(a) Public Interest.

(1) Only the head of the agency may make the determination required by FAR 25.103(a). The head of the agency may not redelegate this authority.

(2)  The determination must consider the cost advantages of any foreign sourced steel, iron, or manufactured goods.

(b) Nonavailability.

(1)  Class Determinations. FAR 25.103(b)(1)(i) does not allow for class determinations to be made at the agency level

(2) Class Determinations– Notice of Availability. Regarding FAR 25.103(b)(1)(iii)(C), documentation supporting removal of an item from the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104 should be submitted by the contracting officer to the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) in the Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer. The SPE will determine whether the documentation should be forwarded to the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).

(3) Individual Determinations. Only the HCA may make the determination required by FAR 25.103(b)(2)(i). The HCA may not redelegate this authority.

(4) Individual Determinations—Notice of Nonavailability. Regarding when the contracting officer considers that non-availability of an item will affect future acquisitions (see FAR 25.103(b)(2)(ii)), documentation supporting the addition of articles to the list of Nonavailable Articles at FAR 25.104 should be submitted by the contracting officer to the SPE. The SPE will determine whether the documentation should be forwarded to the CAAC.