Negotiation of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Memorandum of Understanding With Italy

Résumé

DoD has had a Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Italy since September 11, 1978. DoD is commencing negotiation of an updated RDP MOU with Italy and is soliciting input from U.S. industry that has had experience participating in public defense procurements conducted by or on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Defense or Armed Forces. The current RDP MOU involves reciprocal waivers of buy-national laws by each country; the replacement RDP MOU is expected to continue these waivers. This means that Italy will continue to be listed as one of the "qualifying countries" in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) at 225.872-1, and that offers of products of Italy would continue to be exempt from the U.S. Buy American Act and Balance of Payments Program policy that would otherwise require DoD to add 50 percent to the price of the foreign products when evaluating offers. This also means that U.S. products should be exempt from any analogous "Buy Italian" law or policy applicable to procurements by the Italian Ministry of Defense or Armed Forces. DoD is interested in comments relating to the transparency, integrity, and general fai