A conversation around the conference table yesterday regarding the specific requirements of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) projects raised the question, “I wonder how many open FTA-funded projects out there are struggling to find a source?”
So, why were we having that conversation? Well, when you think of transit projects — like airports, train stations, and public transit depots — a lot of these projects include architectural systems that are squarely in a growing wheelhouse for Glass+Metal Craft.
So then, why the question? Because FTA-funded projects have a Buy America requirement. Bids on contracts valued at more than $100,000 must include a Buy America certificate or will be rejected as non-responsive (except those subject to a general waiver). You’ll find the language under US Code 49 U.S.C. 5323(j) and 49 CFR Part 661.
So much of today’s fabricated glass products are sourced from overseas that I have no doubt more than a few GC’s are scratching their heads for a compliant source for a structural glass wall completing an airport expansion, or a point-supported glass canopy sheltering a new bus depot.
The good news is that WE ARE a homegrown source: Glass+Metal Craft is in full compliance with Buy America requirements. From our headquarters outside of Detroit, Michigan, we proudly fabricate glass and metal components for our fully engineered architectural systems. And we source our glass from Guardian, a U.S. manufacturer.
We’re proud to say Made in the USA! You’ll find it on our website, and on practically everything we make. As we roll into the impending wave of federal infrastructure improvement projects, head scratch no more! We’ve got it covered.
