The definitions provided below are provided to assist the reader with terms used in this manual. Some of these terms may be defined differently than those used in the Code of Federal Regulations. This has been done for clarification purposes. However, the reader should note that the definitions provided here are consistent with the intentions of the Pre-Award and Post-Delivery Review of Rolling Stock Purchases Rule and the Buy America Requirements Rule.

Altered vehicle manufacturer – A manufacturer who alters a previously certified vehicle in such a manner that its stated weight ratings or FMVSS certifications are no longer valid.

Analyst – A representative of the recipient (either working directly for the recipient or contracted by the recipient)—not an employee, or an agent, of the proposed bus manufacturer (in the case of the pre-award review) or the selected bus manufacturer (in the case of the post-delivery review).

Bus – A rubber-tired automotive vehicle used primarily for the purpose of providing mass transportation service.

Buy America Rule – The "Buy America Requirements" Regulation, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 661.

Chassis-Cab – An incomplete vehicle (with a completed occupant compartment) that requires only the addition of cargo-carrying, work-performing, or load-bearing components to perform its intended function.

Completed vehicle – A vehicle that requires no further manufacturing operations to perform its intended function. This includes vehicles that are altered only by (1) the addition, substitution, or removal of readily attachable components (such as mirrors, or tire and rim assemblies) or (2) minor finishing operations (such as painting) in such a manner that the vehicle’s stated weight ratings are still valid.

Component – Any article, material, or supply, that is directly incorporated into an end product at the final assembly location.

DOT – The United States Department of Transportation.

End product – Any item to be acquired by a recipient, such as a bus.

Final assembly – The bringing together of a significant number of individual components, whether manufactured or unmanufactured, for the purpose of creating an end product.

Final-stage manufacturer – A manufacturer who performs manufacturing operations on an incomplete vehicle such that it becomes a completed vehicle.

FMVSS – Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571.

FTA – Federal Transit Administration, an agency of DOT.

Incomplete vehicle – An assemblage of components consisting of, as a minimum, frame and chassis structure, power train, steering system, suspension system, and braking system — to the extent that those systems are to be part of a completed vehicle.

Intermediate vehicle manufacturer – A manufacturer, other than the incomplete vehicle manufacturer or the final-stage manufacturer, who performs manufacturing operations on an incomplete vehicle.

Manufacture – The transformation of a component or group of subcomponents for the purpose of adding value to, improving, or creating a functionally different component.

Post-delivery – The period during the procurement process beginning with the signing of a formal contract with the selected contractor. It includes the period of bus manufacturing, inspection, testing, and delivery. It ends with bus title transfer or the placement of the buses into revenue service, whichever is first.

Pre-award – The period during the procurement process before the recipient enters into a formal contract with the supplier.

Pre-Award and Post-Delivery Rule – The "Pre-Award and Post-Delivery Audits of Rolling Stock Purchases" Regulation, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 663.

Purchaser – The recipient or subrecipient.

Recipient – A receiver of Federal financial assistance from the FTA.

Revenue service – The operation of vehicles for the transportation of passengers as anticipated by the recipient.

Review – An analysis conducted by the recipient that will result in a file containing the necessary certifications of compliance, including the Buy America certification, purchaser’s requirements certification, and FMVSS certification.

Rolling stock – Transit vehicles, such as buses, vans, cars, railcars, locomotives, trolley cars and buses, ferry boats, and vehicles used on guideways and incline planes.

STAA – The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-424, January 6, 1983).

Subcomponent – Any article, material, or supply that is one step removed from a component.

Unmodified van – A primary manufacturer’s standard production van that requires no further manufacturing operations to perform its intended function, other than the addition, substitution, or removal of readily available attachable components (such as mirrors, or tire and rim assemblies), or minor finishing operations (such as painting).