University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-13: Vendor Code of Conduct

The UC Systemwide 2009 Policy on Sustainable Practices states that we must “utilize the University’s purchasing power to meet its sustainability objectives.” There are multiple efforts in this area. Two examples are the Strategic Sourcing program and the Small Business Program (details below), both of which aim to utilize the University’s purchasing power to assist in market shifts (also see Purchasing Tier Two Credits). Strategic sourcing efforts support the University of California’s values of sustainability and supporting small businesses. Sustainability Policy: UC has instituted a new sustainability policy that has established UC as a national leader in higher education in the development of green building design and sustainable practices. The policy not only sets out a rigorous agenda for integrating environmentally-sensitive building design and sustainable practices into campus operations and culture, but it also offers an extraordinary opportunity for UC to reduce long-term operations and maintenance costs. In the fall of 2004, UC was recognized for its energy and environment initiatives with an award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Strategic Sourcing supports efforts regarding sustainable purchasing by ensuring that all bids and contracts require suppliers to demonstrate their dedication to sustainable practices, both in their product offerings and business operations. In addition to a commitment to sustainability and the environment, potential suppliers must exhibit, to the respective commodity teams, recycled content product offerings, energy-efficient product offerings, reduced packaging, and product recycling and disposal programs. A supplier’s failure to respond to these bid requirements ensures that they will not succeed in obtaining a University of California contract. UCSB Small Business Program mission statement: Pursuant to University policy and guidelines, the Small Business Program (SBP) is responsible for ensuring equal opportunities in business contracting at the Santa Barbara campus for all small business enterprises (SBE), including: small disadvantaged businesses (SDB); women-owned small businesses (WOSB); veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB); service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB); and historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) small businesses. The Small Business Program serves as a liaison between the University and the small business community, with the goal of increasing utilization of SBEs and maintaining diversity in the supplier and contractor base at the Santa Barbara campus. One aspect of UCSB’s Small Business Program is the focus on vendor development, which includes the conduction of annual small business development trade fairs, bringing SBEs to the campus and giving departmental staff the opportunity to meet new vendors, the conduction of “How to Do Business at UC Santa Barbara” seminars for SBEs, and presentations given to civic and business organizations on business opportunities at UC Santa Barbara. The program also focuses on subcontracting plan development requiring that a Small Business Subcontracting Plan be included with all contract awards over $650,000. Also included is inreach to campus departments, seeking to train campus departments on how to switch to using smaller businesses and also providing campus departments with updated lists of local vendors. More information on this program can be located at: http://www.busserv.ucsb.edu/purchasing/goods_services/sbp.htm