GSA learns its power in the 'green' market

Senior leaders from the General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) are learning today about procurement, sustainability and government’s role in influencing the market forces, according to one official in the meetings.

Mary Davie, assistant FAS commissioner for the Integrated Technology Service, is tweeting from inside a seminar, giving insights into what officials will come away understanding regarding sustainability considerations and opportunities for the government. Her tweets are ideas procurement officials will take back to their office and possibly apply to future regulations. Or at least what they will debate about the regulations.

Davie's tweets:

“Triple bottom line—economic, environmental, social responsibility. Thinking in the room is gov can impact environmental. Thoughts?”

“How can gov incorporate sustainability criteria in a procurement?”

“Gov can help industry by creating standards for sustainability reporting.”

“Fed buying can impact larger market: new technology entry, accelerated market transformation, supply chain leverage.”

“Potential GSA roles enable energy efficiency buying: ID specs/labels, use e-commerce, enlist suppliers, market aggregation, buy the BEST.”

“Jeff Harris: Tech procurement: aggregate buyer demand for technology to elicit technology innovation & market introduction.”

Davie also posed a more in-depth question that will affect many contractors.

“Should gov be focused on prescribing energy [efficiency] criteria for companies to meet rather than requiring carbon footprint reports of suppliers?”

At the seminar, Christopher Yukins, associate professor of government contracts law at George Washington University, is discussing other procurement factors that may conflict with traditional contracting goals.

“Debating gov focus on sustainability factors of producers (i.e. [Greenhouse Gas emissions]) vs products.”

“Chris Yukins: As complexity of procurement increases, need to include sustainability criteria.”

Environmental considerations seems like a worthy goal for agencies. It may not be that easy though. As the government drives for saving money while getting the best quality, officials will wrestle with directing agencies on the goals that trump other goals.

"Weighing eval criteria - conflicting goals: sustainability preference or lowest cost."

Davie continues to tweet thoughts from Yukins.

“Yukins: If we use sustainability criteria on a vendor qualification vs product then hard to protest, may encourage ‘green front’ contractors.”

“Europeans focus on economic and social as much as environmental issues.”

“Yukins: GSA can ask vendors to prove they are more sustainable than their competitors.”

Sustainability procurement is a hot topic at GSA these days, as it sees its role as a buyer for many agencies. One official at GSA in 2010 said federal agencies have the power to make and move markets as it looks toward more green products and purchases.

GSA Administrator Martha Johnson has brought a lot of attention in-house to green procurements, particularly in the buildings that her landlord agency cares for. Last week, GSA officially announced the new chief acquisition officer Mindy Connolly who helped the administration draft sustainability policies as it relates to procurement.

Davie has tweeted from good debate questions that will change the federal marketplace, even in the areas of green IT.

Which goals are more important: lowest cost or greenest product?

Do energy efficiency criteria supersede carbon footprint reports?

Posted by Matthew Weigelt on Mar 02, 2011 at 1:14 PM