CNMI American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program director Geri Willis told the Variety that there are several projects that are pending because of this Act.
“For example if the commonwealth needs to buy a generator and what is available is made in Germany or Japan, we can’t buy it because of the Buy American Act,” Willis said.
The Buy American Act applies to all federal government agency purchases of goods valued over the micro-purchase threshold, but does not apply to services.
Willis said that under the Act, all goods that must be procured for public use including articles, materials, or supplies must be produced in the United States, manufactured in the US from materials made in the U.S.
She said that in rare instances, a waiver can be procured.
“But to get a waiver, we have to go through a very lengthy process which may include registering with the Federal Registry, spend several days to advertise and complete hordes of requirements,” Willis said.
She attended a conference in Washington, D.C. early this month where issues relevant to the CNMI were tackled relative to the Recovery Act Implementation.
She said discussed were issues on problems and solutions; technical reporting issues; and addressing outstanding issues. Willis also attended policy sessions on the U.S. Departments of Education, Energy, Labor and Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, recovery oversight, and preventing waste, fraud and abuse.
