DFARS - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

What is DFARS?

DFARS is a well-known example of an agency supplement of the FAR, Federal Acquisition Regulations. DFARS that is used by the Department of Defense. DFARS 252.225-7014 Preference for Domestic Specialty Metals was issued under the office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics. The basic requirements of DFARS include that in order for a US company to use Specialty Metals, the metals must be melted in the United States or a qualifying country. When DFARS is included as part of a purchase order it invokes the Berry Amendment, also known as the Preference for Domestic Specialty Metals. It requires that the material used in the manufacture of the fasteners in the United States be melted in the United States or a qualifying country.

What are Qualifying Countries?

A qualifying country, according to DFARS, means any country listed in subsection 225.872-1 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The qualifying countries listed under DFARS are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland.

What are Specialty Metals according to DFARS?

A. Steel with a maximum alloy content exceeding one or more of the following limits. Manganese, 1.65%, Silicon, 0.60%, or Copper, 0.60%, or containing more than 0.25% of any of the following elements. Aluminum, Chromium, Cobalt, Columbium, Molybdenum, Nickel, Titanium, Tungsten, or Vanadium.

B. Metal alloys consisting of Nickel, Iron-Nickel, and Cobalt base alloys containing a total of other alloying metals except Iron in excess of ten percent, or Titanium and titanium alloys or zirconium and zirconium base alloys.