The Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) has issued a limited-time, partial exemption notice from the Buy America requirement for non-ADA accessible vans or minivans used in federally funded vanpool programs.
The FTA has determined that there are no mass-produced, unmodified, non-ADA accessible passenger vans or minivans that meet the domestic procurement requirements of the Federal Transportation Act. Engines and motors must be manufactured in the United States, and final assembly of these vehicles must occur in the United States. Partial exemptions are effective from 25 October 2022 and expire after two years or when fully compliant vehicles become available.
From October 2016 to September 2019, a similar exemption from the domestic procurement requirement for mass-produced, unmodified ADA-inaccessible vans and minivans is in effect, and the FTA has made a request to reissue the exemption. said he received
In July 2022, the FTA requested comments on the proposed partial waiver and received 126 comments. All but one supported the waiver, and many sought to expand the waiver.
Rural, small-town, paratransit, and non-emergency medical transport providers have reported concerns over supply chain issues that have led to cancellations of minibus contracts, higher prices, and increased wait times to receive vehicles. A survey by the American Regional Transportation Association found that 80% of respondents reported being very concerned about the state of alternatives to standard vehicles.
However, FTAs Federal Gazette It has not received a request to waive the requirement for heavy vehicles such as cutaway vans and buses, and has refused to extend the exemption beyond the proposed scope.
Notice of FTAs in Federal Gazette Linked here.
