Section 80. Policy on jobs and materials.
(a) Jobs.--It is the declared policy of the Commonwealth that the construction projects authorized in this act be used, to the greatest extent possible, to provide for the creation of jobs and the rehiring of the unemployed in this Commonwealth. In order to reach this goal, firms with Commonwealth-based facilities shall be actively solicited to make bids on contracts to furnish products and materials, including, but not limited to, steel and steel products, to be used in these projects.
(b) Materials.--Every contract document entered into to undertake a project contained in this act shall provide that any steel or other products to be used or supplied in the performance of this contract shall be required to be manufactured by plants in the United States unless the secretary determines, on a contract by contract basis, that certain required products are not produced in the United States in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements of the contract. Such a determination and the reasons therefor shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Decisions made under this subsection shall not be inconsistent with the general provisions of the act of March 3, 1978 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Steel Products Procurement Act.
(c) Minorities and women.--It is also the declared policy of the Commonwealth to require and encourage substantial participation by minorities and women in the construction projects authorized by this act.