Resources for Vendors
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Training for Federal Contractors
Learn about federal policies impacting GHG management, how to develop a GHG inventory for your company, and how to begin reducing your GHG emissions now!
Several Executive Orders (E.O.) require the federal government to prioritize actions on climate change, reduce emissions, promote environmental stewardship, support resilient supply chains, drive innovation, and incentivize markets for sustainable products and services.
In accordance with statutory requirements and E.O.'s, the federal government must purchase products that contain recycled content, are biobased, and are energy and water efficient; and, to the maximum extent practicable, purchase sustainable products and services identified or recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Vendors play a critical role in reducing the severity of future climate change by providing federal agencies with access to sustainable products and services, and resilient supply chains that are adaptive to actual changes in climate. For more information on GSA's all-of-government approach to sustainability, climate adaptation, and clean energy visit Climate Action and Sustainability
on GSA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
SFTool Product Search
is searchable by Product Category, Brand, Federal Program, and Standard or Ecolabel.
Products appear on SFTool Product Search
when they conform to at least one of the product category requirements as outlined in the GPC by the EPA, DOE, USDA, and GSA. All product data in SFTool Product Search comes directly and automatically from the relevant certification organizations. When products don't appear, it is often because there is not a product category requirement for the item. If a product fails to appear even when there is a stated product category requirement in the Green Procurement Compilation, it may be because we have not yet built out the relevant category in our system.
SFTool Product Search
automatically displays products that comply with federal environmental requirements, which are gathered within the Green Procurement Compilation. The products listed in SFTool Product Search are provided by ecolabel registries. If your product is not listed, it may be because there are currently no federal environmental requirements for your product category. When federal requirements are added, products complying with the requirements as provided by ecolabel registries are automatically listed.
In accordance with FAR Part 23.103
and Executive Order (E.O.) 14057, Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability
, federal agencies shall purchase products that contain recycled content, are biobased, or are energy and water efficient. Therefore, contract actions for the supply of products and for the acquisition of services (including construction) require that the products are:
- Energy-efficient (ENERGY STAR® or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated);
- Water-efficient;
- Biobased;
- Environmentally preferable (e.g., EPEAT®-registered, or non-toxic or less toxic alternatives);
- Non-ozone depleting; or
- Made with recovered materials.
Federal purchasers are directed to procure products and services meeting EPA’s Recommended Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels to the maximum extent practicable.
Sustainability
The GPC makes it easier to identify applicable green purchasing requirements for products and services by consolidating information from federal environmental programs in one place.
SFTool Product Search
is your link to simpler environmentally responsible purchasing. Search over 150 categories and subcategories that represent over 5,700 brands and more than 300,000 products.
GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) SFTool provides information on greening the procurement process.
Learn more about how GSA is working to reduce the embodied carbon
in its building design and construction projects.
Learn more about waste management options for end of life including reuse, recycling, design for disassembly, design for product take-back programs, and closed-loop supply chains.
EPA’s EPP program
helps U.S. federal government purchasers utilize private sector standards and ecolabels to identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services.
Climate Adaptation and Risk Management
Climate Literacy
The USGCRP
is a federal program mandated by Congress to coordinate federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society.
The SFTool Climate Terms and Tools page serves as a primer for those who are new to the topic or looking for additional resources.
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. On January 27, 2021, the president issued E.O. 14008
affirming the federal government's commitment to advance environmental justice. To learn more about the GSA’s strategy and progress reports, see GSA’s Environmental Justice
page.
Other Resources
Learn More
- Executive Order 14057
, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability (DEC 08 2021). This Executive Order aims to reestablish the federal government as a leader in sustainability.
- Executive Order 14030
, Climate-Related Financial Risk (MAY 20, 2021). This Executive Order sets policy on climate-related financial risk.
- Executive Order 14008
, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (JAN 27 2021). This Executive Order establishes a governmentwide approach to address climate change.
- Executive Order 13990
, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis (JAN 20 2021). This Executive Order directs the federal government to take action to confront the climate crisis.
- Review the Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer for a list of current energy and sustainability management statutes and Executive Orders, located here
.
Additional Laws, Regulations, and Guidance can be found here.
- BioPreferred Compliant
- Item meets or exceeds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) biobased content requirements. BioPreferred products are required under FAR Subpart 23.4.
- CPG Compliant Items
- Item meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recommendations for recovered materials and postconsumer recovered materials. EPA-designated products are required under FAR Subpart 23.4.
- EPEAT Registered
- Item meets all required EPEAT environmental performance criteria and is rated at one of the three EPEAT levels (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) based on the number of optional criteria met. EPEAT-registered products are required under FAR Subpart 23.7.
- Bronze Level - Item meets EPEAT Bronze environmental performance criteria, which include all required criteria that apply to the product type being registered.
- Silver Level - Item meets EPEAT Silver environmental performance criteria, which include all required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria that apply to the product type being registered.
- Gold Level - Item meets EPEAT Gold environmental performance criteria, which include all required criteria plus at least 75% of the optional criteria that apply to the product type being registered.
- Energy Star Compliant
- Item certified to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ENERGY STAR program specifications and is authorized to carry the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR products are required under FAR Subpart 23.2.
- FEMP Energy Efficient
- Item meets U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) FEMP energy efficiency specifications. FEMP-designated products are required by FAR Subpart 23.2.
- Meets Recommended Ecolabels
- Item meets a non-federal standard or ecolabel recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- S.N.A.P Compliant
- Item contains acceptable substitutes for ozone depleting substances, as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. SNAP substitutes are required by FAR Subpart 23.8.
- Safer Choice Certified
- Item is qualified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry the Safer Choice label. Safer Choice products are required under FAR 23.7.
- WaterSense Certified
- Item is certified to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense Program specifications and is authorized to carry the WaterSense label. WaterSense products are required under FAR Subpart 23.2.
Training
FMI provides easily accessible online tools and resources explicitly designed to advance the skills, knowledge and professional development of facilities management professionals.
Getting Involved
GSA Measures and Reports on Sustainability and Climate Risk Management