The U.S. Department of Agriculture (US DA) has published new proposed US DA Bio-Preferred program guidelines that will expand the agency’s ability to designate bio-based products for procurement. 77 Fed. Reg. 25,632 (5/1/12). The proposal would allow for the designation of intermediate ingredients such as fibers, resins and chemicals and for the designation of complex assemblies that contain one or more components made from bio-based ingredients. The proposal would also revise some of the definitions and terminology used in the existing guidelines to clarify operating procedures. US DA requests comments by July 2, 2012.