Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 73.38
Liaison Brandon Trelstad
Submission Date Dec. 9, 2022

STARS v2.2

Oregon State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Leticia Cavazos
Sustainability Program Specialist
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies

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

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
OSU requires the following statement be contained in an Invitation to Bid: "Contractors will use recycled products, as defined in ORS 279A.010(1)(ii), to the maximum extent economically feasible in the performance of the Contract."

Additionally, section 307, Sustainability, of the Procurement and Contract Services Policy & Procedures Manual requires applying the methodology of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.” It also lists OSU's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policies. https://pacs.oregonstate.edu/pacs-manual/300-purchasing/307-sustainability

OSU is subject to the provisions in the Procurement and Contracting Code 580-061-0000 “Code of Ethics.” The Code of Ethics states that on an annual basis OSU employees in relation to OAR Chapter 580, Divisions 60, 61, 62, and 63 will sign a statement that the employee has reviewed and will comply with the OSU Code of Ethics. OSU provides an online tool so that employees responsible for procuring or contracting for goods and services may complete the necessary Ethics Statement which fulfills this OSU Standard. http://pacs.oregonstate.edu/pacs/resources/ethics

Contractors doing business with OSU through contracts issued by Procurement, Contract and Materials Management are held to standards that meet the intent of this credit. For example, BOLI Prevailing Wage Rates apply to contractors who contract with OSU on public works projects. The affirmative action, OSHA, Worker’s Comp., and sexual harassment language are incorporated into goods and services contracts that vendors and contractors enter into with OSU. Policies for alcoholic beverages, smoking and weapons apply to OSU property and anyone on OSU property, and exceed local laws and regulations: https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy-standards-manual. The smoking policy specifically names contractors and consultants.

OSU's non-discrimination policies include protected status classifications that exceed local and state thresholds to include age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
https://eoa.oregonstate.edu/policy-index

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

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 less comprehensively, e.g. for certain types of systems or projects and not others

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
For capital projects (new construction and major renovations), LCCA principles are applied and analysis is conducted by the professional design teams involved in the project. This occurs as a standard practice for equipment such as air handlers, chillers, cooling towers, toilets, sinks and control systems. It occasionally is used for whole building analysis. Very small construction projects and maintenance activities typically do not involve LCCA but instead use a more simple lifetime cost and savings (lifecycle) analysis.

Part 3. Product-specific sustainability criteria

To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products and/or services in each category, e.g. by requiring or giving preference to multi-criteria sustainability standards, certifications and labels appropriate to the category. Broader, institution-wide policies should be reported in Part 1, above. 

Chemically intensive products and services

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
The OSU landscape shop and other campus units performing similar work follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and practices to minimize use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. This method emphasizes non-chemical treatment such as biological, cultural and mechanical methods as preferred. When pesticide products are used, products with the lowest toxicity and risk to non-target species are preferred.

As per OSU's IPM Policy, Low Impact Pesticides are preferred:
• Treating pest populations via biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods that consider human health, ecological impact, feasibility and cost effectiveness.
• Low Impact Pesticides - All pesticides applied at OSU Child Care facilities must adhere to the list of low impact pesticides. All other OSU facilities should attempt to use low-impact pesticides when possible.

To further reduce the need for chemically intensive products and services, the objective of OSU's IPM program is to maintain pest populations below action threshold levels while ensuring minimal human exposure to health risks, inflicting minimal hazards on the environment, providing effective monitoring through inspections and standardized record keeping, and evaluating the effect of IPM practices. OSU's IPM program aligns with EPA's guidance in relationship to setting action thresholds, monitoring and identifying pests, and prevention and control strategies (4-tiered approach).

https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/sites/ehs.oregonstate.edu/files/pdf/si/integrated_pest_management.pdf

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
The OSU recycled paper policy can be found here: http://fa.oregonstate.edu/sites/fa.oregonstate.edu/files/sustainability/docs/paperpolicy.pdf

Additionally, OSU now specifies LED lights for major and minor capital projects involving lighting. This has effectively eliminated the need to specify low mercury lamps.

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
Although not strict requirements, the OSU Construction Standards and General Conditions for Construction emphasize criteria for certain commodities and materials (like flooring and metering equipment) as well as general construction practices like demolition and construction materials recycling, and supporting locally owned, emerging, women- and underrepresented group-owned small businesses.

In 2019, OSU developed its Requirements for Sustainable Development that requires all OSU major capital construction projects to meet or exceed LEED Silver standards, with emphasis on specific areas of performance of interest to OSU (like energy efficiency). Additionally, the OSU Project Management Manual (an internal document) emphasizes long term energy savings, reducing carbon emissions, and requiring construction and demolition waste management plans.

Construction Standards: http://fa.oregonstate.edu/cpd-standards
Requirements for Sustainable Development: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/sustainability/requirements-sustainable-development

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
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Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
University Housing & Dining Services includes multiple sustainability criteria in their request for proposals for their menu management system. Specific language in the RFP includes:
-Ability to easily add identifiers and track local, sustainable inventory items
-Ability to tag a recipe sustainable, local, organic, seasonal, from a specific farm
-Waste Log reports
-Reports for purchasing, spoilage & loss, usage activity

Garments and linens 

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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Professional service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Section 316 of the Procurement and Contract Services Policy & Procedures Manual, Business Inclusion and Diversity and Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities, outlines university programs and intent to encourage participation of diverse businesses that have been certified by the State of Oregon as such. OSU’s business inclusion and diversity program includes outreach plans, solicitation efforts and management plans.

Section 316 also outlines OSU's preferences for Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities.

https://pacs.oregonstate.edu/pacs-manual/300-purchasing/316-business-inclusion-and-diversity-and-qualified-rehabilitation

Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
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Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.