University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

The University of Massachusetts system has a general purchasing policy that sets the framework within which each of the campus' operate. Section 2 of this policy states:

The University’s commitment to the principles of Affirmative Action shall be applied to purchasing with the objective of: (i) achieving and fostering greater participation in University procurement activity by minority-owned small business, small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, HUBZone
small business, Veteran-owned small business, and service-disabled Veteran-owned small business enterprises and (ii) encouraging socially or economically disadvantaged business owners to respond to invitations to bid on University business.

UMass Lowell has used this framework to develop specific purchasing policies across commodity categories that are applied institution wide. Examples include paper purchasing, IT equipment, electronic equipment and green seal certified cleaning products.

LCCA is considered for projects that involve design/purchase of equipment that uses energy and/or water. LCCA is not required as part of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process but is considered along with project budget requirements. For example, when purchasing computers the life cycle cost associated with the energy consumption of various computer models is considered along with other purchasing criteria such as memory, screen size, industry reviews, etc.

Yes, UMass Lowell has a Green Housekeeping Policy which outlines the requirement for sustainable cleaning products. The majority of the housekeeping services are completed with UMass Lowell staff, while outsourced cleaning is limited to a small number of buildings. In addition, UMass Lowell complies with state Executive Order 515, which established an Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program with a mandate to reduce toxins, through the University of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy (Doc. T16-055). The Sustainability Policy is included in other documentation.

UMass Lowell has a paper purchasing and printing policy. UMass Lowell is committed to purchasing paper with a goal of 50% or more recycled content for printing and copying and processed without chlorine compounds and printed with environmentally preferable inks to the extent possible.

Yes, the university has published design standards for all construction and renovation projects. These standards incorporate sustainability into each of the specific sections and are available at the following location: https://www.uml.edu/Facilities/Planning-Design-Construction/Project-Management/Forms-E-Library.aspx (follow link to E-Library).

In addition, a whole section on sustainability attribute review exists, which requires assessment of the following criteria to determine the most preferential furnishings (excerpt below):

Section 01 81 13
Sustainable Design Requirements
Section V: Material and Environmental Characteristics and Attributes):

a. Recycled content
b. Sustainably Harvested wood
c. No added urea formaldehyde resins in composite wood assemblies or products.
d. No added urea formaldehyde resins in adhesives or laminates used in conjunction with composite wood products or in assemblies (such as millwork)
e. Sustainably Harvested wood materials (FSC or approved equivalent)
f. Location valuation factor - materials that are extracted, harvested manufactured and purchased within 100 miles of a project site AND meet one sustainable criteria (e.g. recycled content, FSC wood)
g. Source of raw materials - responsibly sourced or extracted
h. Improved/Positive environmental Life cycle impact
i. Chemical composition/avoidance of chemicals of concern
j. VOC content

UMass Lowell has an electronic products and appliances purchasing policy. Specific criteria consist of the following:

• Preference should be given to the purchase of electronic products that are EPEAT gold registered when available and to the extent possible.
• Purchased appliances shall be Energy Star rated, if available.

The Office of Sustainability will serve as a resource to support on-campus electronics products and appliance purchasing with the selection of acceptable and preferred products.

The Information Technology department, with support from the Office of Sustainability, will track and measure electronic products and appliance purchases that meet and exceed the guidelines outlined in this policy.

Yes, when selecting professional services for all capital projects the capacity of the selected vendors to meet our sustainability goals as defined in the UMass Sustainability Policy and associated UMass Lowell policies is intrinsic to the process. Vendors that cannot support our goals are not selected.

As a state agency under the guidance of the Department of Energy Resources Leading By Example Program we collectively work to to "advance sustainable transportation by installing electric vehicle charging stations at state sites and improving fuel efficiency for [the] vehicle fleet".