University of Montana
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

ENCOURAGED PRACTICES The University’s Purchasing Office is committed to providing a quality acquisition process to support the members of the University and business communities in the achievement of their respective objectives in education, research, and service, and in business success. As a part of this commitment the following practices are strongly encouraged: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Vendors will recognize and respect the rights of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including, if applicable, the rights set forth in the National Labor Relations Act, as amended; the State of Montana Department of Labor and Industry; or such other labor relations laws as may be applicable. Labor Standards: Wages, Hours, Leaves, and Child Labor. Vendors will recognize and respect the legal rights of employees concerning minimum and prevailing wages, wage payments, and maximum hours and overtime; legally mandated family, childbirth, and medical leaves and return to work thereafter; and limitations on child labor; including, if applicable, the rights set forth in the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the Federal Davis-Bacon Act, the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act, and any other laws defining such labor standards. Health and Safety. Vendors will provide a safe and healthful working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health, including reproductive health, arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or resulting from the operation of the vendors’ facilities. During the performance of any Agreement, all products, services, use of equipment, working conditions, employee training or licensing requirements, and activities performed by the vendor or the vendor’s subcontractors must be in full compliance, if applicable, with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and all other applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances, including but not limited to the environmental safety and health requirements set forth in 29 Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR, and 49 CFR. Forced Labor. Vendors are encouraged not to use, or purchase, supplies or materials that are produced by using any illegal form of forced labor. Harassment or Abuse. Every employee will be treated with dignity and respect. No employee will be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment or abuse. Vendors will not use or tolerate any form of corporal punishment. Employee Compensation. The University recognizes that maintaining the dignity and meeting the essential needs of employees and their families require a reasonable compensation based upon employee education, skill, knowledge and work responsibility. Basic needs include food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, and transportation. The University will strive to do business with vendors that provide reasonable employee compensation based on all these considerations. International Human Rights. Human rights constitute a core value of this institution. The University will strive to do business with vendors that show leadership in human rights practices and that meet well-recognized international human rights and labor standards, such as those set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Environmental Protection. Safeguarding the environment for the benefit of all peoples now and in the future is a matter of increasing concern in the academic community as well as in society generally. The University will strive to do business with vendors who engage in environmentally sustainable practices and production methods and that meet well-established certification standards. Specific factors to be encouraged include, but are not limited to, the minimization of waste products, use of post-consumer recycled materials in the production of finished products and the recyclability of finished products, energy efficiency, and the durability, biodegradability, and reparability of the products purchased by the University. Non-U.S. Law. Vendors and vendor’s suppliers operating under non-U.S. law will comply with all such laws applicable to the subject matter of this Code insofar as they are consistent with the provisions of this Code. Such vendors or suppliers will also comply with all provisions of this Code insofar as they do not violate applicable non-U.S. laws. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES University-Vendor Partnership. The ideal University-vendor relationship is in the nature of a partnership, seeking mutually agreeable and important goals. Recognizing our mutual interdependence, it is in the best interest of the University to find a resolution when responding to charges or questions about a vendor’s compliance with the provisions of the Code. The procedures for resolving a complaint appear in an attached document.

"The University will implement green cleaning processes and procedures that consider the balance between cost, effectiveness, safety, environmental impact, equipment, industry standards and final disposal of product.  Every effort will be made to use third party certified green cleaning products where and when chemicals, cleaning agents, and cleaning equipment are in use and to comply with all LEED certification building or remodel requirements for green cleaning products."     Green Cleaning Policy- http://www.umt.edu/policies/browse/facilities-security/green-cleaning-products Also, see attached Vendor Code of Conduct regarding Environmental Protection

In 2010, UM President George Dennison approved a campus policy that all new construction and major campus remodels have to be certified LEED Silver at a minimum. In addition to this policy, UM is required to follow all state construction and architecture guidelines, including the state mandate that all new construction and major remodels over $1M be certified LEED Silver at minimum (MCA 17-7-201 & 202). http://architecture.mt.gov/Portals/14/docs/HPBS/HPBS_Documents_Portfolio_v1_Adopted_12_1_13.pdf

"The University of Montana is committed to reducing energy consumption in its operations. This commitment is met in part by requiring the purchase of Energy Star Certified Equipment. University personnel who authorize the purchase of energy consuming equipment shall purchase Energy Star equipment for all single and/or mass purchasing actions whenever certified equipment is available. Exceptions to this policy shall be authorized only by the University's procurement officer. Energy Star is a joint certification program between the US EPA and US DOE certifying products which are more energy efficient than the average. The Energy Star web site lists available products and has a calculator tool for most appliances that can be used to calculate the long-term energy savings from a particular Energy Star appliance." Information Technology Policy- http://www.umt.edu/policies/browse/financial-affairs/purchasing-energy-star Also, see attached Vendor Code of Conduct regarding Environmental Protection

While the university does not have published sustainability criteria for food services beyond our campus-wide vendor code of conduct, sustainability is a priority for UM Dining, including when doing business with franchises or vending services. Our current contract with Coca-Cola North America, for instance, contains a variety of criteria aimed at the environmental footprint of vending and beverage services on campus. Our contract with Coke contains specifications regarding delivery schedule efficiencies, the number and location of vending machines on campus, preferences for products that generate less waste and/or are easier to recycle in Montana, financial and equipment support for our recycling program, and annual in-kind donations from the company to support sustainability. Coke was selected as a vendor in part because of what they were able to offer to meet our sustainability specifications. Similarly, when reviewing bids from and selecting a primary vendor and a coffee vendor (just two recent examples), UM Dining included specific sustainability criteria in the Request for Proposals and reviewed offers based on vendors' abilities to meet those needs.

Green Cleaning Policy- http://www.umt.edu/policies/browse/facilities-security/green-cleaning-products Building Construction Policy- http://www.umt.edu/policies/browse/facilities-security/building-construction-renovation-repair-remodeling-and-maintenance Information Technology Policy- http://www.umt.edu/policies/browse/financial-affairs/purchasing-energy-star UM Dining Sustainability- http://www.umt.edu/dining/Sustainability/