I am working with a customer on a project that has a requirement for a certain number of Buy America (not Buy American, but Buy America) compliant cameras. I would like to be able to give the a few recommendations of cameras that will fit this bill. While I work for a camera manufacturer, we don't make anything that fits the bill.
The two bills have some key differences. For a product to be fully Buy America compliant, not only does the product need to be made in the US, but all of it's components need to be made in the US, and all of the materials that make up the components need to be made in the US. This means that you need to go beyond making our cameras in a US factory. We would also need to make sure that all of the components that make up the camera are made in the US. Additionally, the materials would need to be made in the US. Screws and bolts would need to be made in the US with US manufactured steel, etc. The thermoplastic would need to be formed in a US factory, and the plastic itself would need to be formulated in a US petrochem facility from domestic oil.
With ARRA funds and Transportation Administration grants, this is becoming a big deal. Can anyone point me at a Buy America camera, or enlighten me on how Axis and Sony and the rest are getting around this?