(a)(2)(A) If a department or agency considers an individual acquisition of a product to be indispensable for national security or national defense purposes and appropriate for exclusion from the provisions of FAR subpart 25.4, it may submit a request with supporting rationale to the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) (OUSD(A&S)DPCAP). Approval by OUSD(A&S)DPCAP is not required if—

(1) Purchase from foreign sources is restricted by statute (see subpart 225.70);

(2) Another exception in FAR 25.401 applies to the acquisition; or

(3) Competition from foreign sources is restricted under subpart 225.71.

(B) Public interest exceptions for certain countries when acquiring products or services in support of operations in Afghanistan are in 225.7704-1.

Acquisitions of end products in the following product service groups (PSGs) are covered by trade agreements if the value of the acquisition is at or above the applicable trade agreement threshold and no exception applies. If an end product is not in one of the listed groups, the trade agreements do not apply. The definition of Caribbean Basin country end products in FAR 25.003 excludes those end products that are not eligible for duty-free treatment under 19 U.S.C. 2703(b). Therefore certain watches, watch parts, and luggage from certain Caribbean Basin countries are not eligible products. However, 225.003 expands the definition of Caribbean Basin country end products to include petroleum and any product derived from petroleum, in accordance with Section 8094 of Pub. L. 103-139.

When acquiring products or services, other than small arms, in support of operations in Afghanistan, if using a procedure specified in 225.7703-1(a)(2) or (3), the procedures of subpart 25.4 are not applicable.

To estimate the value of the acquisition, use the total estimated value of end products covered by trade agreements (see 225.401-70).

(c) For acquisitions of supplies covered by the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, acquire only U.S.-made, qualifying country, or designated country end products unless—

(i) The contracting officer determines that offers of U.S.-made, qualifying country, or designated country end products from responsive, responsible offerors are either—

(A) Not received; or

(B) Insufficient to fill the Government's requirements. In this case, accept all responsive, responsible offers of U.S.-made, qualifying country, and eligible products before accepting any other offers;

(ii) A national interest waiver under 19 U.S.C. 2512(b)(2) is granted on a case-by-case basis. Except as delegated in paragraphs (c)(i)(A) and (B) of this section, submit any request for a national interest waiver to the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy in accordance with department or agency procedures. Include supporting rationale with the request.

(A) The head of the contracting activity may approve a national interest waiver for a purchase by an overseas purchasing activity, if the waiver is supported by a written statement from the requiring activity that the products being acquired are critical for the support of U.S. forces stationed abroad.

(B) The Commander or Director, Defense Energy Support Center, may approve national interest waivers for purchases of fuel for use by U.S. forces overseas; or

(iii) The acquisition is in support of operations in Afghanistan (see 225.7704-1).

(a)(4) The requirements of FAR 25.408(a)(4), on submission of offers in U.S. dollars, do not apply to overseas acquisitions or to Defense Energy Support Center post, camp, or station overseas requirements.