Dalhousie University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Dalhousie has a number of sustainability considerations and requirements in RFP, tenders, and contracts with business partners. Depending on the scope of the service and/or goods, specific sustainability requirements are outlined by vendor – for example diversion targets for building projects and local food sourcing requirements. For all contractors, regardless of goods and services, set university environmental standards are required and outlined in documents such as contracts and contractors check lists. All contractors must follow legal labour standards such as minimum wage. -Paper Policy: https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/university_secretariat/policy-repository/PaperPolicy.pdf -Procurement Policy: https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/university_secretariat/policy-repository/ProcurementPolicy.pdf

Dalhousie University has a Purchasing Policy that governs purchasing at the University.  In this Purchasing Policy, Section Three on Sustainability Purchasing includes that the “Procurement decisions will consider the total cost of ownership of an item based on analysis of vendor’s response to the above criteria”.  In addition “Employees are required to utilize sustainability considerations when purchasing for university requirements.” Sustainability considerations are highlighted on the Office of Sustainability website in a Sustainable Procurement check list. In the Procurement check list, items are listed including life cycle costing; “Total cost of ownership (life cycle costing) should be evaluated. This includes capital, operating and disposal costs. Costs include factors such as utility consumption and costs; maintenance and management, durability.

Dalhousie has the Green Cleaning Policy which states that: Cleaning products shall: • have a neutral pH (closer to 7) compared to those with extreme pH (closer to 1 or 14) • be readily biodegradable • have no or low levels of dyes and fragrances • have no or low VOCs • have no carcinogens • use materials derived from renewable resources compared to those from non-renewable resources • have a high flashpoint compared to those with a low flashpoint as outlined on the product’s MSDS • have zero hazard rating from the HMIS (Hazardous Materials Identification System) rating • have multiple uses and be able to effectively be used with cold water • be available as concentrates and/or concentrates used in dilution control Janitorial products shall have: • high post-consumer recycled content • no chlorine-bleaching • no use of de-inking solvents • consist of Micro Fiber cleaning tool technology where applicable • no triclosan in hand sanitizers and other cleaning products Custodial products must meet EcoLogo and/or Green Seal certification where products are available. Custodial products should be packaged in recycled packaging that is recyclable. Preference shall be given to products that meet the goals of this policy to the greatest degree. pdf of policy: https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/university_secretariat/policy-repository/GreenCleaningPolicy.pdf

Dalhousie has the Sustainable Building Policy. This policy formalizes Dalhousie’s existing practice and commitment to green building through new constructions and renovations. that states all new building over 10,000 square feet should aim for LEED® Gold Certified, or higher. Sustainable Building Policy: https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/university_secretariat/policy-repository/SustainableBuildingPolicy.pdf

Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS) has a signed a Sustainability Policy and Statement of Principles. Our Procurement Policy reflects the importance of sustainability considerations. In meeting these policy objectives the University works to use sustainability criteria in purchasing. Information Technology products are covered under the Dalhousie Sustainable Procurement Checklist which states: Products should: -Meet the most recent ENERGY STAR certification (in all areas for which ENERGY STAR ratings exist) or meet the performance requirements for ENERGY STAR certification. -Meet Efficiency One energy efficiency standards for relevant products. -Meet Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) silver or higher standards. -Obtain or meet the most recent versions of third-party sustainability certification standards as applicable to operations and products such as ENERGY STAR, Green Guard, Blue Angel, EcoLogo, FSC, Fair Trade, Canadian Organic, and LEED. Procurment Policy: https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/university_secretariat/policy-repository/ProcurementPolicy.pdf Sustainable Procurement Checklist: https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/sustainability/Sustainable%20Procurement.pdf

The Office of Sustainability provides criteria to Ancillary Services when RFPs are released to the market. In June 2017, The Office of Sustainability provided the following criteria that was incorporated in the vending services RFP. The Office of Sustainability ED reviewed the responses with Ancillary Services. • Do you have future plans to make containers biodegradable? • What plans are there for greening fleet? • For the products being provided to the University, are all of them produced in parts of North America and then shipped to facilities in Canada for packaging? Please provide detail on the supply chain. • Are there plans to add local producers to the list of provided beverages (ex. NS apple juice) or do you own all the companies that provide beverages on the bid? • Provide us with a complete spec sheet of all the units being placed on campus to confirm energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR compliance?

We have guidelines but no third-party certification required as of yet.

Sustainability criteria are worked into the individual aspects of a bid for a project performed by professional services. Even if they are not on the note to vendors page, professional services are encouraged to highlight their sustainability features in their bids. "Vendors are advised that sustainability elements are part of procurement considerations at Dalhousie University. Vendors are encouraged to highlight sustainable elements of their responses to quotations and sealed bids even if they are not specifically requested in the quotation or bid document." -taken from the procurement website (https://www.dal.ca/dept/procurement/supplier-information.html)

For transportation and delivery services criteria is asked about the efficiency of fleet and delivery efficiency software. Sustainability is a category requested for all goods and services: https://www.dal.ca/dept/procurement/supplier-information.html In all tender and RFP documents vendors are requested to follow the vehicle idiling standard as part of general conditions

For the Agricultural Campus the main heating source for the co-generation system is biomass. A biomass values statement was created for purchasing guidance. Supply focuses on waste products such as bark and sawmill residue and yard waste from the local area. A small amount of the tonnage is categorized as research fuels. This enables the University to try new fuels that support sustainability objectives. Two research fuels being trialed in the next two years include willow and low value selectively harvested stem wood from local forestry cooperative's forest health programs. Dalhousie passed a paper policy regarding paper use on campus. Paper purchased by Dalhousie units should be purchased at the Dalhousie Print Centre which offers the 100% post-consumer paper as the base paper for the university. Both in Halifax and at the Agricultural Campus, the base office paper is FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified.