| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.07 |
| Liaison | Janna Cohen-Rosenthal |
| Submission Date | July 3, 2023 |
University of Massachusetts Boston
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 3.00 |
Dennis
Swinford Director of Campus Planning & Sustainability Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
The 2017 UMass Board of Trustees Sustainability Policy. Includes language on EPP across commodities in Principle 7 (Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council wherever appropriate and consistent with available funding) and Goal 7.1 requires reporting of annual reporting on purchasing of electronics, office paper, cleaning products, etc. and progress towards meeting established goals.
Source:https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T16-055-Sustainability%20Policy_rf012021.pdf
In addition, The University of Massachusetts system has a general purchasing policy that sets the framework for the operation of each campus. 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 businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, 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.
Source: https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T92-031%20Procurement%20Policy%20and%20Administrative%20Standards%20-%20FINAL%2004112022.pdf
Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
UMass Boston cleaning and maintenance staff use cleaning products that are third-party certified green cleaners. In addition, UMass Boston complies with Executive Order 515 which established an Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program with a mandate to reduce toxins, through the University of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
UMass specifies sustainability criteria for furnishings in the Architecture and Landscape Design Guidelines. Low-impact building materials should be used, and furniture should be made from recycled content.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
While UMass Boston uses ENERGY STAR copy machines and devices, and desktop computers around campus have power-down features to reduce energy consumption, there is no published policy in the UMass IT Strategic Plan located online here: https://www.umass.edu/it/strategic-plan-2021 or the Information Technology Acquisition Policy Doc.08-086 found online here: https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T08-086-Information%20Technology%20Acquisition_rf012021.pdf. Sustainability and IT are in discussions of updating this policy in 2023.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
UMB states a preference for small disadvantaged businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and veteran-owned businesses, in the procurement policy
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
Leading BY Example goals include phasing out of non EV vehicles.
With the release of the Fuel Efficiency Standard for the State Fleet (FES), Massachusetts state agencies are now required to meet average fuel efficiency minimums for all new vehicle acquisitions and purchase a minimum percentage of hybrid, alternative fuel, or electric vehicles each year. Source: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/10/tq/fuelefficiencystandard-final.pdf
UMB aims to reduce vehicle fuel consumption of the University vehicle fleet by promoting the use of public transportation, reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles, and increasing the use of other alternative fuel transportation for faculty, staff, and students. The University Master Plan includes transportation goals to maximize multimodal campus access and circulation while minimizing the negative impacts of vehicular traffic in and around the campus.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.