Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 37.54
Liaison Matthew Shockey
Submission Date Dec. 17, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Indiana University South Bend
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 James Mason
Assistant Director of Facilities
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:

The IU Office of Procurement Services recommends buying sustainable products with these labels and certifications:
BioPreferred
Cradle to Cradle Certification
Electronic Product Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Paper
Green Building Standards
Green Seal Environmental Standards
Water Sense

The following information, as well as a detailed list of areas in which the university is purchasing sustainable items, can be found on the Sustainable Purchasing website (http://www.indiana.edu/~purchase/sustainability/sustainability.php). The purchasing ethos is described on this site: "As we face global issues in economy, energy, climate change, equity, water and food, it is time that Indiana University, as a leading institute of higher education, move towards sustainability. The Indiana University Purchasing Department has been encouraging “green” purchasing over the years. Efforts are made in the areas of papers, cleaning products, furniture, carpets, and some food items, among others. It is a step-by-step progress towards moving Indiana University towards a sustainable campus."

Additionally, Indiana University has a policy in place (FIN-PUR-13.0) to support historically underutilized suppliers. Efforts will be made in the purchasing departments to identify historically underutilized suppliers, inform these suppliers of University requirements, and solicit quotes from such suppliers whenever possible. Procurement professionals will support the efforts of the Business Diversity Program and will communicate with historically-underutilized suppliers regarding the purchasing process so that they may become more viable suppliers.

Historically-underutilized Supplier is identified by IU as: "A large or small minority-owned business concern owned and controlled by minority individuals." The term "large or small business concern owned and controlled by minority individuals" means a business that is at least 51% owned by such individuals; or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals. "Minority individuals" include Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Asian-Indian Americans.

Native Americans: The term "Native American" includes American Indians, American Eskimos, American Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians. The term "Asian-Pacific Americans" includes United States citizens whose origins are from Japan, China, The Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Territories of the Pacific, Northern Marianas, Laos, Cambodia, and Taiwan. The term "Asian Indian Americans" includes United States citizens whose origins are from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.


Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA as a matter of policy and standard practice when evaluating all energy- and water-using products, systems and building components

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:

Awards shall be made employing a combination of the following criteria:

1. Degree to which the item(s) or service quoted will best fill the University's requirements
2. Price includes freight, payment terms, and life-cycle costing
3. Delivery date
4. Service
5. Expertise
6. Everything being equal, purchase will be made from local, state and U.S. vendors, in that order

Life-Cycle Costing: Includes total acquisition price, installation, annual operating and maintenance costs, and residual value.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:

The IU South Bend campus no longer cleans and polishes its floor using wax products, but rather polishes them using grain stone disks. This has eliminated the need to purchase certain cleaning products. In those instances where floor cleaning products are needed, IU South Bend purchases products which are water based and have low or no levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's).

Additionally, mercury containing items are strictly limited. The Mercury Elimination Program states: "Effective December 31, 2016, no mercury-containing device, elemental mercury or mercury-based chemical may be acquired without the expressed written consent of the IUEHS Office for the respective campus."
See: https://protect.iu.edu/doc/environmental-health/pdf/IU%20Mercury%20Elimination%20Program.pdf


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:

IU's Strategic Plan states a commitment to achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold in new construction and major renovation projects. Among other criteria, this standard includes consideration of construction and renovation products, including furnishings and building materials.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:

FIN-PUR-19.0: All energy consuming products, appliances and equipment purchased by the University shall be Energy Star qualified whenever possible or practical. The University is committed to reducing its energy consumption and to containing its costs related to energy consumption.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:

Architecture and engineering bids must include:
-ASHRAE Energy Efficient Design standards and fixtures
-Priority for Minority and Women 's Business Enterprise
-Utilization of regional limestone highly encouraged

http://www.iu.edu/~vpcpf/consultant-contractor/index.shtml


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:

University Procurement Services will comply with all state statutes, federal laws, and regulations. Included, but not exclusive, is the following state statute: Recycled Paper Products - Statute #IC 20-12-67 et seq.

This states: There is a price preference of ten percent (10%) for supplies that meet at least one (1) of the following descriptions:
(1) At least fifty percent (50%) of the volume of the original components of the supplies consisted of recycled materials.
(2) The cost of purchasing recycled materials constituted at least fifty percent (50%) of the cost of producing the supplies.
(3) A percentage by weight or volume of recycled materials which the commissioner of the department of environmental management determines by rule is eligible for procurement preference under this chapter.

Further, the Office of Procurement Services recommends buying sustainable products with these labels and certifications:

BioPreferred
Cradle to Cradle Certification
Electronic Product Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
Energy Star
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Paper
Green Building Standards
Green Seal Environmental Standards
Water Sense

IU Policy FIN-PUR-10.1, Protection of Old Growth Forests specifies "Indiana University will avoid wood or paper products derived from old growth forests...Indiana University reserves the right to ask for documentation from any supplier if sufficient evidence is presented that the supplier is in violation of this policy. Indiana University also reserves the right to sever all dealings with any supplier in violation of this policy."
http://policies.iu.edu/policies/categories/financial/purchasing/FIN-PUR-10.1-protection-of-old-growth-forests.shtml


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:

Soy Print (PRC Technologies) offers an alternative to oil based toner with their soy based toner. Indiana University has negotiated an agreement with Soy Print so that the printer and toner are properly warranted by Soy Print.
We have verified that the following vendors offer printing with soy ink (this list may not be exhaustive):
Metropolitan Printing
World Arts
Partners Printing
Rainbow Printing
Spectrum Press
SPG Graphics
Graessle-Mercer Co.
IU Printing Service


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The policies for this credit are Institution-Wide Policies. They were retrieved from the 2018 IU Bloomington report.

The policies relating to "Chemically Intensive Products and Services" for IU South Bend were retrieved from the Assistant Director of Facilities at the IU South Bend campus.


The policies for this credit are Institution-Wide Policies. They were retrieved from the 2018 IU Bloomington report.

The policies relating to "Chemically Intensive Products and Services" for IU South Bend were retrieved from the Assistant Director of Facilities at the IU South Bend campus.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.