Federal Acquisition Service

U.S. General Services Administration

Introduction to Green Purchasing and GHGs

Dana Arnold, DirectorProgram Analysis Division, Office of Acquisition Management

Introduction to Green Purchasing and GHGs

Dana Arnold, DirectorProgram Analysis Division, Office of Acquisition Management

VISA Government Forum, May 2, 2012VISA Government Forum, May 2, 2012

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What Do We Mean By “Green’? Federal agencies are required by statutes and executive orders

to purchase certain products with specific environmental or energy attributes.

“Green purchasing” or “sustainable acquisition” refers to purchasing products with these attributes and purchasing services under which these products will be supplied or used. For example, janitorial services contracts usually require the

contractor to supply replacement paper towels, toilet paper, and plastic trash can lines, all of which can be made from recycled materials.

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“Sustainable”

To create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

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The Federal Footprint

• Spent $459 billion on goods and services in FY 2011• Owns or leases more than 645,000 vehicles

worldwide• Manages or owns nearly 1 in every 5 acres in the

U.S.• Single largest domestic buyer and user of energy• Real property portfolio of 893,381 assets, including

399,000 buildings (2010)• Spends $3.5 billion annually to provide energy to its

facilities• Released 132.2 million MTCE in FY2010

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What Are We Trying to Accomplish? All Federal agencies purchase goods and services, operate

buildings, own or lease fleet vehicles, and use IT equipment. These four activities create significant environmental and

energy impacts. As part of Federal sustainability efforts, Federal agencies are

reducing their energy and environmental footprint, including through acquisition.

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Legal Basis of Green Purchasing

The requirements for Federal agencies to purchase products with specific environmental and energy attributes are found in laws and executive orders.

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What Are We Trying to Accomplish? The statutes and executive orders have a range of goals and

objectives: Create markets for recovered materials and biobased materials Increase building and vehicle energy efficiency Increase building water efficiency Reduce pollution Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Improve worker safety Improve building indoor air quality Demonstrate the viability of green products

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Executive Order 13423

E.O. 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, sets acquisition-related goals for:

Purchasing green products (products with specific energy and environmental attributes)

Sustainable Federal buildings EPEAT-registered products Non- or low-toxic or hazardous products

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E.O. 13514 Sustainable Acquisition GoalE.O. 13514 requires agencies to ensure that 95% of all new contracts, including contract modifications, for products and services specify: Energy-efficient products Water-efficient products Biobased products Environmentally preferable products and services Non-ozone depleting substances Recycled content products Non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives

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Statutory Requirements Recycled content: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA), Section 6002 Biobased content: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act

(2002 Farm Bill), Section 9002; and 2008 Farm Bill Energy efficient products and alternative fuel vehicles: Energy

Policy Act of 1992 and 2005 Building energy efficiency: Energy Independence and Security

Act of 2007 Alternatives to ozone depleting substances: Clean Air Act Chemicals: Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

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Program Scope Recycled content products Energy Star, FEMP-designated, and other energy efficient products

and electricity from renewable sources WaterSense and other water efficient products Alternative fuel vehicles/alternative fuels Biobased products Environmentally preferable products and services

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered products

Alternatives to ozone depleting substances Non- or less-toxic and hazardous chemicals

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Categories of Products Typically Designated Office products (paper and non-paper) Building construction, maintenance, and operations

products Cafeteriaware Personal and institutional cleaning products Landscaping materials Park and recreation products Fleet maintenance products

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Single Attribute vs Multiple Attributes Most of the green product requirements for a single

attribute: recycled content, biobased content, energy efficiency, water efficiency, alternatives to ozone depleting substances.

The environmentally preferable purchasing component of the Federal green purchasing program looks at multiple attributes.

The trend for the future will be to require multiple attributes and will look at life cycle or sustainability issues.

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FAR Provisions

Key provisions for purchase cards:

- Part 13, section 13.201(f) – FAR sections 23.1, 23,2, 23.4, and 23.7 apply to micro-purchases

- Part 23, Environment, Energy and Water Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace

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New FAR Provisions -- Policy

Ensure that 95% of new contract actions for the supply of products and for the acquisition of services require green products.

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New FAR Provisions Definition of sustainable acquisition: acquiring goods and services

in order to create and maintain conditions –

(1) Under which humans and nature can exist in product harmony, and

(2) That permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations

Synopses of contract actions must include sustainable acquisition requirements.

Contractor compliance with Federal environmental requirements when operating government-owned facilities or vehicles

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Where Can I Find the List of Designated Products? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of

Energy (DOE), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) designate products with environmental and energy for Federal agencies to purchase.

GSA consolidates the EPA, DOE, and USDA lists into the Green Products Compilation. This tool contains 19 categories, organized by the way

agencies purchase products or services (e.g., office products,

office electronics)

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Where Can I Find the List of Designated Products? The Green Products Compilation provides in one place:

The designated items Recommend recycled content and biobased content percentages or, for

energy efficient products, indications if the energy efficiency requirement is Energy Star, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), or Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

Sources – AbilityOne, UNICOR, GSA Schedules, GSA Global Supply URLs for the EPA, DOE, and USDA programs for further information

www.sftool.gov/greenprocurement18

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Step-by-step instructions

Descriptions of each environmental program

Start searching for a specific product

Browse through the 18 product categories

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New GPC

Search bar enables users to quickly

identify requirements

Expandable information allows

users to explore various levels of data

Links direct users to purchasing resources

Links to applicable environmental

programs and FAR clauses

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Displays applicable GSA Schedules, but

links to GSA Advantage Green

Aisle

Shows options for Where to Buy through GSA and select acquisition

vehiclesLists minimum

content levels, where applicable

* Indicates optional programs Lists the

products’ applicable FAR

subparts

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GSA Advantage!

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FAS Greening The Supply Chain Activities Continuing on-going efforts to increase our green offerings through:

Multiple Award Schedules Global Supply GWACs

Studying eco-labeling Assessing how to incorporate greenhouse gases and sustainability

into the supply chain

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Increasing Green Offerings Hot-spots Study Green-only offerings in Multiple Award Schedules IT Commodities BPAs Defining “green” services Alternatives to products containing toxic or hazardous

constituents, especially lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium

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Trends Multiple attribute vs. single attribute Consideration of other attributes

Take back programs Green distribution networks

Supplier and/or product GHG considerations Green-only requirements on the GSA Multiple Award

Schedules Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative

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GHGs and Purchasing One of the key goals of E.O. 13514 is the reduction of

GHG emissions. Scope 3, or indirect emissions, can include emissions related to the products and services we purchase and the emissions associated with transit, travel, meetings, and conferences.

GSA has the lead for developing tools and resources for reducing the GHG emissions from our supply chain.

GSA also is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Travel Management Office, and Department of Energy to green travel, meetings, and conferences.

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FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules

Schedule 36 (Office, Imaging, and Document Solutions) – Energy Star only mandate added summer 2010

Schedule 72 (Furnishings and Floor Coverings) – added requirement for carpet to be NSF-140 Gold compliant

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FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules

Schedule 73 (Food Service, Hospitality, Cleaning Equipment and Supplies, Chemicals and Services) – Effective mid–October, Energy Star and BioPreferred requirements SIN 302-43 (Refrigeration Equipment) SIN 375-361 (Cleaning Equipment and Accessories,

Cleaning Chemicals and Sorbents, and Janitorial Supplies)

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FAS Sustainable Acquisition Activities – Greening the Schedules

Schedule 51V (Hardware Superstore) – mandates for Energy Star, FEMP-designated, water-efficient, and non-ozone depleting substances for appliances, air conditioners, room air cleaners and purifiers, and water heaters

Schedule 03FAC (Facilities Maintenance and Management) – revised SINs to be clearly about energy efficiency services and innovations in renewable energy

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For More Information

http://www.fedcenter.gov

http://www.gsa.gov/sustainability

http://www.sftool.gov/greenprocurement

Dana ArnoldDirector, Program Analysis Divisiondana.arnold@gsa.gov