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Procurement Guidelines
EPA's Federal Procurement Guidelines apply to all federal, state and local agencies (and their contractors) using appropriated federal funds that purchase more than $10,000 worth of a guideline item in one year.
Affected agencies must review their procurement specifications and revise them to allow procurement of products containing recovered material. Requirements that specifically exclude the use of recovered materials (including excessively stringent performance standards) should be eliminated. The guidelines do not have to be followed if doing so would result in unreasonable cost, inadequate competition, unreasonable delays, or inability to meet reasonable performance standards.
Affected agencies must establish an affirmative procurement program that includes: - a preference program,
- a promotion program,
- procedures for obtaining & verifying estimates & certifications of the content of recovered materials, and
- annual review and monitoring.
On May 1, 1995 EPA issued updated and expanded "Guidelines for Procurement of Products Containing Recovered Materials." These guidelines designate 24 recycled-content products in seven product catagories for which government agencies need to develop affirmative procurement programs. Through the use of these guidelines, the federal government hopes to expand its use of products with recovered materials, and to help develop markets for them in other sectors of the economy.
The catagories and designated items are as follows:
(* indicates categories consolidated from previously issued guidelines) - Paper & Paper Products*
- Vehicular Products
- Engine Coolants
- Re-refined Lubricating Oils*
- Retread Tires*
- ConstructionProducts
- Structural Fiberboard
- Laminated Paperboard
- Carpet
- Floor Tile
- Patio Blocks
- Building Insulation Products*
- Cement/Concrete Containing Coal Fly Ash*
- Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
- Transportation Products
- Traffic Cones
- Traffic Barricades
- Park & Recreation Products
- Playground Surfaces
- Running Tracks
- Landscaping Products
- Hydraulic Mulch
- Yard Trimmings Compost
- Non-paper Office Products
- Office Recycling Containers
- Office Waste Receptacles
- Plastic Desktop Accessories
- Toner Cartridges
- Binders
- Plastic Trash Bags
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