UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Affirmative Procurement Program Green Purchasing Plan (GPP) Contains Federal Requirements and Guidance for Purchasing Green Products and Services at the NRC Issued by Division of Contracts Office of Administration September 2012 FOREWORD I am pleased to present the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) Green Purchasing Plan (GPP). This GPP serves as the framework of the agency’s efforts to buy goods and services that are safe and healthy for the public and the environment. To properly and fully execute this GPP, it is imperative that employees be familiar with its contents and requirements, understand its relationship to their jobs and roles, be able to identify and evaluate the green contents and aspects of products and services, track performance, and inform contractors about their environmental responsibilities under the terms and conditions of their Federal awards. It is the policy of the NRC to comply with Federal laws, Executive Orders (EOs), Federal agency regulations, and other policies and procedures when purchasing products and services, to the maximum extent practicable. This GPP applies to: a) all purchases of products and services where environmental requirements are applicable, b) procurements of any dollar value, including purchase card transactions, c) NRC contractors with Federal awards, and d) Federal funds to State and local governments, including block grants. While many of the requirements referenced in this GPP are specifically geared towards contracts and contractors, the NRC nonetheless encourages grantees and recipients of Federal funds to strategically incorporate sustainable environmental practices into their normal business operations to promote and enhance Federal programs and projects. Green purchasing requirements may be included in grant awards, as appropriate, either integrated into program descriptions or as special grant provisions in which grant outcomes or results affect public health or the environment. The NRC, through good environmental stewardship, helps to protect the health and safety of the public and the environment through responsible and sound business decisions to conserve valuable resources and adhere to Federal requirements. “Environmental stewardship” is a term used to describe responsibility for environmental quality shared by those whose attitudes, decisions, and actions affect the environment. Good stewardship can help create a more sustainable future for public health and the environment. The Environmental Stewardship Resource Guide is a reference tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed to help Federal employees make more informed business decisions and adopt practices that benefit the environment. Making environmental stewardship a choice in one’s everyday life helps preserve the environment, meets Federal requirements, and promotes good public health. Each NRC employee in effect serves as an environmental steward in some capacity, whether at work or in the community. The actions of NRC employees contribute to overall health of employees and of the general public, while influencing the overall quality of the environment. Through participation in various conservation efforts and adherence to Federal environmental purchasing requirements, NRC employees can make valuable contributions to improve the safety and wellbeing of the public and the environment through awareness and thoughtful buying decisions. Cynthia Carpenter, Director Office of Administration (ADM) i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) Green Purchasing Plan (GPP) has been developed to ensure that green products and services will be procured to the maximum extent practicable and fulfill the applicable affirmative procurement requirements of Executive Order (EO) 13423,” Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management,” Executive Order (EO) 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Section 612 of the Clean Air Act, Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 23, and direction from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive. This GPP provides guidelines and suggestions for purchasing: (i) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated recycled content products (i.e., EPA's "Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines"), (ii) Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool registered products), (iii) EnergyStar® and Federal Energy Management Program-designated efficient products and appliances, (iv) biobased products designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (i.e., USDA Biopreferred® program), (v) environmentally preferable products, (vi) WaterSense and other water-efficient products, (vii) products containing non- or lower-ozone-depleting substances – Significant New Alternatives Policy, and (viii) products containing non- or low-toxic or hazardous constituents (e.g., non-volatile organic compounds paint). An integral part of the successful implementation of the NRC’s GPP centers on a sustained commitment on the part of program offices, contracting officers’ representatives (COR), contract specialists, and contracting officers to ensure that green requirements (including percentage requirements for recycled content and biobased material) are included in statements of work (SOW), solicitation instructions, and evaluation criteria, as appropriate. The degree to which agency procurements contain green attributes or requirements should closely resemble and correspond with the weight afforded them during agency proposal evaluations. Where NRC procurements contain few green requirements, environmental attributes may be integrated with larger technical evaluation criteria and play a lesser role in award decisions. Conversely, requirements for construction, landscaping, or janitorial services, for instance, or purchases of designated products or items listed by USDA or EPA—which tend to have a greater impact on public health and the environment—would be expected to have greater emphasis in agency solicitations and evaluations. The solicitation’s SOW, green product requirements, instructions, provisions, criteria, and contract clauses are used by the NRC to effectively convey to vendors the importance of buying safe environmental products and services. As part of contract administration responsibilities, the COR generally is responsible for inspecting contract deliverables and services to ensure that they conform with green product and service requirements specified in the contract or order before accepting them. Please review The Environmental Stewardship Resource Guide for a brief overview of general and specific roles by Federal employees and good environmental stewardship practices. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Purpose, Authority, and Applicability ................................................................................. 1 A. Purpose ................................................................................................................. 1 B. Authority ................................................................................................................ 2 C. Applicability ........................................................................................................... 7 II. Federal Green Products and Services Programs.............................................................. 8 A. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-Designated Recycled Content Products..................................................................................................... 9 B. Energy-Efficient Products: Energy Star®, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-Designated Energy-Efficient Products and Appliances, and Low Standby Power Products ...................................................................... 13 C. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biobased Products .............................. 16 D. Environmentally Preferable Products and Services ............................................ 19 E. Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool-Registered Products .............................................................................................................. 22 F. WaterSense or Other Water Efficient Products ................................................... 24 G. Products Containing Non- or Lower-Ozone-Depleting Substances - Significant New Alternatives Policy ..................................................................... 26 H. Products Containing Non- or Low-Toxic or Hazardous Constituents .................. 28 I. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Fuels .................................................. 31 The NRC’s Three White Flint North Building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certified iii III. Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................... 35 A. Federal Environmental Executive ........................................................................ 35 B. Senior Sustainability Officer ................................................................................ 35 C. Regional Administrators ...................................................................................... 36 D. Director, Division of Administrative Services ....................................................... 37 E. Director, Division of Contracts ............................................................................. 37 F. Director, Division of Facilities and Security ......................................................... 38 G. Chief, Administrative Services ............................................................................. 38 H. Chief, Facilities Management Branch .................................................................. 38 I. Agency Program Manager for Greening Initiatives .............................................. 39 J. Agency Recycling Coordinator ............................................................................ 39 K. Facility Recycling Coordinators ........................................................................... 39 L. Environmental Point of Contact ........................................................................... 39 M. Contracting Officers and Contract Specialists ..................................................... 40 N. Program Offices .................................................................................................. 41 O. Government Purchase Card Program Manager .................................................. 42 P. Purchase Card Holders ....................................................................................... 42 Q. Contractors .......................................................................................................... 42 R. State and Local Agencies .................................................................................... 43 Energy-Efficient Light Project The NRC’s One White Flint North Building The new, two tube fixture is a modern, energy-efficient fixture that uses a more enhanced indirect lighting system. iv IV. Affirmative Procurement Plan (APP) ................................................................................ 44 A. Objectives ............................................................................................................. 44 B. Policy .................................................................................................................. 44 C. Hazardous Materials Prohibitions, Limitations, and Requirements ...................... 45 1. Prohibitions on EPA Priority Chemicals .................................................... 45 2. Purchase Alternatives to Hazardous Chemicals and Ozone-Depleting Substances .............................................................................................. 45 3. Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data Substances ............................................................................................... 46 D. Implementation of the NRC’s Green Purchasing Plan (GPP) ............................. 46 1. Implementation of the GPP—Includes all Parties in the Acquisition Process ..................................................................................................... 46 2. Acquisition Planning and Specifications ................................................... 46 3. Identifying Potential Qualified Vendors ..................................................... 48 4. Source Selection and Evaluations ............................................................ 48 5. Balancing Environmental Considerations with Performance, Availability, and Cost (Life-Cycle Cost Analysis) ..................................... 49 E. Justifications…. .................................................................................................... 49 F. Contractors ........................................................................................................... 50 V. Promotion Program .............................................................................................. 50 VI. Training ................................................................................................................ 51 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle v VII. Procedures for Annual Review and Monitoring ................................................................ 51 A. Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 51 B. Reports ................................................................................................................. 51 VIII. Annual Recognition Programs ......................................................................................... 52 A. GreenGov Presidential Awards Program ............................................................. 52 B. Other Environmental Awards................................................................................ 52 C. Non-Monetary NRC Environmental Stewardship Awards .................................... 52 IX. Waste Prevention and Recycling Programs ..................................................................... 52 A Waste Prevention ................................................................................................. 52 B. Recycling Programs ............................................................................................. 53 X. Conservation Measures and “Buying Green” .................................................................. 53 A. Energy Efficiency in Lease Provisions.................................................................. 53 B. Distributed Generation and Electrical Load Reduction Measures ........................ 53 Through early and frequent communication, particularly between Contracting Officers’ Representatives and Contracting Officers during the procurement purchasing process, the NRC can effectively balance agency mission needs with Federal green purchasing requirements and goals. vi APPENDICES Appendix A Justification for Purchasing Other Than USDA-Designated Biobased Products ........................................................................................................ 54 Appendix B Justification for Purchasing Other Than EPA-Designated Recycled Content Products ........................................................................................... 55 Appendix C Justification for Purchasing Other Than EnergyStar® or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-Designated Energy-Efficient Products ........ 56 Appendix D Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Green Purchasing Requirements ...... 57 Appendix E Procedures for Vendor Estimation, Certification, and Verification ................. 61 Appendix F Federal Sources of Recycled Content Environmentally Preferable Products ........................................................................................................ 62 Appendix G Environmental Labeling and Certification Programs ..................................... 65 Appendix H Sample Custodial Contract Green Language for USDA-Biobased Products ........................................................................................................ 67 Appendix H.1 Sample Statement of Work (SOW) with Biobased Language ....................... 68 Appendix H.2 Sample Section L, Instructions to Offerors for Purchase of Biobased Products ........................................................................................................ 72 Appendix H.2.1 Sample Sustainability Plan, Clause, and Provision ....................................... 74 Appendix H.3 Sample Section M, Evaluation Information .................................................... 76 Appendix H.3.1 Sample Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award for Purchase of Biobased Products ........................................................................................................ 78 Appendix I Sample Green Contract Language for Construction and Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Products ......................................................... 80 Appendix J Resources ..................................................................................................... 81 Appendix K Definitions ...................................................................................................... 87 Appendix L Acronyms ....................................................................................................... 94 vii I. PURPOSE, AUTHORITY, AND APPLICABILITY A. Purpose The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) Green Purchasing Plan (GPP) provides guidance to ensure the agency complies with the following regulations: • Executive Order (EO) 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management” signed January 26, 2007. • EO 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” signed October 5, 2009 • Section 6002 of the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, (42 U.S.C. 6962) • Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 - Procurement of Energy Efficient Products • Section 9002, “Federal Procurement of Biobased Products,” of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8102) • Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) • Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23 • White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) memoranda • other Federal laws and regulations. The goal of the NRC’s GPP is to facilitate purchases that benefit human health and the environment while reducing the agency’s carbon footprint and reliance on any products or services that are less friendly to the environment. By including environmental considerations, standards, or evaluation criteria into the agency’s buying decisions, along with price, quality, performance, and availability, the NRC will be promoting good environmental practices that are responsible and that serve to benefit public health and safety, prevent and reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, create efficiencies, and support vendors that produce, sell, or promote environmentally friendly supplies, products, and services. This GPP encompasses the purchasing of : (i) products designated as having recycled content by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (ii) products registered by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®), (iii) products and appliances designated as efficient by EnergyStar® and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), (iv) biobased products designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (USDA Biopreferred® program), (v) environmentally preferable products, (vi) WaterSense and other water-efficient products, (vii) products containing non- or lower-ozone-depleting substances (non-ODS) - Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP), and (viii) products containing non- or low--toxic or hazardous constituents (e.g., non- volatile organic compound (VOC) paint). 1 B. Authority This GPP serves as the NRC’s broad acquisition guidance for green purchasing pursuant to the laws, statutes, and regulations set forth below.  Section 9002 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 • Section 9002, “Biobased Markets Program,” of the Act requires each Federal procuring agency to establish a procurement program, develop procurement specifications, and procure biobased products identified under the guidelines described therein. • The Act requires that Federal agencies give a procurement preference to those items that are composed of the highest percentage of biobased products practicable, or to comply with the regulations issued under Section 103 of Public Law 100 – 556 (42 USC 6914b–1). Hyperlinks: • Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 • Section 9002 (“Biobased Markets Program”)  Section 943 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58) • Section 943, “Procurement of Biobased Products,” of the EPAct established: − requirements for Federal agencies to use of energy efficiency products, including EnergyStar®- and FEMP-designated products − requirements of the use of renewable energy, including biobased products Hyperlinks: • EPAct of 2005 • Section 943 (“Procurement of Biobased Products”)  Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 USC 8102) • Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA), “Federal Procurement of Biobased Products,” requires each Federal agency to comply with the requirements of Section 9002 with respect to any purchase or acquisition of a procurement item in which the purchase price of the USDA-designated item exceeds $10,000 or when the quantity of such items or of functionally equivalent items purchased or acquired in the course of the preceding fiscal year was $10,000 or more. Each Federal agency that procures any items designated gives preference to such items composed of the highest percentage of biobased products practicable, consistent with maintaining a satisfactory 2