Arizona State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Please see the guidelines in the following link: https://www.asu.edu/purchasing/forms/sustainability-purchasing-guidelines.pdf

Also, see https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/pur/pur211.html which establishes value-based standards for contractors. ASU's master agreements for contractors and design professionals also have the following requirements:
For capital expenditures over $2,000,000 the Owner, the DP and each sub-consultant shall include small businesses and disadvantaged business enterprises in the design and engineering of the Project so long as this would result in services that are comparable in quality and would not result in a material increase in the costs of the Project.
In accordance with an executive order titled ‘Air Pollution Emergency Proclamation’ modified by the Governor of Arizona on July 16, 1996, ASU requests that all products used in the performance of any contract that results from this solicitation be of low- or no-content of reactive organic compounds to the maximum extent possible.
All new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring the purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
Begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of the institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources.
Adopt measures to reduce waste.

Per the Sustainability Purchasing Guidelines, water or energy-using products and services with a price greater than $10,000 require the decision to consider all costs associated with the purchase installation, commissioning, operation, replacement, and end of life.

For products or services with a price greater than $100,000 a full Life Cycle Cost Analysis should be completed and must include the university's proxy price on carbon for energy use calculations and a discount rate for future costs.

Projects less than $10,000 are covered by the direct requirements of the Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines, which require that:
(1) Only the most water-efficient appliances available for a given use shall be purchased
(2) All electrical products purchased shall have US EPA Energy Star certification

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
Amongst available comparable options, preference shall be given to products that perform best when evaluated against the International Living Future Institute’s Red List. Cleaning solvents purchased and or used by ASU personnel and by janitorial contractors shall be biodegradable and phosphate-free, unless such requirements will compromise the quality of service. Citrus based or electrolyzed water cleaning is preferable versus other chemical cleaners. Industrial and institutional cleaning products purchased and or used by ASU personnel and by janitorial contractors shall meet Green Seal certification standards. All surfactants and detergents purchased and or used by ASU personnel and by janitorial contractors shall be readily biodegradable and shall not contain phosphates. Vacuum cleaners purchased and or used by ASU personnel and janitorial contractors shall meet the requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Testing Program Vacuum Cleaner Criteria capable of capturing 96 percent of particulates measuring 0.3 microns and operating with a sound level less than 70dBA. Products and equipment purchased shall not contain lead or mercury unless there is no available alternative. For products that contain lead or mercury, preference shall be given to Revised Oct.30, 2018 ASU Procurement those products with lower concentrations of these metals and to suppliers with established lead and mercury recovery programs. Pest control shall be managed through prevention, physical and mechanical, and through the purchase of environmentally friendly products. As a last resort, the use of the least toxic pest control substance is required. Cleaning and janitorial paper products purchased by ASU personnel and janitorial contractors shall meet one or more of the following criteria: a. Forest Stewardship Council certified b. Green Seal certified c. UL ECOLOGO certified d. U.S. EPA Safer Choice labeled Cleaning products include general purpose bathroom, glass, and carpet cleaners; degreasing agents; biologically active cleaning products enzymatic and microbial products; floor-care products e.g. floor finish and floor finish strippers; hand soaps and hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and metal polish and other specialty cleaning products. Janitorial paper products include toilet tissue, tissue paper, paper towels, hand towels, and napkins. Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial paper products and expenditures on certified green cleaning and janitorial paper products for the fiscal year must be reported annually to USP.

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines, office paper shall be purchased through SunRise or other system designated by ASU Materials Management and shall be exclusively paper that contains 90 to 100 percent post-consumer content and/or agricultural residue or is FSC Recycled certified. Preference shall be given to uncoated and non-laminated paper products whenever possible.

1. All wood and wood contained within the products that ASU purchases except paper shall be, in order of preference:
a. Reclaimed or salvaged.
b. Recycled content with the highest percentage of recycled content available.
c. Certified as sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification
system. The certification system shall include independent third-party audits with
standards equivalent to, or stricter than, those of the FSC certification.

2. All wood and wood containing products shall also not contain any added urea-formaldehyde or the least amount available for that product category; Furnishings, building fixtures, building finishes and construction products purchased by ASU personnel must be authorized by FDM and purchased through an ASU-contracted provider.

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
All desktop computers, notebooks, laptops, monitors, displays, slates, tablets, and imaging equipment purchased shall meet all Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool environmental criteria for certification at the gold level, as contained in the IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. All televisions and phones purchased shall meet the highest EPEAT rating available at the time of purchase. Mobile phones must be ECOLOGO, EPEAT certified. Multifunction devices, copiers, and printers shall be compatible with the use of recycled content paper and remanufactured toner cartridges.
Desktop printing devices shall only be purchased with written approval from Purchasing.
Desktop printing devices represent a serious Information Technology network security threat, have higher life cycle costs, and environmental impacts than centralized multifunction devices in consultation with ASU’s Information Security Office. For electronic equipment, including but not limited to computers, monitors, printers, and copiers, preference shall be given to suppliers who have a take-back program for reuse or recycling through an eStewards-certified facility deemed appropriate by ASU Zero Waste department.

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
1. Preference shall be given to food and foodservice suppliers that provide local and or community-based products and healthy and nutritional foods.
2. Preference shall be given to products that are sustainably and or ethically produced as determined by one or more recognized food and beverage sustainability standards.
3. Food waste contractors and foodservice suppliers shall participate in a robust program to minimize food waste and maximize the recovery of remaining food waste.
4. When purchasing food for an event or other activities, purchasers shall follow recommendations outlined in ASU’s Sustainability Certification for Events and review Sun Devil Dining’s Decidedly Green Catering Menu

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
1. Preference shall be given to suppliers and their business partners who respect fundamental individual and employee rights and are committed to adopting responsible practices
2. Providers and servicers of garments and linens shall provide detailed information on chemicals used in the cleaning process and identify any alternative products that could be used to reduce the negative impacts on the environment.
3. Providers shall source textiles, clothing and other goods from manufacturers participating in Fair Labor Association supply chain initiatives, Fair Trade Certification or another third-party anti-sweatshop monitoring.

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
1. All RFP’s shall include the most appropriate version of the Supplier Sustainability
Questionnaire as a mandatory form.
2. The evaluation scoring criteria for each RFP shall allocate 10 percent of total possible points to the scoring of responses to the Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire.
3. The RFP response evaluation team may:
a. Use the appropriate Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire scoring matrix to score supplier responses.
b. Request the assistance of USP in scoring supplier responses.
4. Non-RFP purchases involving three quotes or sole source are not required but are encouraged to utilize the Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire in their procurement process. Purchasers are encouraged to consider sustainability attributes when purchasing through SunRise.
5. The Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire pertains to the internal operational practices of the supplier, not to the sustainability attributes of the actual product or service being procured by ASU. The sustainability attributes of the actual product or service being procured through an RFP shall be evaluated and scored as part of the Scope in the evaluation team’s proposal scoring matrix. The evaluation team may request that a representative of USP serve as a member of the evaluation team or as a technical advisor to assist in crafting the scope of the RFP and in evaluating and scoring the sustainability attributes of the goods and or services proposed by vendor respondents.

Per the sustainability purchasing guidelines:
A carbon offset shall be purchased through the ASU travel system or another officially designated program by ASU for all ASU sponsored flights. Whenever available, renewable fuels such as used vegetable oils, biodiesel, biogas, or renewably produced synthetic fuel shall be purchased for vehicles that can operate using such alternative fuels without voiding applicable warranties or creating detrimental maintenance issues. Departments and other units seeking to acquire a vehicle shall consider ASU’s contracted carsharing company first. When purchasing a vehicle, PUR 401-07 shall be followed, which includes the following: Vehicle requirements, restrictions, and recommendations include, but are not limited to: state and federal laws require a large percentage of the vehicle fleet to operate on cleaner-burning alternative fuels. However, Purchasing and Business Services will approve the lease or purchase of only hybrid or electric vehicles, per the directive of the Office of the President. Hybrid or electric vehicles are authorized to use a Greening Maroon & Gold decal; any other exception from standard markings (as defined in FAC 204, “University Vehicle Policy”) requires approval of the executive vice president, treasurer, and chief financial officer (CFO) university vehicles are required to be white in color the purchase or rental of 12- and 15-passenger vans is prohibited and the university encourages operators of diesel-powered vehicles to utilize the biodiesel station located at the Material Services Building located at 1711 S. Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85281.

Data source:
Brennon Carlson
Associate Director of Procurement Strategy
Purchasing and Business Services
Arizona State University