2902.5—Item designation.
(a) Procedure.
Designated items are listed in subpart B. In designating items, USDA will designate items composed of generic groupings of specific products and will identify the minimum biobased content for each listed item. As items are designated for procurement preference, they will be added to subpart B. Items are generic groupings of specific products. Products are specific products offered for sale by a manufacturer or vendor. Although manufacturers and vendors may submit recommendations to USDA for future item designations at any time, USDA does not have a formal process for such submissions or for responding to such submissions.
(b) Considerations.
In designating items, USDA will consider the availability of such items and the economic and technological feasibility of using such items, including life cycle costs. USDA will gather information on individual products within an item and extrapolate that product information to the item level for consideration in designating items. In considering these factors, USDA will use life cycle cost information only from tests using the BEES analytical method.
(2)
USDA additionally will not designate items for preferred procurement that are determined to have mature markets. USDA will determine mature market status by whether the item had significant national market penetration in 1972.