The U.S. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) has been amended to help clarify the meaning of "component" and "domestic manufacture," as they apply to purchasing foreign-made products.

The definitions are particularly important to the bearing industry, because they specifically define bearings and components, and the clarification impacts bearings sourced not just for assemblies, but also for their for subassemblies and below.

Specifically, paragraph B of 225-7001 now specifically includes bearings when looking at purchases of end products, and as components within another component, purchased as an end product.

In 225.900-70, the term "component" has also been revised and clarified as, "any item supplied to the Government as part of an end product or of another component."

In the past, DFARS restrictions on bearing acquisition had only applied to bearings when they were part of a final component or assembly; it did not include bearings which were used in sub-assemblies or sub-components. That "loophole" has now been clarified and extended to include all bearings, no matter where they are in the component or sub-component mix.

DFARS 252.225-7016, "Restriction on Acquisition of Ball and Roller Bearings" is here: DFARS 252.225-7016
The important clauses in 225-7016 are:

• (a) Definitions. As used in this clause
  • (1) “Bearing components” means the bearing element, retainer, inner race, or outer race.
  • (2) “Component,” other than bearing components, means any item supplied to the Government as part of an end product or of another component.
• (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, all ball and roller bearings and ball and roller bearing components delivered under this contract, either as end items or components of end items, shall be wholly manufactured in the United States, its outlying areas, or Canada. Unless otherwise specified in this contract, raw materials, such as preformed bar, tube, or rod stock and lubricants, need not be mined or produced in the United States, its outlying areas, or Canada.
• (c) The restriction in paragraph (b) of this clause does not apply to ball or roller bearings that are acquired as—
  • (1) Commercial components of a noncommercial end product; or
  • (2) Commercial or noncommercial components of a commercial component of a noncommercial end product.