Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.41
Liaison David Tedder
Submission Date Sept. 30, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Kentucky
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 3.00 Shane Tedder
Sustainability Coordinator
Office oF Sustainability
"---" 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?:
No

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

In the summer of 2018 the University adopted a Sustainability Strategic Plan. One of the directives included in the Materials Management section is to develop and implement a sustainable purchasing protocol. This development and implementation process is underway and is being integrated with a comprehensive revision of our approach to procurement.


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:

Utility scale projects often include LCCA as well as products or systems that we receive or develop through contracts with engineering firms.


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)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
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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)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
Yes

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

In the summer of 2014 UK issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide food and dining services for the University. This RFP included this specific reference to a commitment to sustainability:
Provide a sustainable UK Dining program that economically supports environmentally sustainable food systems that contribute to the economic vitality and quality of life in the community. Expectations include developing partnerships with local producers and direct-farm impact, reducing waste, enhancing recycling, reducing energy consumption and helping students develop lifelong habits of sustainability and healthy eating.

This RFP was a public and published guide that the University used to evaluate offers to provide food service. Aramark made the successful offer resulting in a 15 year contract that includes Key Performance Indicators to track and ensure that the sustainability criteria are met. This contract with Aramark includes residential dining, franchises, concessions and convenience stores.

UK Dining (Aramark) has a KPI in their contract relative to local purchasing. The University’s local food program is comprised of a
two-part key performance indicator written into the
dining contract that dictates minimum purchases of
Kentucky Farm Impact and Kentucky Food Business
Impact purchases. The combined Kentucky Farm and
Food Business Impact (KYFFBI) is the sum total of all
individual items purchased and classified within these
metrics, with farm impact purchases as a subset of
that total. The fiscal year 18 KYFFBI benchmark annual
increase of commitment is included in Table 1, and the
contractual definitions of farm impact and business
impact are detailed in Table 2.
Additionally, the revised contract stipulates the
following overall increase of Kentucky Farm and Food
Business Impact (KYFFBI) purchases relative to the
total food purchases by UK Dining as follows: “By the
2023-2024 Contract Year, total Kentucky Farm Impact
and Kentucky Food Business Impact purchases shall be
at least Twenty Percent (20%) of Dining Partner’s food
and beverage purchases for that Contract Year and each
future Contract Year.”


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)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
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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?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:
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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?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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