Pinoleville Pomo Nation (CA) Green Procurement Policy

Type: Policy

Status: Adopted on 9/26/07 Yes - 6 No - 0 Abstain - 1

Source File: http://www.pinoleville-nsn.us/documents/policies/green/green%20procurement%20policy.doc

Text:

Green Procurement Policy
Pinoleville Pomo Nation

I Purpose and Intent

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN) is committed to protecting and enhancing the well-being of humans and the environment, both within the historic lands of the PPN and beyond. As part of that commitment, the PPN Tribal Council has developed a green procurement policy that gives preference to products and services that use recycled or recovered materials, are energy- and water-efficient, and that are produced in a way that is socially and environmentally sustainable.

The Tribal Council directs all PPN programs to give such preference when making purchasing decisions, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility.

The Tribal Council further commits to reviewing the policy every 3 years to assure that PPN takes advantage of the latest innovations in green product and service delivery.

II Policy content

1. Reduction

It is the policy of the PPN to reduce consumption wherever reduction does not negatively affect health, safety or operational efficacy. The policy applies to the consumption of supplies (paper & other office supplies, utensils, packaging, school supplies, workshop supplies, fuel for transportation), non-durable goods (electronics, communications equipment), and durable goods (appliances, furniture, tools, vehicles). It also applies to the consumption of water and energy (e.g. turning off computers and lights at night, reducing lawns that require watering).

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will focus on reducing consumption of printing paper, kitchen paper products, fuel, and electricity for computers and lighting.

2. Reuse of products

It is the policy of the PPN to reuse products wherever reuse does not negatively affect health, safety or operational efficacy. The policy applies to the reuse of office, school & workshop supplies, non-durable goods and durable goods. The policy anticipates that old products may need to be repaired, enhanced or traded to achieve the policy’s intent. The policy also applies to utilities (e.g. sink water may be reused to irrigate ornamental plants or wash down a parking area) and composting.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will focus on the reuse of paper products within the office and school, on the reuse of construction materials within the PPN workshop, and on composting landscape and kitchen wastes.

3. Recycling

When PPN must purchase products or services, programs will give preference to those with the highest recycled content, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility.

The PPN will also give preference, with the above caveats, to vendors that have a clearly articulated product life cycle policy that includes recycling or reuse.

The PPN, when evaluating costs, will include costs of disposal, recycling or reuse, to the extent such calculation is feasible and practical.

The PPN will - consistent with other procurement policies and applicable law, and with considerations of price, quality and scheduling – give preference to contractors who make the most use of recycled materials.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will focus on purchasing recycled paper, and ink/toner cartridges.

4. Energy efficiency

The PPN will, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility, give preference to green energy sources. This policy applies to both electricity (solar, wind, geothermal) and vehicle fuels (biodiesel, hybrid power generation).

The PPN will - consistent with other procurement policies and applicable law, and with considerations of price, quality and scheduling – give preference to contractors who make the greatest use of green energy.

The PPN will, with the above caveats, give preference to products that are energy efficient.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will focus on switching to energy-efficient lighting, installing solar panels on new PPN buildings, and on purchasing energy-efficient office and workshop equipment.

5. Water efficiency

The PPN will, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility, give preference to products and services that are water efficient.

The PPN will - consistent with other procurement policies and applicable law, and with considerations of price, quality and scheduling – give preference to contractors who promote the efficient use of water.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will focus on water efficient irrigation systems for lawn, garden and greenhouse.

6. Social sustainability

The PPN will, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility, give preference to products and services that promote the health, safety and well-being of customers and employees.

The PPN, with the above caveats, also give preference to materials that are certified as socially responsible (e.g. fair trade foods, companies that meet socially responsible investor criteria).

The PPN will also give preference, with the above caveats, to vendors that have a clearly articulated policy promoting the health, safety and well-being of customers and employees.

The PPN will - consistent with other procurement policies and applicable law, and with considerations of price, quality and scheduling – give preference to contractors who pursue social goals consistent with PPN’s own.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will emphasize increasing the amount of fair trade foods purchased, and purchasing materials and services that promote the well-being of Native American artisans.

7. Environmental sustainability

The PPN will, consistent with other procurement policies, applicable law, and consideration of cost, quality and feasibility, give preference to less toxic products and services.

The PPN, with the above caveats, also give preference to materials that are certified as environmentally-friendly (e.g. organic foods, sustainably-harvested timber).

The PPN will also give preference, with the above caveats, to vendors that have a clearly articulated policy that promotes environmental sustainability.

The PPN will - consistent with other procurement policies and applicable law, and with considerations of price, quality and scheduling – give preference to contractors who have policies that promote environmental sustainability.

Within the first year of the policy’s adoption, the PPN will emphasize reducing the number and amount of toxic cleaners and chemical fertilizers used, and increasing the amount of organic foods and sustainably-harvested wood that are purchased.

III Monitoring

The Environmental Director - with the assistance of the Self-governance Coordinator, the Fiscal Manager and the Administrative Assistant/Supplies Manager - will produce an annual report for Tribal Council on the implementation of the green procurement policy. The report will indicate a) where reduction efforts have succeeded and failed, by how much, and why b) the percentages of all products and services purchased that are reused or recycled, broken down by major category (office supplies, workshop supplies, energy, etc.) c) the percentages of all products and services purchased that are certified as environmentally and socially sustainable d) where and why products and services that are not green were purchased and e) discuss barriers to implementing the green procurement policy.

IV Promotion

All calls for bids for products or services will make reference to the PPN’s Green Procurement Policy.

A copy of the Green Procurement Policy will be available on the PPN web site for review.