Liz, to answer your unasked question about how to determine if an item is
of foreign or domestic origin, look to Part 25 of the acquisition
regulations. While not mandatory, they may help with your quandry.

Good Luck.

On Wed, 17 May 1995, Elizabeth A. Mazzella wrote:

> It strikes me in seeing the clause regarding purchasing American made
> act flowed down from the DHHS appropriations act recently that this
> is a pretty tough bill to fill.
> Sec 507 reads:
>
> " a) It is the SENSE (my emphasis) of the Congress that to the greatest extent
> practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds
> made available in this Act should be American-made...b)In providing
> financial assistance or entering into any contract with any entity
> using funds made available in this Act, the head of each Federal agency,
> to the greatest extent practicable, shall provide such entity a notice
> describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress."
>
>
> It seems to me that it is nearly impossible to determine what is
> American made these days as many products of foreign companies are in fact
> made here. While products of seemingly American companies are manufactured
> abroad.
>
> Has anyone developed a policy on following this congressional
> "guidance" (sense--what does that MEAN?) What does the greatest extent
> practicable mean?
>
> * Elizabeth (Liz) Mazzella            xxxxxx@HEALTH.STATE.NY.US*
> * Director, Technology Transfer & Contract Programs           *
> * Health Research, Inc. (A Non-Profit Corp.) Albany NY 12209  *
> * Voice: (518) 431-1200                    Fax: (518)431-1234 *