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Procurement Professional User Guide

This guide covers how the Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool) can assist you in purchasing sustainable products and services. The SFTool can assist with the following responsibilities:
I. Value-Based Purchasing II. Regulation and FAR Compliance
  • Promoting the importance of purchasing decisions on sustained environmental stewardship throughout the building’s life cycle
  • Managing expenses by selecting cost effective alternatives
  • Ensuring purchases are Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliant
  • Aligning office procurements with EPA, DOE, and USDA guidance

I. Value-Based Purchasing

"As a Procurement Professional, I am responsible for purchasing goods and services for ongoing building operations that are of the best value to the environment, the workforce, and the organization’s budget."

Promoting the importance of purchasing decisions on sustained environmental stewardship throughout the building’s life cycle

  1. Utilize an integrative process and identify stakeholders specific to certain renovation projectsopens in new window
  2. Explore GSA lessons learned on collaborative strategies for procurement professionalsopens in new window
  3. Use Life Cycle Thinking as a decision-making toolopens in new window
  4. Compare materials and systems across both environmental and financial criteriaopens in new window
  5. Understand how purchases can impact both human and natural resources alikeopens in new window

Managing expenses by selecting cost effective alternatives

  1. Compare relative material costs over their life cyclesopens in new window
  2. Consider bundling purchases to achieve synergistic benefits across building systemsopens in new window
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II. Regulation and FAR Compliance

"As a Procurement Professional, I must ensure all purchasing activity is compliant with Federal procurement regulations and guidance."

Ensuring purchases are Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliant

  1. Explore direct linkages to FAR references on a material by material basisopens in new window
  2. Learn how to go beyond compliance when procuring sustainable servicesopens in new window

Aligning office procurements with EPA, DOE, and USDA guidance

  1. Identify any minimum content levels and Environmental Programs recommended for specific federal purchasesopens in new window
  2. Find additional resources and guidance for making sustainable purchasing decisionsopens in new window
  3. Review excerpts of laws, Executive Orders, and the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings that affect your organization’s purchasing decisionsopens in new window
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Community

Break down the silos!

As a Procurement Professional, I don’t live or work in a bubble.

To deliver a successful project, I regularly work with a variety of professionals who would benefit from the value of the SFTool.

Integrative Design Process
Vendors Leasing Specialists
Manufacturers Facility Managers
Decision-makers Owners
Specialized Consultants Interior Designers

Learn more about the Integrative Design Process

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See ‘Newsletters’ under Apply for other newsletters of interest from GSA, DOD, and DOE.