Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable Acquisitions

Sustainable acquisitions refer to environmentally-preferable products and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.

IHS utilizes the HHS Affirmative Procurement Plan (APP) as a guide for environmentally preferable purchasing. The HHS APP

[PDF] provides guidelines for an effective green purchasing program that encompasses the use of designated recycled content, Energy Star®, EPEAT®, energy-efficient, bio-based, and environmentally preferable products.

IHS sustainable acquisitions objectives:

New contract actions, including task and delivery orders for products and services, must be:
- Energy-efficient (Energy Star® or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated);
- Water-efficient;
- Bio-based;
- Non-ozone depleting;
- Contain recycled-content materials; and
- Non-toxic or less toxic alternatives.
Ensure a continued procurement preference for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registered electronic products.

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Additional Resources:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program : Helps agencies across the federal government comply with green purchasing requirements.
EPA Green Contract Language and Specifications : Includes contract language and policies developed by local, state, and federal governments, as well as private organizations.
EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) - List of Substitutes : Lists, by industrial sector, substitutes for conventional ozone depleting substances.
ENERGY STAR® Product List : Provides a list of ENERGY STAR® products for the home, business and government. Also includes products that are in development.
General Services Administration (GSA) Environmental Program aisle on GSA Advantage : Offers easy access to the wide variety of environmental products and services offered by GSA - including those products designated as "ENERGY STAR®", "Recycled", "EPEAT®" and more.