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The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) has issued a proposed policy letter increasing green building requirements in federal contracts. The proposed letter provides guidance on green purchasing policies and strategies and requires agencies to give preference to the acquisition of green products and services. The policy letter seeks to encourage all new federal buildings to be life-cycle cost effective and to incorporate sustainable design practices.
The letter seeks to require agencies to implement the five Guiding Principles for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings (www.wbdg.org): (1) employing integrated design; (2) optimizing energy performance; (3) protecting and conserving water; (4) enhancing indoor environmental quality; and (5) reducing the environmental impact of materials. Further, the proposed letter requires all new buildings to be 30 percent more energy efficient than the ASHREA Standard for non-residential buildings. The procurement policies established by the letter are to be fully reflected in the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
The letter requires each federal agency to develop and implement a green purchasing plan that, among other things, requires flow down of green product preference to contractors and subcontractors and addresses past performance evaluation of contractor's adherence to green components/sustainable aspects of contracts.
The public comment period on the policy letter expires on February 26, 2008.
The Holland & Hart office in Washington, DC is available to assist you in preparing and submitting any comments to the proposed policy letter. If you have any questions or desire additional information, please contact Charles Lucy or any other member of our Construction Group or Sustainable Business Group. |
