University of Connecticut
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

The "Code of Conduct for University of Connecticut Vendors," implemented in the fall of 2013, holds UConn's vendors to minimal standards they are required to meet. A copy of this document may be viewed via the link below. The University’s vendor code of conduct sets expectations about social and environmental responsibility of the institution’s business partners. https://policy.uconn.edu/2013/02/12/vendor-code-of-conduct/

All buildings and other projects for the University shall be designed as high quality institutional facilities with components specified to provide maximum life-cycle usefulness. Life cycle costing shall be an integral part of the design process. Most campus buildings are intended to last an indeterminate amount of time, but not less than 50 years, so adaptable facilities and planned maintenance are the norm, rather than short-term solutions. The University is committed to a resource and energy conservation program based on continual improvement in the design and construction of new buildings and major renovations. Design to minimize life cycle costs, including the use of materials that will maximize durability and longevity. Use resources efficiently by designing buildings that minimize energy and water use and maximize use of natural daylight where appropriate and feasible. It is the required that all project work where there are Building Systems being impacted, they be designed to the highest efficiency possible. All systems design and equipment selection shall be determined by life cycle cost analysis including first, operating, and maintenance costs. 

The state of Connecticut requires all universities to purchase chemical cleaning products that have as minimal as possible effects on the environment, as stated in Gov. Rell's Executive Order No. 14: “All state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions, shall, when procuring or contracting for cleaning and/or sanitizing services provide in such contracts or procurement agreements, require contractors of the State or persons or entities providing cleaning and/or sanitizing services to the State use cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary facilities.” In many of our public bids, we are taking steps to minimize the use of chemicals as appropriate. One example is in our Integrated Pest Management Plan that is issued for solicitations that may require pest management through the use of chemical application. The goal of this integrated pest management plan is to describe University practices to prevent pest occurrence as well as to promote Integrated Pest Management methods in response to the pest occurrences that do arise. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a means to deliver effective pest control while at the same time reducing the volume and toxicity of pesticides. For example, sticky traps are used to guide and evaluate indoor pest control efforts wherever necessary. For cleaning products that University does have a goal of utilizing Green certified products. We do not have specific published language, but for cleaning supplies, our Procurement department works directly with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to approve which cleaning products can be used through contracts we have in place. EHS can be contacted for additional information.

On our last bid for paper, we required vendors to offer paper produced with varying levels of post-consumer recycled content. An approved brand list of varying types of recycled paper was compiled by the evaluation committee and provided to Procurement. Stakeholders/Committee decided against the products with a larger recycled component as it was cost prohibitive.

The University of Connecticut (University) has long been committed to academic excellence, social responsibility, and the economic vitality of the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University’s main campus at Storrs, as well as the five regional campuses across the state, recognizes the value of careful land use planning and the protection of natural resources. The University’s Environmental Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC), under the direction of the Office of Sustainability, serves to seek and implement strategies that will establish the University as a leader in environmental stewardship. The EPAC has adopted a policy statement that defines the principles for environmental leadership, setting the course for future campus initiatives, which policy includes the principle of Responsible Growth and Development and led, early-on, to the creation of UConn's Sustainable Design Guidelines, which ultimately evolved into minimum performance standards for construction projects, including building materials and products. Today, all new construction or major renovation projects exceeding $5,000,000 in total project cost must be LEED Gold certified (Policy revised from LEED Silver in 2016), unless a rare waiver is granted by UConn's Board of Trustees. This ensures that products used in construction will, at a minimum, meet the USGBC's highest standards for sustainable building materials and products.

The University of Connecticut requires that, where possible, only ENERGY STAR® certified appliances, A/V equipment, copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners, coffee makers, and refrigerators, and electronics must be rated EPEAT Silver or higher. UConn also offers a standard personal computer known as the HuskyPC to faculty and staff. HuskyPCs include all of the UConn standard supported software. https://services.its.uconn.edu/service/huskypc/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QsiLVUOOPzODwn5OHV2YhZLmYEfeRrhe/view For Appliances, we affirmed the state requirement that we purchase ENERGY STAR products or those certified by the Federal Energy Management Program as energy efficient in all categories available. Language used in the bid is as follows: Connecticut requires that we purchase ENERGY STAR® products or those certified by the Federal Energy Management Program as energy efficient in all categories available. If this solicitation is for a product in a category for which ENERGY STAR® or certified products are available, please submit evidence of the ENERGY STAR® status or certification for the products you are bidding. (Please note that if you fail to submit this information but a competitor does, we will select your competitor’s product as meeting specifications and deem your product as not meeting specifications.) As stated in UConn’s 2020 Vision for Campus Sustainability & Climate Leadership, President Susan Herbst of UConn passed a requirement that 30% of electronic purchases be EPEAT Gold rated: https://sustainability.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2041/2017/01/Initiatives-Climate-2020Vision.pdf.  This goal has been achieved and UConn is in the process of working with administrators on the development of new strategic goals and KPIs.

UConn is the largest consumer of locally grown produce in Connecticut, and we make it a priority to purchase locally grown food. 100% of the fish served on campus is sustainable  and procured through a local provider Red's Best. UConn dining services is committed to sustainability in all areas and all 8 campus dining halls are Green Restaurant Certified at the four-star level . They buy as much fresh and local produce as possible, limit the amount of processed foods they serve as much as possible, and strive to serve less meat. For food services, we have a variety of sustainability criteria that may be included in our published language, depending on the scope of the bid. For instance, for warewashing chemicals we included the following language: All warewashing products must be approved for use in food preparation areas. Further, they must be environmentally friendly, non-hazardous and not contain butyl or concentrated amounts of ammonia or petroleum solvents. Use of products must produce wastewater with fewer harmful byproducts. And Vendor must demonstrate that their products result in energy savings. For our dining services group, in recent solicitations, we have required that all equipment be ENERGY STAR® approved where applicable. The University maintains a pouring rights contract with Coca-Cola which provides funding for sustainability efforts. It also required that the vendor provide a comprehensive strategy to meet UConn’s corporate sustainability policy. Currently the University receives a sum of annual marketing support from Coke on recycling and sustainability initiatives to promote corporate social responsibility, including $100,000 for the installation of water bottle refilling stations. Coke also has been replacing older vending machine models to add more energy-efficient machines. Finally, all coffee purchased by dining services is Rain Forest Alliance certified. 

While its published criteria is not explicit to garments and linens, the University's Vendor Code of Conduct specifies mandatory and preferred CSR practices for any vendor seeking to do business with UConn, including garment (e.g., athletic apparel) and linen providers. It states, among other things, that vendors must: adhere to fair labor standards regarding wages, hours, leaves, and child labor, be nondiscriminatory in hiring and employment practices, and comply with environmental law. Preferred vendor practices in the VCC include other sustainability metrics. For the Rental of Uniforms, Dry-Cleaning and Laundering RFP that was issued in 2018, the following language was included: Sustainability Efforts: Please describe your company’s efforts and reporting in regards to sustainability. Provide any documentation, brochures, marketing, etc. that you may have in regards to this." The University will require annual reporting on your company’s efforts. The Code of Conduct can be found here: http://policy.uconn.edu/2013/02/12/vendor-code-of-conduct/

We [University Planning] will provide proactive, professionally managed leadership to plan and implement quality, cost-effective, long and short term facility solutions that enhance the mission of the University, embrace our partnership with our community, and ensure proper treatment of University land, natural resources and the environment in the process. For all On-call Professional Services for Architect/Engineer Services RFPs the following language was incorporated beginning with the Program Management RFQ 092214AA. SBE/MBE and CT Based Firms: In an effort to foster a more diverse pool of experienced firms, the University encourages Connecticut certified Small Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise (SBE/MBE) participation. A certified SBE/MBE firm must meet the qualifications as determined by legislation, Connecticut General Statute 4a-60g (Supplier Diversity Statute) as amended by Public Act 11-229. Proposers who have questions about the small business/minority business program should contact the Department of Administrative Services, Supplier Diversity Program, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106, Fifth floor. Please direct any questions to, Supplier Diversity Unit at (860) 713-5236. The website for the program is https://portal.ct.gov/das/procurement/supplier-diversity/sbe-mbe-program-certification-application-small-or-minority-business-enterprise?language=en_US. Furthermore, beyond technical criteria, submittals are evaluated with the following criterion in relation to utilization of S/MBEs: The extent to which proposers identify and commit to the utilization of Small and/or Minority Business Enterprises (S/MBEs), as certified by the State of Connecticut’s Supplier Diversity Program, or Connecticut Based firms, in the performance of this contract, whether as a joint venture, teaming agreement, or subcontractor.

UConn purchases only ultra-low sulfur fuel (<15 ppm) for use in all internal combustion engines, including emergency generators, cogeneration turbines and fleet vehicles, and <0.3% for heating oil in the central utility plant and other boilers on campus. UConn is working hard towards the goal of reducing single-occupancy vehicles and promoting public transportation, including free service on and around campus through the University's shuttle bus fleet. Regarding transportation, our use of sustainability criteria is often scope specific. Transportation and Logistics approves scopes of many specific bids and would have more information on efforts to reduce the campus fleet and impacts of the fleet. The University is working toward transitioning its vehicle fleet to electric and fuel cell vehicles. 

UConn began participating in a pilot program of the Fair Labor Association in February 2019, which enables them to use a pre-approved list of promotional product suppliers that are committed to sourcing materials responsibly. UConn is using this list to source its promotional products by our university contracted and licensed vendors. The university is committed to purchasing ethically-sourced products and is an affiliate of the Fair Labor Association.