ROUND 1 – MARCH 2006
In a March 16, 2006 notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 13686), the USDA finalized the list of the first six biobased items that would be afforded Federal purchasing preference under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Federal agencies will be required, with some exceptions, to purchase biobased products within the designated items categories of mobile hydraulic fluids, roof coatings, diesel fuel additives, and penetrating lubricants no later than March 16, 2007. For the other two items, water tank coatings and bedding, bed linens, and towels, USDA is designating these items for preferred procurement, but it is deferring specifying the date by which agencies must provide preferred procurement. For both items, a preferred procurement effective date will be identified when two or more manufacturers of products within the item have been identified.