Navigating BABA Compliance for Federal Procurement
Discover how NEMA’s Make It American™ Program helps electrical manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers navigate BABA compliance, streamline compliance with federal procurement policies, and gain a competitive edge—featuring real-world insights from a certified manufacturer.
October 21, 2025
3:00 PM UTC
1 hour
Sponsored by
October 21, 2025
11:00 AM ET / 10:00 AM CT / 8:00 AM PT / 4:00 PM GMT
NEMA’s Make It American™ Program offers a structured but flexible approach to help electrical manufacturers, distributors and supplier navigate and comply with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) provisions. This webinar will describe BABA requirements and how the program's standards and tools can assist manufacturers and suppliers to comply with these requirements for federal procurement. Finally, a certified manufacturing company, will share their path to certification and real-life benefits of participation.
Understanding BABA Requirements: An overview of the BABA provisions and their implications for electrical manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.
Program Components: Introduction to the NEMA 70901-2024 Process Standard, product specifications, and audit checklists that form the backbone of the Make It American™ Program.
Benefits for Manufacturers: How participation can enhance competitiveness in federally funded projects, ensure compliance, and streamline procurement processes.
Case Studies: Real-world example from one of the first facilities to successfully achieve certification, highlighting challenges faced and benefits realized.
Future Outlook: Discussion on upcoming product specifications, including Grid Management and Automation. Positioning the program to government agencies and end users to find certified facilities and products to use in federal projects.
Alexa Burr is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth & Membership at NEMA, where she leads the organization’s membership growth strategy and drives the development of a comprehensive, non-dues revenue model. In this role, she oversees market expansion, cultivates strategic partnerships, and launches high-impact initiatives—most notably the Make It American™ certification program, which supports manufacturers in meeting domestic content requirements under the Build America, Buy American (BABA) Act, as well as navigating evolving trade and tariff policies.
Brain Papp
Managing Director, Government Relations
NEMA
.Brian Papp is the Managing Director, Government Relations at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) where he oversees state and federal government relations efforts for the association. Mr. Papp was previously a Managing Director, Government Affairs at FTI Consulting where he worked with manufacturers helping them navigate complex trade, industrial policy, and government procurement issues as well as develop and execute strategies for engagement with policymakers. Mr. Papp served for over a decade in the United States Senate, including as Staff Director on the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on International Trade. Mr. Papp’s tenure in the Senate also included serving on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and as a Senior Policy Advisor in Senator Thomas R. Carper’s (DE) personal office. Mr. Papp successfully drafted and advanced fourteen pieces of legislation into law during his tenure in the Senate.
