## Subpart 23.7—Contracting for Environmentally Preferable Products and Services

### 23.700 Scope.

This subpart prescribes policies for acquiring environmentally preferable products and services.

### 23.701 Definitions.

As used in this subpart—

“Computer monitor” means a video display unit used with a computer.

“Desktop computer” means a computer designed for use on a desk or table.

“Notebook computer” means a portable-style or laptop-style computer system.

“Personal computer product” means a notebook computer, a desktop computer, or a computer monitor, and any peripheral equipment that is integral to the operation of such items. For example, the desktop computer together with the keyboard, the mouse, and the power cord would be a personal computer product. Printers, copiers, and fax machines are not included in peripheral equipment, as used in this definition.

### 23.702 Authorities.

(a) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 U.S.C. 6901, et seq.).

(b) National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8262g).

(c) Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13101, et seq.).

(d) Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (7 U.S.C. 8102).

(e) Executive Order 13221 of July 31, 2001, Energy Efficient Standby Power Devices.

(f) Executive Order 13423 of January 24, 2007, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management.

(g) Executive Order 13514 of October 5, 2009, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance.

### 23.703 Policy.

Agencies must—

(a) Implement cost-effective contracting preference programs promoting energy-efficiency, water conservation, and the acquisition of environmentally preferable products and services; and

(b) Employ acquisition strategies that affirmatively implement the following environmental objectives:

(1) Maximize the utilization of environmentally preferable products and services (based on EPA-issued guidance).

(2) Promote energy-efficiency and water conservation.

(3) Eliminate or reduce the generation of hazardous waste and the need for special material processing (including special handling, storage, treatment, and disposal).

(4) Promote the use of nonhazardous and recovered materials.

(5) Realize life-cycle cost savings.

(6) Promote cost-effective waste reduction when creating plans, drawings, specifications, standards, and other product descriptions authorizing material substitutions, extensions of shelf-life, and process improvements.

(7) Promote the use of biobased products.

(8) Purchase only plastic ring carriers that are degradable (7 USC 8102(c)(1), 40 CFR part 238).

### 23.704 Electronic products environmental assessment tool.

(a) General. As required by E.O. 13423, agencies must ensure that they meet at least 95 percent of their annual acquisition requirement for electronic products with Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered electronic products, unless there is no EPEAT standard for such products. This policy applies to contracts performed in the United States, unless otherwise provided by agency procedures.

(b) Personal computer products. Personal computer products is a category of EPEAT-registered electronic products.

(1) The IEEE 1680 standard for personal computer products—

(i) Was issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on April 28, 2006;

(ii) Is a voluntary consensus standard consistent with Section 12(d) of Pub. L. 104-113, the “National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995”, (see 11.102(c));

(iii) Meets EPA-issued guidance on environmentally preferable products and services; and

(iv) Is described in more detail at www.epeat.net.

(2) A list of EPEAT-registered products that meet the IEEE 1680 standard can be found at www.epeat.net.

(3) The IEEE 1680 standard sets forth required and optional criteria. EPEAT “Bronze” registered products must meet all required criteria. EPEAT “Silver” registered products meet all required criteria and 50 percent of the optional criteria. EPEAT “Gold” registered products meet all required criteria and 75 percent of the optional criteria. These are the levels discussed in clause 1.4 of the IEEE 1680 Standard. The clause at 52.223-16, IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products, makes EPEAT Bronze registration the standard that contractors must meet. In accordance with guidance from the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive encouraging agencies to procure EPEAT Silver registered products, Alternate I of the clause makes EPEAT Silver registration the standard that contractors must meet. Agencies also may use EPEAT Silver or Gold registration in the evaluation of proposals.

(c) The agency shall establish procedures for granting exceptions to the requirement in paragraph (a) of this section, with the goal that the dollar value of exceptions granted will not exceed 5 percent of the total dollar value of electronic products acquired by the agency, for which EPEAT-registered products are available. For example, agencies may grant an exception if the agency determines that no EPEAT-registered product meets agency requirements, or that the EPEAT-registered product will not be cost effective over the life of the product.

### 23.705 Contract clauses.

(a) Insert the clause at 52.223-10, Waste Reduction Program, in all solicitations and contracts for contractor operation of Government-owned or -leased facilities and all solicitations and contracts for support services at Government-owned or -operated facilities.

(b)(1) Unless an exception has been approved in accordance with 23.704(c), insert the clause at 52.223-16, IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products, in all solicitations and contracts for—

(i) Personal computer products;

(ii) Services that require furnishing of personal computer products for use by the Government; or

(iii) Contractor operation of Government-owned facilities.

(2) Agencies may use the clause with its Alternate I when there are sufficient EPEAT Silver registered products available to meet agency needs.