DFARS – Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation AKA “The Berry Amendment”

“DFARS Compliant Material” is a term that has sent shock waves through the fastener industry since coming to the forefront in June 2005. Clause 252.225-7014 is the specification for “A Preference for Domestic Specialty Metals.” It defines the specific content for various materials the government has deemed “Specialty Metals.” Most of these qualifying metals are all varieties of stainless steels, alloy steels, titanium and zirconium.

The DFARS Clause requires qualifying metals be melted in the United States or its outlying areas, or melted in one of a list of qualifying countries. Please visit www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/DFARS/index.htm for detailed information.

This requirement became applicable to all subcontractors at any tier. Thus started the scramble for sources. Distributors seeking manufacturers that could comply. Manufacturers seeking material sources that met the requirements.

Stainless steel supplies became one of the major problems for Crescent and its customers. Material melted in the United States and the various qualifying countries was not of the same caliber as material coming from South Korea and Japan. The majority of all stainless steel product in the United States was coming from countries that were not on the list.

It has taken Crescent almost a full year to procure U.S. melted material that is of an acceptable quality to supply to our customers. Supplies have been short and lead times long, but with the assistance and cooperation of our major stainless steel vendors, we now have continuous availability of compliant material. All product ordered to be “DFARS Compliant” is shipped with full certification of the material down to the melt. This also applies to any applicable alloy steel parts, mainly 4037 and 8740 steel.