The Defense Department Nov 8 released a final rule that waives statutory domestic sourcing restrictions that apply to acquisition of specialty metals when the department is buying commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items.  Under the rule, a COTS items is defined as any items of supply that is (1) a commercial item defined in FAR 2.101 (2) sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace and (3) offered to the government without modification in the same form sold to the commercial market. The rationale for the change is to eliminate the costly, time consuming and burdensome requirements to comply with the requirements to use specialty metals melted or produced in the U.S. or qualifying countries (Fed. Reg. 63113).

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