changing how wastewater equipment procurement is done as a whole. Municipalities, engineers, contractors, and utilities that are looking to purchase wastewater equipment are all affected by changing requirements within the BABA Act. We’re going to explore more about what the Build America, Buy America Act is, what it affects, and tips for staying compliant with your own wastewater treatment projects.
What Is The Build America, Buy America Act?
This Act, enacted in November 2021, states that federally funded infrastructure must use construction materials made in the United States. The reason behind this rule is to support U.S. manufacturers for projects being built here, rather than pouring money into imported materials or equipment. The BABA says that iron and steel products must be produced in the U.S., and manufactured products must meet a domestic-content threshold. It applies to every infrastructure project in the United States, including wastewater treatment.
Which Wastewater Projects Are Affected By The BABA Act?
To answer this question plainly, U.S.-funded wastewater projects are affected. When we look into the details of this, owners must look into the requirements before a project is officially started. Various types of projects can be affected if they are federally funded, such as:
- Water reuse projects
- Upgrades for wastewater treatment plants
- Pumping facilities and lift stations
- Sewer collection systems
- Biosolidshandling
These are just a few of the different types of projects affected by this Act, and verifying the material’s origin is critical for projects that will continue with funding.
How Will It Affect Equipment Procurement?
Procuring equipment for wastewater treatment facilities can affect everything from the evaluation process to product selection. Understanding how it may affect your system and processes can help you remain compliant with the BABA Act.
Longer Evaluation Process: The evaluation process will be longer, as teams will have to verify domestic manufacturing before they’re able to go through with purchase orders. Additionally, extra documentation will be needed to accommodate the proof of manufacturing origin.
Supplier Qualification: Many organizations will have to ensure that domestic sourcing requirements are met and that certifications and manufacturing records are considered in all procurement decisions.
Lead Times: Due to domestic sourcing requirements, supplier options may be limited, making early planning necessary.
Product Selection: The available options may change as engineers may alternate equipment that remains compliant.
Documentation Is Starting To Become More Important Than Ever
When we look at how Buy America, Build America affects equipment and wastewater projects, one thing to remember is that there is a lot of documentation involved. In procurement, documentation is now a critical factor that can’t be left undone. Incomplete documentation can delay entire projects due to a lack of approval. Here’s a look into what kind of documentation is needed when building infrastructure that’s under the BABA Act:
- Compliance certificates
- Manufacturer certifications
- Product traceability
- Material origin documenta
- Procurement records
Challenges Being Faced By Contractors and Utilities
With anything, challenges can arise, especially when trying to stay compliant and keep up with changes. Knowing some of the more common challenges can help you stay prepared and avoid them altogether. Stay aware of these challenges so you can better plan and prepare with them in mind:
- Staying on top of and understanding federal guidance on these projects
- Finding compliant manufacturers that can be used on BABA projects
- Managing procurement schedules to stay on track
- Balancing the cost and compliance of materials
- Coordination between all the different roles, including contractors, engineers, manufacturers, and agencies that are funding
Best Practices For a Successful Wastewater Equipment Procurement Under BABA
If you are planning to work on wastewater infrastructure of some sort soon, or maybe you’ve already started, it’s crucial to understand the best ways to run a successful procurement process. These tips and best practices can help you in the decision-making process when planning your procurement:
- Confirm any funding requirements early on in the project
- Build in extra time to your projects for procurement, changes, and overall delays
- Stay present and active with manufacturers during the design process
- Request compliance documentation before putting any money into it
- Work with suppliers who are experienced in projects under the BABA Act
- Stay organized with records on procurement throughout the process
The Future of BABA’s Impact On The Wastewater Industry
The Build America, Buy America Act will affect the entire wastewater industry in various ways, especially as the industry continues to expand. We can expect additions and changes in the near future, especially regarding wastewater equipment and treatment.
Emphasis on Manufacturing Rules: We will see increased emphasis on manufacturing rules to ensure all projects remain compliant and are aware of the requirements.
Greater Collaboration: We can expect to see more collaboration between the manufacturers and the utilities.
Standardize Compliance: More standardized compliance processes may be put in place to keep all projects in line and on the same page.
Expansion of Requirements: As we move forward, we may see expanded or refined domestic content requirements as a result.
Starting Your BABA Wastewater Project Today
Wastewater projects under the Build America, Buy America Act will continue to surface as these projects become more popular and are shaped by this Act. The procurement process is one of the most important processes in these types of projects, making compliance here much more necessary. To stay compliant and be successful, you must start planning your projects early to find compliant suppliers, stay on top of documentation, and have a clear understanding of the requirements. Review the Act before starting any wastewater procurement for these projects to stay compliant and fully understand what’s needed before any project movement can proceed.
