Quick Answer: Stryten Absolyte AGP batteries are manufactured in the United States by Stryten Energy, which makes them a strong fit for Buy American Act and domestic preference procurement. CPBS supplies country of origin and design continuity documentation with every federal quote. The Buy American Act domestic content threshold is 65 percent as of 2024, rising to 75 percent in 2029. Final compliance determination always rests with the contracting officer under the specific solicitation clauses.
Sourcing stationary batteries for a federal facility means answering a question most commercial buyers never face: where was this battery made, and can you prove it? The Buy American Act (BAA) and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) put domestic origin at the center of the purchase file, and an import brand VRLA battery can stall an otherwise clean acquisition. This guide explains, in plain English, how the two regimes treat battery purchases, why the made in USA position of Stryten Absolyte AGP matters, what documentation belongs in the contract file, and the fastest quote path for government buyers. It is sourcing guidance, not legal or contracting advice: the contracting officer makes the final call on every applicability question.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide serves the people who have to put a defensible domestic content answer in a federal purchase file. That includes:
- Federal contracting officers and contract specialists evaluating battery line items under FAR Part 25 domestic preference clauses
- Buyers at defense primes and subcontractors flowing domestic preference requirements down to component purchases
- Facility, energy, and base civil engineering managers at federal installations such as VA campuses, FAA sites, and military bases who own DC plant and UPS battery replacements
- Architect and engineering firms specifying DC power plants, switchgear batteries, and UPS strings for government projects
Many of these buyers are replacing legacy GNB Absolyte strings installed on federal sites decades ago, which adds a brand continuity question on top of the origin question. Both are answered below, and the government and defense battery systems page covers the application side in more depth.
Buy American Act vs Trade Agreements Act for Battery Purchases
The Buy American Act favors domestic end products through a price evaluation preference, while the Trade Agreements Act substitutes a different test on larger covered acquisitions. Which statute governs a battery purchase depends on the contract value, the agency, and the clauses in the solicitation, and the contracting officer confirms the governing clause set for every buy.
The Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301 to 8305, implemented in FAR Part 25) applies to federal supply contracts above the micro purchase threshold. It favors a domestic end product: an article manufactured in the United States whose domestic component cost exceeds the applicable threshold. The domestic content threshold rose to 65 percent in 2024 and is scheduled to rise to 75 percent in 2029 under the FAR amendments implementing Executive Order 14005. Those figures are the published schedule; the buyer confirms the threshold in force at the time of award.
The Trade Agreements Act applies above set dollar thresholds on covered acquisitions. Where it applies, it substitutes a different requirement: the product must be a US made or designated country end product. For Department of Defense buys, DFARS adds its own domestic preference clauses on top of the FAR baseline.
| Question | Buy American Act (BAA) | Trade Agreements Act (TAA) |
|---|---|---|
| When it applies | Federal supply contracts above the micro purchase threshold, unless TAA or an exception displaces it | Covered acquisitions above set dollar thresholds |
| The test | Domestic end product: manufactured in the US with domestic component cost above the applicable threshold | US made or designated country end product |
| How preference works | Price evaluation preference for domestic offers | Non designated country products are generally not considered |
| Content threshold | 65 percent (2024), scheduled to reach 75 percent in 2029; confirm at award | Origin based test rather than a percentage schedule |
| Strongest battery position | US manufactured line with country of origin documentation | US manufactured line with country of origin documentation |
| Who decides | The contracting officer, per the solicitation clauses | The contracting officer, per the solicitation clauses |
The practical takeaway: a battery line manufactured in the United States, backed by country of origin documentation, is the strongest sourcing position under either regime. That is exactly the position Stryten Absolyte AGP provides. Every applicability statement in this guide carries the same qualifier: the contracting officer makes the final determination under the specific solicitation.
Are Absolyte Batteries Made in the USA?
Yes. The Absolyte AGP line is manufactured in the United States by Stryten Energy (formerly GNB Industrial Power, a division of Exide Technologies). The same US plants that built GNB Absolyte GP and IIP batteries for decades build the Stryten Absolyte AGP line today, under the same design. For a federal buyer, that manufacturing history does two jobs at once: it supports the domestic preference analysis, and it gives legacy GNB sites design continuity on paper.
To be precise about the claim being made: CPBS does not assert that any battery is automatically BAA compliant. Compliance is a determination the contracting officer makes against the clauses and thresholds in force for that specific solicitation. What CPBS provides is the factual basis for that determination:
- US manufacture by Stryten Energy, documented through the manufacturer
- Country of origin documentation supplied with the quote, suitable for the contract file
- Design continuity documentation for legacy GNB replacements, anchored by the Stryten Energy Manufacturer Declaration of August 17, 2023, which states that design, engineering, and manufacturing are unchanged from the GNB product to the Stryten product
Import brand VRLA lines create file risk under domestic preference: the buyer either documents an origin position that may not survive review or pursues an exception. A US manufactured line removes that uncertainty from the file. Where a flooded battery is specified instead of VRLA, Stryten also builds the US made E-Series flooded line, so the domestic sourcing position carries across chemistries.
Where Stryten Absolyte AGP Fits on Federal and Defense Sites
Absolyte AGP is a sealed VRLA AGM standby battery engineered for the DC plants and UPS strings that federal infrastructure runs on. Typical placements include:
- Switchgear and control DC plants in federal buildings, plants, and depots
- Communications plants at FAA sites, military installations, and emergency operations centers
- UPS battery strings behind data processing and mission systems
- Substation DC systems on federal land, covered in more depth on the utility substation battery systems page
The qualifications federal specifiers ask about first, at concept level: NEBS Level 3 for telecom environments, IEEE 535 and IEEE 693 qualification including seismic, UL recognition, a UL94 V-0 flame retardant case, and nonspillable classification under UN 2800. Cell capacities run 104 to 4,800 Ah at the 8 hour rate with a 20 year design life at 25 C. The full spec data library, organized by application for RFQ work, lives in the Absolyte AGP specifications by application reference, and printable documents are on the spec sheets page. The government and defense page maps these applications to procurement scenarios.
The Federal Documentation Packet
A complete battery quote for a federal buy should arrive with the paperwork the contract file needs. The packet CPBS assembles, at concept level:
- Country of origin letter documenting US manufacture by Stryten Energy
- Product specification sheets for the quoted models
- Design continuity declaration for legacy GNB replacements: the Stryten Energy Manufacturer Declaration confirming the GNB to Stryten transition changed the brand, not the design
- Distributor authorization establishing CPBS as an authorized Stryten reseller, which closes the supply chain legitimacy question; the verification steps are covered in the authorized distributor verification guide
How each document is produced, verified, and presented to an authority having jurisdiction is its own subject, and the GNB and Stryten compliance documentation guide owns that depth. For sourcing purposes, the point is simpler: every item above ships with the CPBS quote, so the buyer is not chasing paperwork after award.
Replacing Legacy GNB Absolyte on Federal Installations
Federal sites running GNB Absolyte strings can replace them like for like with Stryten Absolyte AGP, the same battery under the current brand. GNB Industrial Power became part of Stryten Energy, and the Absolyte line continued in production in the same US plants. The brand history from GNB through Exide to Stryten is traced in the Absolyte battery history guide, and current availability is covered in the GNB availability and supply guide.
For buyers holding decades old GNB part numbers, the GNB Absolyte part number cross reference guide explains how legacy model families map to current Stryten AGP equivalents and what to send for an exact match. Installation and swap procedure for telecom and data center sites is covered step by step in the GNB Absolyte replacement field guide. On the procurement side, the design continuity documentation described above lets a buyer answer the obvious audit question, why does the invoice say Stryten when the spec says GNB, with a manufacturer document rather than an explanation.
How to Buy: RFQ Paths for Government Buyers
There are three common paths, and all three end with the same documentation packet.
- RFQ direct to CPBS. Send the solicitation excerpt, spec section, or legacy part numbers to Tom Kierna and receive a quote with country of origin documentation included.
- Through your prime or integrator. Subcontract and component buys flow the same way; CPBS supports the prime with the documentation the flow down clauses require.
- Via your agency purchasing path. CPBS quotes against agency purchase orders and standard federal payment terms as an authorized Stryten reseller.
What to include in the request: the battery spec section or model list, required delivery point, and any domestic preference clause references. If the spec is still being written, the battery specifications procurement guide covers how to write it, and a sizing consultation prepares the load data. Standard quote turnaround is fast because Absolyte AGP is a stocked, US made line. On freight: Absolyte AGP ships as a nonspillable battery under UN 2800, which simplifies transport handling relative to spillable chemistries; packaging and carrier requirements are confirmed on the quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Absolyte batteries made in the USA?
Yes. Stryten Absolyte AGP batteries are manufactured in the United States by Stryten Energy, in the same US plants that built the GNB Absolyte GP and IIP lines. CPBS provides country of origin documentation with every federal quote to support the buyer compliance determination.
Are Stryten batteries Buy American Act compliant?
Stryten Absolyte AGP batteries are made in the USA by Stryten Energy, and CPBS provides country of origin documentation supporting a Buy American Act analysis. Final compliance determination rests with the contracting officer under the thresholds and clauses of the specific solicitation.
What is the difference between the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act for battery purchases?
The BAA favors domestic end products through a price evaluation preference on federal supply contracts. The TAA applies above set dollar thresholds and substitutes a US made or designated country end product test. The contracting officer confirms which regime governs a given battery purchase.
What is the current domestic content threshold under the Buy American Act?
The domestic content threshold rose to 65 percent in 2024 and is scheduled to rise to 75 percent in 2029 under the FAR amendments implementing Executive Order 14005. Buyers should confirm the threshold in force at the time of award with their contracting officer.
What documentation do federal buyers need when purchasing industrial batteries?
A typical contract file includes a country of origin letter, product spec sheets, a design continuity declaration when replacing legacy GNB equipment, and distributor authorization. CPBS supplies all four with federal quotes; depth on each document is in the compliance documentation guide.
Can federal agencies buy batteries through a distributor like CPBS?
Yes. Federal agencies and primes routinely buy through authorized distributors. CPBS is an authorized Stryten Energy reseller with a documented authorization chain, quotes against agency purchase orders, and includes the supporting documentation the contract file requires.
Do Stryten Absolyte AGP batteries meet seismic and safety requirements for government facilities?
Absolyte AGP is IEEE 535 and IEEE 693 qualified including seismic applications, NEBS Level 3 qualified for telecom environments, UL recognized, and built in a UL94 V-0 flame retardant case. Project specific requirements are confirmed against the spec sheets for the quoted models.
What replaces GNB Absolyte batteries on federal installations?
Stryten Absolyte AGP is the direct successor to GNB Absolyte GP and IIP, built in the same US plants under the same design. Federal sites replace legacy GNB strings like for like with AGP, with design continuity documented by the Stryten Energy Manufacturer Declaration of August 17, 2023.
Does CPBS provide a country-of-origin certificate for battery purchases?
Yes. CPBS provides a country of origin letter documenting US manufacture by Stryten Energy with every federal quote, along with spec sheets and, for legacy GNB replacements, design continuity documentation suitable for the contract file and later audit.
Are Absolyte batteries hazardous materials for government shipping purposes?
Absolyte AGP batteries are classified as nonspillable under UN 2800. When packaged and marked per the applicable regulations, nonspillable batteries are excepted from many full hazardous materials transport requirements. Carrier and packaging specifics are confirmed on the quote.
How do I specify Stryten Absolyte AGP in a federal RFQ?
Pull model level spec data from the Absolyte AGP specifications by application library, and use the battery specifications procurement guide for spec writing structure. CPBS reviews draft RFQ language and supplies the documentation packet that supports the domestic preference analysis.
Who do I contact for a government battery quote?
Contact Tom Kierna at CPBS at 630-984-9718 or sales@criticalpowerbatterysolutions.com, or use the contact page. Send the solicitation excerpt, spec section, or legacy GNB part numbers and the quote returns with country of origin documentation included.
Ready to move a federal battery purchase forward? Send your solicitation, spec section, or legacy part numbers to Tom Kierna at 630-984-9718 or sales@criticalpowerbatterysolutions.com, or reach out through the contact page. The quote comes back with the country of origin documentation your file needs.
About the author: Tom Kierna is a Battery Systems Specialist at Critical Power Battery Solutions, a specialized division of Advanced Technical Services Inc. (ATS), founded 1981 and ISO 9001 certified. Tom brings 40+ years of industrial battery experience, including 15 years at GNB and Stryten, and supports federal RFQ packages with sizing, substitution, and documentation guidance. June 10, 2026.
References
- Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAR Part 25, Foreign Acquisition. Acquisition.gov.
- Buy American Act, 41 U.S.C. 8301 to 8305. United States Code.
- Federal Register, FAR Amendments to the Buy American Act Requirements, final rule establishing the domestic content threshold schedule.
- Stryten Energy, Absolyte AGP Basic Operations Manual (SE1097). Stryten.com.
- Stryten Energy, Manufacturer Declaration on GNB to Stryten Product Continuity, August 17, 2023.
