The Federal Government is required by FAR Part 23 to purchase products that are energy-efficient, water-efficient, biobased, environmentally preferable, non-ozone depleting or made with recovered materials. Agencies are also directed to purchase sustainable products and services identified or recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the maximum extent practicable.
MAS contracts include FAR Part 23 environmental contract clauses that flow down to the order level. MAS contracts also include GSAM clause 552.238-78, Identification of Products that Have Environmental Attributes. This clause requires Contractors to highlight environmental products under schedule contracts in various communications media, including GSA Advantage, online websites and printed catalogs and pricelists. In order to highlight product environmental attributes on GSA Advantage, Contractors must select the applicable attributes in the Schedules Input Program (SIP) or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Note that the ENERGY STAR, EPEAT and WaterSense designations are not included in SIP because GSA automatically assigns those designations to GSA Advantage.
MAS Contractors are encouraged to use GSA’s Green Procurement Compilation (GPC) to:
- identify applicable green purchasing requirements for products and services they provide;
- learn about the EPA, DOE and USDA environmental programs; and
- access Vendor Specific Resources that provides climate-related Executive Orders, statutes and regulations, sustainable purchasing tools and resources, training and more.