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BABA Bid Item Classifications

6,626

All Items

817

Steel & Iron

528

Manufactured

527

Construction

722

Excluded

1,081

N/A

2,951

Unclassified

ℹ️ Field Definitions & BABA Categories

Column Definitions

Item No – Standard Bid Item Number from DD-119
Type – Std Standard BIL or NS Non-Standard BIL
Sec – Section number per Standard Specifications
2025 – BABA 2025 Phase Compliance: Y=Compliant, N=Non-compliant, ?=TBD
F – Final Payment eligible per CCD Guide Section 7

BABA Classifications (CEM-3101)

STEEL – Iron/steel products (100% domestic, melted & poured in USA)
MANUFACTURED PRODUCT – Final assembly in USA; 55%+ cost domestic (2026+)
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL – 100% domestic manufacturing required
EXCLUDED MATERIAL – Exempt from BABA (temp materials, equipment, etc.)
NOT APPLICABLE – No materials involved (labor, services)
UNCLASSIFIED – Pending classification by METS

Source: BABA Bid Items.xlsx (Oct 2025) | Reference: DRAFT DD-119 R1, CEM-3101

Showing 2,634 items

Item No	Description	Unit	Sec	Type	Classification	2025	F

De Minimis Costs Waiver Worksheet

DE MINIMIS WAIVER THRESHOLDS:

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance):
0.1% of Total Bid OR $2,500 (whichever is GREATER)
Per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4) - Not included in De Minimis calc

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver:
5% of Total Applicable Costs OR $1,000,000 (whichever is LESSER)
Per DOT Departmental Waiver

Project Information

Project EA / Project ID

Date

DIST/COUNTY/ROUTE/PM

Resident Engineer

Contractor

Total Bid/Contract Cost ($)

✓ ALL ITEMS COMPLIANT

Add items below to calculate De Minimis waiver eligibility

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance)

NC Iron/Steel

$0.00

I/S Threshold

$2,500.00

✓ Within I/S Allowance

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver

NC (CM+MP)

$0.00

Waiver Limit

$0.00

TA (Total Applicable)

$0.00

X = NC / TA

0.0000%

Bid Item Code	Bid Item Description	Component Description	Classification	BABA Compliant	Cost ($)

Click "+ Add Item" to add items to the worksheet

Important Notes:

De Minimis waiver applies to manufactured products and construction materials only
Iron/Steel has a separate minimum use allowance (greater of 0.1% of bid or $2,500)
Excluded materials do not count toward NC or TA
Update worksheet before approving change orders to ensure De Minimis costs remain within limits

Classification Reference:

EXCLUDED MATERIAL:
Cement, aggregates, binding agents - not subject to BABA

IRON OR STEEL:
≥50% iron/steel cost, or iron/steel in precast/ITS enclosures

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL (2 CFR 184.3):
Non-ferrous metals, plastic/polymer, glass, fiber optic, optical fiber, lumber, engineered wood, drywall

MANUFACTURED PRODUCT (23 CFR 635.410):
Processed into form/shape OR combined with different properties

Quick Reference: De Minimis Threshold Tables

Iron & Steel Minimum Use Allowance (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

Threshold = 0.1% of Total Bid Cost OR $2,500 (whichever is GREATER)

Total Bid/Contract Cost	0.1% of Total	I+S Threshold	Which Applies
$500,000	$500	$2,500	$2,500 min applies
$1,000,000	$1,000	$2,500	$2,500 min applies
$2,500,000	$2,500	$2,500	Break-even point
$5,000,000	$5,000	$5,000	0.1% applies
$10,000,000	$10,000	$10,000	0.1% applies
$50,000,000	$50,000	$50,000	0.1% applies

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver (DOT Departmental Waiver)

Threshold = 5% of Total Applicable Costs OR $1,000,000 (whichever is LESSER)

Total Applicable Cost (I+S+CM+MP)	5% of Total	CM+MP Threshold	Which Applies
$100,000	$5,000	$5,000	5% limit
$1,000,000	$50,000	$50,000	5% limit
$5,000,000	$250,000	$250,000	5% limit
$10,000,000	$500,000	$500,000	5% limit
$20,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	Break-even point
$50,000,000	$2,500,000	$1,000,000	$1M cap applies
$100,000,000	$5,000,000	$1,000,000	$1M cap applies

BABA Implementation Task Matrix

Showing 0 tasks

Step	Task	Assigned To	Target Date	Status

DD-119 Division Chiefs

Total Chiefs

BAIT Assigned

Office/Division	BAIT Team Member	Division Chief	Actions

All Curated Answers

Total Answers

System (Read-only)

User-Added (Editable)

Source	Question / Keywords	Answer Preview	Category	Actions

BAIT Email Contacts

Total Contacts

Current

Past/Ghost

Last Name	First Name	Division	Office	Cell Number	Email	Type	Actions

Important BABA Dates & Deadlines

Date	Requirement/Event	Description	Actions

BABA 3.0 Decision Tree

REV: 10/17/2025 | For projects with E-76 approval date on/after 10/01/2025 with nSSP 6-1.04

Note: This flowchart is only for projects advertised after 10/01/2025 that include nSSP 6-1.04 and sub-section 6-1.04F. For examples, see CPD FAQs.

STEP 1

Determine Category

Based on item's status at time it is brought to the work site for incorporation

START: Is item Exempt / Excluded Material?

Temporary Works (scaffolding, formwork, shoring, temp bridges)
Consumables, tools/equipment, incidental supplies
Section 70917(c):
- Cement and Cementitious Materials
- Aggregates (stone, sand, gravel)
- Aggregate Binding Agents or Additives
Other materials not meeting any BABA classification

YES →

Category 8: EXCLUDED MATERIALS

✓ STOP - Not subject to BABA requirements

NO ↓

Is item predominantly (50%+ of cost) STEEL or IRON?

OR Iron/Steel Components within precast concrete or ITS enclosures

YES →

= Iron or Steel Product
COC states 100% melted & manufactured in USA?

YES → Cat 1: Melted & Mfg in US

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101

NO → Cat 2: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04C

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

NO ↓

Is item ONLY one of the following single materials? (per 2 CFR 184.3)

• Non-ferrous metals (Al, Cu, brass) • Plastic/polymer products (PVC) • Glass (including optic glass) • Fiber optic cable (incl. drop cable) • Optical fiber • Lumber • Engineered wood • Drywall

Minor additions of articles, materials, supplies, or binding agents do not change categorization

YES →

= Construction Material
COC states produced/manufactured in USA? (per 2 CFR 184.6)

YES → Cat 6: Domestic

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101

NO → Cat 7: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04F

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

NO ↓

Has item been processed or combined?

Processed into a specific form & shape; OR
Combined with other materials to create different properties

YES →

= Manufactured Product

Phase 1 (Oct 1, 2025)

Final assembly in US?

Phase 2 (Oct 1, 2026)

55%+ domestic component cost?

Both YES → Cat 4: 55%+ AND Final Assembly

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101 (Phase 2, eff. 10/1/26)

Phase 1 only → Cat 3: Final Assembly in US

✓ STOP - Record on CEM-3101 (Phase 1, eff. 10/1/25)

Neither → Cat 5: Non-Domestic
Include in De Minimis per 6-1.04F

✓ STOP - Include in De Minimis Worksheet

STEP 2

CEM-3101 Categories Summary

Iron/Steel - Domestic

100% Melted & Manufactured in US

Iron/Steel - Non-Domestic

Does not meet 100% requirement

Mfg Product - Final Assembly

Final assembly in US (Phase 1)

Mfg Product - Full Compliance

55%+ domestic AND final assembly

Mfg Product - Non-Domestic

Does not meet requirements

Construction Material - Domestic

Produced in USA

Construction Material - Non-Domestic

Not produced in USA

Excluded Materials

Not subject to BABA

DE MINIMIS EXCEPTION: Non-compliant items may qualify:
• Iron/Steel (Cat 2): Greater of 0.1% of total bid OR $2,500 per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4)
• CM + MP (Cat 5, 7): Lesser of 5% of applicable costs OR $1,000,000 per 6-1.04F
See 2 CFR 184.5 for cost definition.

Enter Product/Material Name

Enter the name of the product or material you want to classify. The system will check if it's already in our database.

Quick Select - Traffic Signal & ITS Equipment

AML Caltrans Approved Materials List

Before classifying, check if your vendor/product is already on the Caltrans Authorized Materials List. Products on the AML have pre-verified compliance documentation.

Open Caltrans AML

1 IRON/STEEL

Domestic - Melted & Manufactured in US

Requirement: 100% melted AND manufactured in USA

COC States: Iron/steel components are 100% US origin

Examples: Structural steel, rebar, guardrail, steel pipe

✓ COMPLIANT

2 IRON/STEEL

Non-Domestic

Requirement: Does NOT meet 100% US requirement

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04C)

Examples: Imported steel, foreign-manufactured components

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

3 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Final Assembly in US (Phase 1)

Phase 1 (Oct 2025): Final assembly in United States

Note: Does not yet meet Phase 2 (55% domestic cost)

Examples: Traffic signals, controllers, prefab structures

✓ PHASE 1 COMPLIANT

4 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Full Compliance (Phase 2)

Phase 2 (Oct 2026): 55%+ domestic component cost

AND: Final assembly in United States

Examples: Fully domestic manufactured products

✓ FULLY COMPLIANT

5 MANUFACTURED PRODUCT

Non-Domestic

Requirement: Does NOT meet Phase 1 or 2 requirements

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04F)

Examples: Imported manufactured goods, foreign assembly

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

6 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Domestic - Produced in USA

Requirement: Produced in the United States

Single materials: Aluminum, copper, plastic, glass, fiber optic, lumber, drywall

Examples: US-produced PVC pipe, domestic lumber, US glass

✓ COMPLIANT

7 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Non-Domestic

Requirement: NOT produced in the United States

Action: Include in De Minimis Worksheet (6-1.04F)

Examples: Imported copper, foreign-produced PVC

✗ NON-COMPLIANT

8 EXCLUDED

Excluded Materials

Not Subject to BABA:

Temporary works, consumables, tools
Cement, aggregates, binding agents

Examples: Scaffolding, formwork, cement, sand, gravel

○ EXEMPT

🔍 Type a material name to find its likely BABA category

Examples: guardrail, rebar, PVC pipe, traffic signal, cement, aggregate

Quick Reference by Material Type

🔩 Steel/Iron Items Cat 1-2

🔧 Non-Ferrous Metals Cat 6-7

🔵 Plastic/Polymer Cat 6-7

🚦 Traffic Equipment Cat 3-5

🧱 Cement/Aggregate Cat 8

🪵 Lumber/Wood Cat 6-7

Decision Tree Editor

HEADER

Title

Revision

Note

EXCLUDED MATERIALS Category 8

Question

Criteria (one per line)

IRON/STEEL PRODUCTS Cat 1-2

Question

Additional Condition

Compliance Question

Cat 1 (Compliant)

Cat 2 (Non-Domestic)

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Cat 6-7

Materials List (one per line)

Compliance Question

Cat 6 (Domestic)

Cat 7 (Non-Domestic)

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS Cat 3-5

Definition

Phase 1 Date

Phase 2 Date

Phase 1 Requirement

Phase 2 Requirement

Cat 3 (Phase 1)

Cat 4 (Full)

Cat 5 (Non-Domestic)

FOOTNOTE

Cost Definition Reference

Comments & Discussion

0 Pending 0 Complete

Version History

AML Vendor Compliance Tracker

0 Total Vendors

0 Pending

0 Compliant

0 Non-Compliant

0 Follow-Up Needed

Company	Product Types	Status	9501 Sent	9502 Sent	Follow-Up	Actions
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Recent AML Questions

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Email Template Generator

Select Template

Email Preview

Subject will appear here...

Select a template and fill in the details to generate your email.

Available Templates:

Initial AML Outreach - First contact to vendors for BABA compliance info
Follow-Up Request - Reminder for non-responsive vendors
Compliance Determination (Compliant) - Notify vendor of compliant status
Compliance Determination (Non-Compliant) - Notify vendor of non-compliant status
De Minimis Waiver Request - Project waiver submission template

Manufacturer / Vendor Database

Compliant Only

Company	Product Type	Description	BABA Status	Country	Source
Enter search criteria and click Search to find manufacturers.

Data Sources:

MEPNN Scouting - NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership results
AML Responses - Vendor compliance self-certifications
Manual Entry - Staff-verified manufacturer data

Submit new MEPNN scouting request

COC Documentation Checklist

Required Certificate of Compliance documentation by BABA category. Use this checklist to ensure all required backup documents are collected.

Key References:

23 CFR 635.410 - Iron/Steel requirements
2 CFR Part 184 - BABA implementation
nSSP 6-1.04 - Caltrans specification sections

Compliance Timeline Calculator

Enter your project's Federal Funds Obligation Date to determine which BABA phase requirements apply and relevant nSSP specification sections.

Per FHWA Final Rule (23 CFR 635.410): BABA phase requirements are determined by when federal financial assistance is obligated, not when the project is advertised.

For Caltrans: Use the E-76 approval date. Per nSSP 6-1.01: "Use for all Federal Aid projects with E-76 approval date of October 1, 2025, or later."

Federal Funds Obligation Date (E-76)

Key BABA Dates (FHWA Final Rule):

May 14, 2022 - BABA enacted (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)
Nov 10, 2022 - Initial OMB guidance issued
Jan 14, 2025 - FHWA Final Rule published (Federal Register Vol. 90, No. 8)
Oct 1, 2025 - Phase 1: Projects with federal funds obligated on/after this date require Final Assembly in USA for manufactured products
Oct 1, 2026 - Phase 2: Projects with federal funds obligated on/after this date require 55% domestic component cost

Key Clarification:

"Federal-aid projects must comply with the final assembly requirement if obligated on or after October 1, 2025... FHWA believes that the point of obligation represents a clear point after which project requirements are known." - FHWA Final Rule

Source: FHWA Buy America Requirements

Waiver Package Builder

Step-by-step wizard to assemble complete waiver packages for FHWA submission.

Waiver Type

Project Info

Non-Compliant Items

Applicable Costs

Documentation

Review

Step 1: Select Waiver Type

📋

Clone from Previous Waiver

Copy data from a previously submitted waiver package

De Minimis Exception

Automatic exception for minor non-compliance

Iron/Steel: 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4)
0.1% of total bid OR $2,500 (greater)

CM + MP: DOT Departmental Waiver
5% of applicable OR $1M (lesser)

Auto-calculates dual thresholds
Cost worksheet included
District-level approval

Non-Availability Waiver

Products not available domestically in sufficient quantity or quality

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

Requires MEPNN scouting
Min. 3 vendor contacts
FHWA approval required

Unreasonable Cost Waiver

Domestic products would increase project cost by >25%

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

25% cost increase threshold
Detailed cost comparison required
FHWA approval required

Public Interest Waiver

Domestic compliance would be inconsistent with public interest

Regulatory Basis: 23 U.S.C. 313(b)

Strong justification required
Cost/schedule impact analysis
Director + FHWA approval

Step 2: Enter Project Information

EA/Project Number *

Federal Aid Project # *

District *

County

Route

Post Mile

Project Description *

Advertisement Date *

Obligation Date * (Determines Phase)

AWP Estimate ($)

Step 3: Add Non-Compliant Items

No items added yet. Click "+ Add Item" to add non-compliant items.

Step 4: Applicable Costs & De Minimis Calculation

Total Bid/Contract Cost ($) *

Required for Iron/Steel de minimis calculation (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

Iron/Steel Threshold: 0.1% of Total Bid OR $2,500 (whichever is greater)

BABA Applicable Costs (from Engineer's Estimate)

Category	Item Count	Domestic Cost ($)	Non-Compliant Cost ($)
Iron (I) - CEM Category 2
Steel (S) - CEM Category 2
Construction Materials (CM) - CEM Category 5
Manufactured Products (MP) - CEM Category 7
TOTALS	0	$0.00	$0.00

Iron/Steel De Minimis

Per 23 CFR 635.410(b)(4) & nSSP 6-1.04C | 0.1% of Total Bid or $2,500

Non-Compliant Iron/Steel:	$0.00
Total Bid/Contract Cost:	$0.00
0.1% of Total Bid:	$0.00
Minimum Floor:	$2,500.00
De Minimis Threshold (greater of):	$2,500.00

Enter Total Bid Cost and Iron/Steel amounts to calculate

CM + MP De Minimis

Per nSSP 6-1.04F | 5% or $1M cap

Non-Compliant CM + MP:	$0.00
Total Applicable (I+S+CM+MP):	$0.00
5% of Applicable:	$0.00
Applied Threshold (≤$1M):	$0.00

Enter costs to calculate

De Minimis Usage:

0% of threshold used

Overall De Minimis Summary

Step 5: Supporting Documentation

Step 6: Review & Generate Package

📨 Approval Routing Workflow TO BE IMPLEMENTED

👤

RE Prepares

Step 1

👥

DLA Review

Step 2

✅

District Approval

Step 3

🏛️

FHWA (if req'd)

Step 4

Track waiver status through approval chain with email notifications

Master Resolution List (MRL) Tracker

Total Items

Complete

In Progress

At Risk

Not Started

Showing 0 items

#	Description	Division	Person	Due	Status	Progress	Implementation Plan	Status/Support

Contractor's Corner FAQ Comments

Total Comments

Resolved

Pending Action

#	Comment	Source	Status/Response	Action	Edit

NSSP Quick Reference

Search Buy America spec language from nSSP 6-1.04

Quick Jump:

Section Browser

📁 6-1.01 GENERAL

📁 6-1.04 BUY AMERICA

├─ 6-1.04A General (scope, applicability)

├─ 6-1.04B Definitions

│ ├─ Iron or Steel Products

│ ├─ Construction Materials

│ ├─ Manufactured Products

│ └─ Excluded Materials

├─ 6-1.04C Iron or Steel Products ⭐

│ ├─ Domestic Requirements

│ ├─ Manufacturing Processes

│ └─ Coating Requirements

├─ 6-1.04D Manufactured Products ⭐

│ ├─ Phase 1 (Oct 2025)

│ ├─ Phase 2 (Oct 2026)

│ └─ Predominantly Steel Items

├─ 6-1.04E Construction Materials

│ ├─ Non-Ferrous Metals

│ ├─ Plastic/Polymer Products

│ ├─ Glass

│ ├─ Fiber Optic Cable

│ ├─ Optical Fiber

│ ├─ Lumber

│ ├─ Engineered Wood Products

│ └─ Drywall

└─ 6-1.04F De Minimis Waiver ⭐

├─ Threshold Calculation

├─ 5%/$1M Cap

└─ Self-Certifying Waiver

Select a Section

Source: 6-1.04_N10-07-25.docx Effective: Oct 1, 2025

📖

Select a section from the browser on the left, or use the search bar above to find specific spec language.

📄

Document Import Required

To populate this reference, import the following NSSP documents: 6-1.01_N10-07-25.docx, 6-1.04_N10-07-25.docx

BABA Bid Item Classifications

Column Definitions

BABA Classifications (CEM-3101)

De Minimis Costs Waiver Worksheet

Project Information

Iron & Steel (Separate Allowance)

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver

Important Notes:

Classification Reference:

Iron & Steel Minimum Use Allowance (23 CFR 635.410(b)(4))

CM + MP De Minimis Waiver (DOT Departmental Waiver)

BABA Implementation Task Matrix

DD-119 Division Chiefs

All Curated Answers

BAIT Email Contacts

Important BABA Dates & Deadlines

BABA 3.0 Decision Tree

Enter Product/Material Name

Is this item an Excluded Material?

Is this item predominantly (50%+ cost) Iron or Steel?

Does the COC state 100% melted AND manufactured in USA?

Is this a single-material Construction Material?

Does the COC state produced/manufactured in USA?

Manufactured Product - Check Compliance

Classification Result

50% Iron/Steel Cost Calculator

Domestic - Melted & Manufactured in US

Non-Domestic

Final Assembly in US (Phase 1)

Full Compliance (Phase 2)

Non-Domestic

Domestic - Produced in USA

Non-Domestic

Excluded Materials

Quick Reference by Material Type

Decision Tree Editor

Decision Tree Content

Comments & Discussion

Version History

Add Comment

AML Vendor Compliance Tracker

Recent AML Questions

Email Template Generator

Fill in Details

Manufacturer / Vendor Database

COC Documentation Checklist

Compliance Timeline Calculator

Phase Determination

Requirements by Category

Applicable nSSP Sections

BABA Phase Timeline

Waiver Package Builder

Step 1: Select Waiver Type

De Minimis Exception

Non-Availability Waiver

Unreasonable Cost Waiver

Public Interest Waiver

Step 2: Enter Project Information

Key Dates Analysis

Step 3: Add Non-Compliant Items

Step 4: Applicable Costs & De Minimis Calculation

BABA Applicable Costs (from Engineer's Estimate)

Iron/Steel De Minimis

CM + MP De Minimis

Overall De Minimis Summary

Step 5: Supporting Documentation

Step 6: Review & Generate Package

Master Resolution List (MRL) Tracker

Contractor's Corner FAQ Comments

NSSP Quick Reference

Section Browser

Select a Section

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Add MRL Item