ROUNDS 2, 3 AND 4 – MAY 2008
On a May 14, 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued three final rules that add 27 new items to the list of designated biobased items that are afforded a Federal purchasing preference under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The final rules appeared in three separate Federal Register notices, viewable here 73 FR 27928, 73 FR 27958, and 73 FR 27978.
Effective Date for Purchasing Preference
Federal agencies will be required to give a purchasing preference for qualifying biobased products within the 27 new designated items categories no later than May 14, 2009.
Exemptions
USDA includes exemptions from the preferred procurement requirement for (1) products or systems designed or procured for combat or combat-related missions, and (2) spacecraft systems and launch support equipment.
Designated Items
The 27 new items and the minimum content level for each item are:
(View USDA’s definitions for the items listed below.)
| Item | Minimum Biobased Content |
| Adhesive and mastic removers | 58% |
| Plastic insulating foam for residential and commercial construction | 7% |
| Hand cleaners and sanitizers – Hand Cleaners Hand Sanitizers |
64% |
| Composite panels – Plastic lumber composite panels Acoustical composite panels Interior panels Structural interior panels Structural wall |
23% |
| Fluid-filled transformers – Synthetic ester-based fluid-filled transformers Vegetable oil-based fluid-filled transformers |
66% |
| Disposable containers | 72% |
| Fertilizers | 71% |
| Sorbents | 89% |
| Graffiti and grease removers | 34% |
| 2-Cycle engine oils | 34% |
| Lip care products | 82% |
| Films – Semi-durable films Non-durable films |
45% |
| Stationary equipment hydraulic fluids | 44% |
| Disposable cutlery | 48% |
| Glass cleaners | 49% |
| Greases – Food grade grease Multipurpose grease Rail track grease Truck grease Greases not elsewhere specified |
42% 72% 30% 71% 75% |
| Dust suppressants | 85% |
| Carpets | 7% |
| Carpet and upholstery cleaners – General Purpose cleaners Spot removers |
54% |
| Bathroom and spa cleaners | 74% |
| Concrete and asphalt release fluids | 87% |
| General purpose de-icers | 93% |
| Firearm lubricants | 49% |
| Floor strippers | 78% |
| Laundry products – Pretreatment/spot removers General purpose laundry products |
46% 34% |
| Metalworking fluids – Straight oils General purpose soluble, semi-synthetic, and synthetic oils High performance soluble, semi-synthetic, synthetic oils |
66% |
| Wood and concrete sealers – Penetrating liquid sealers Membrane concrete sealers |
79% |