Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.82
Liaison Holli Fajack
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2021

STARS v2.2

California State University, Long Beach
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.75 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
Systemwide, all CSU campuses, including CSULB adhere to the following policies and guidelines:
•CSU Buy Recycled Handbook: http://www.calstate.edu/csp/special-programs/
•CSU Sustainability Policy: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6987526/latest/
•CSU Buy Recycled Products Campaign: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7865355/latest/#autoid-8qwgz
•CSU Single-Use Plastics Policy: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7865355/latest/#autoid-vpqg3
•Executive Order 987: Policy Statement on Energy Conservation, Sustainable Building Practices, and Physical Plant Management for the California State University https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6589455/latest/

Additionally, CSULB’s Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) have adopted their own procurement policy: https://asicsulb.org/corporate/documents/discover/policies/policy-on-procurement.pdf

The ASI Procurement Policy addresses sustainability in the following sections:

6.1 RECYCLED PRODUCTS
Purchases of materials, goods, and supplies that are recycled or have recycled material within their content shall be given preference whenever suitability and quality are equal and the cost of such products is no greater than that of their non-recycled counterparts. Budget Area Administrators are required to ensure the purchase of materials, goods, and supplies that may be recycled or reused when discarded, whenever it is feasible to do so.

9.1 SWEATSHOP-FREE PROCUREMENT
ASI supports the premise that employers should fairly compensate employees, that the health and safety of workers should be protected, and that no form of discrimination or abuse should be tolerated. In its role as a market participant that procures equipment, goods, materials, and supplies, ASI seeks to protect its interests by ensuring that the integrity of its procurement process is not undermined by contractors who engage in sweatshop practices. Accordingly, ASI budget areas making any purchases of t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, footwear, and other items of apparel shall choose from a list of manufacturers proven to be free of sweatshop working conditions, and offering items at a competitive price. The list of approved companies and licensees can be found at the Fair Labor Association web site (http://www.fairlabor.org) All requests for bid or quote on t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, etc. shall include a copy of this regulation. To determine whether a bid is responsive in terms of these criteria, ASI may consider information obtained independently of the bid from the following sources: the manufacturer, the distributor from whom the goods are purchased, reputable national and international organizations, well-documented media reports, and well-documented information from local organizations that are knowledgeable about this topic. Sweatshop-free procurement support may also be provided by the A.S. Business Office. ASI shall provide individual employees who receive clothing or footwear allowances, or who make reimbursable purchases of work clothes or footwear, information on local retailers, wholesalers, or known manufacturers of sweatshop-free items, and encourage those employees to make purchases from those sources.

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA as a matter of policy and standard practice when evaluating all energy- and water-using products, systems and building components

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Per the CSU systemwide policy “Energy Conservation and Utilities Management and Energy Consumption Reduction Goal for 2004/2005 Compared to 1999/2000”

"When replacing energy consuming and/or utilities infrastructure equipment, the most cost-effective models will be selected. Life cycle costing procedures, instead of first capital cost only, will be utilized as the basis for all future equipment selection. All possible efforts will be made to secure additional funding if required to effect lowest life-cycle procurement”.

This is a CSU Policy through the State University Administrative Manual.
https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7056253/latest/

Part 3. Product-specific sustainability criteria

To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products and/or services in each category, e.g. by requiring or giving preference to multi-criteria sustainability standards, certifications and labels appropriate to the category. Broader, institution-wide policies should be reported in Part 1, above. 

Chemically intensive products and services

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
N/A

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
As per California Public Contract Code Section 12209, all paper purchased contains a minimum of 30% recycled content.

The CSU has directed all campuses to increase sustainability activities. As part of this drive, the CSU worked with Staples Advantage to identify commonly purchased products to have a sustainable alternative. The result of this collaboration is the creation of the Sustainable Auto-Substitution program that went live to CSU campus wide on November 1, 2017. When campuses purchase paper, the Auto-Substitution program automatically ensures that the paper has a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content.

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
N/A

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
CSULB requires that all IT purchases "Must meet EPEAT standards. Consistent with the State of California’s procurement policies, the University shall require that whenever an EPEAT registered product is available that meets purchasing specifications, that the EPEAT registered product be selected." - https://www.csulb.edu/financial-management/procurement-services/how-to-purchase-and-pay/technology

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
N/A

Garments and linens 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
All CSU contracts for the procurement or laundering of apparel, garments or corresponding accessories or the procurement of equipment, materials, or supplies, other than procurement related to a public works contract, shall require the contractor to certify that it has maintained a "sweat-free" workplace in compliance with Public Contracts Code Section 6108 and that they adhere to the Sweatfree Code of Conduct as set forth by the California Department of Industrial Relations.
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/DLSE-COC.htm
https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7865355/latest/#autoid-2yrak

Additionally, ASI's Procurement Policy section 9.1 specifies the following: "purchases of t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, footwear, and other items of apparel shall choose from a list of manufacturers proven to be free of sweatshop working conditions, and offering items at a competitive price." https://asicsulb.org/corporate/documents/discover/policies/policy-on-procurement.pdf

Professional service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7865355/latest/
DVBE Goal of the CSU Contracts and Procurement Policy (Section 3a)

The Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Participation Program was established to acknowledge disabled veterans for their service and to further DVBE participation in state contracting, promote competition and encourage greater economic opportunity.

The state established a DVBE contracting participation goal of at least three percent (3%). The goal applies to the total contract dollars expended each year by all campuses. This includes all contracts, purchase orders, and procurement card orders.

https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6589455/latest/#autoid-97wrg
Executive Order 987: Policy Statement on Energy Conservation, Sustainable Building Practices, and Physical Plant Management for the California State University
The CSU will endeavor to meet or exceed the State of California and California Public Utilities Commission Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that sets a goal of procuring 20% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2010 subject to the constraints of program needs and standard budget parameters.

https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6987526/latest/#autoid-jmpvj
CSU Sustainability Policy: Under the CSU Sustainability Policy, ""campuses will promote use of suppliers and/or vendors who reduce waste, re-purpose recycled material, or support other environmentally friendly practices in the provision of goods or services to the CSU under contract. This may include additional evaluation points in solicitation evaluations for suppliers integrating sustainable practices.

Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
Campus Fleet Vehicles:
Requests for fleet vehicle purchases from both self-support (auxiliary) and general fund/academic departments shall be justified in writing and the justification at a minimum shall include the following information, including but not limited to a statement of how the proposed purchase supports CSU's policy to encourage and promote the use of alternative transportation and/or alternative fuels to reduce GHG emissions related to university associated transportation, including commuter and business travel and an evaluation of lower-carbon transportation alternatives evaluated.

California State and Federal Fleet mandate:
1. Federal Energy Policy Act – 75% alternative fuel light-duty vehicles
a. AB 32's Bio-energy Action Plan requires 50% of the above 75% light-duty vehicles to be flex fuel (reference: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/flextech.shtml)
2. 10% of all light-duty fleet purchases by campuses and CSU shall be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) in FY 2017/18, increasing by 5% annually through FY 2024/2025 to a total of 50% of light-duty fleet vehicles purchases. For the purposes of this section, ZEVs are fuel cell vehicles (FCV), battery electric vehicles (BEV).
3. Sufficient charging/fueling infrastructure shall be available to support ZEV purchases and utilization.
4. Exemption to above ZEV/BEV requirement: If the campus has Telematics in 100% of ZEV fleet including Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)3 and Hybrid vehicles4 with quarterly reports demonstrating proper charging and use of PHEV vehicles. PHEV vehicles shall be considered ZEVs for purchasing vehicles.
5. Purchasing of light-duty vehicles shall follow a priority order. If purchasing other than priority 1 vehicle type, justification in writing must be submitted for each lower priority order type of vehicle.
6. Campuses should consult the DGS lists of vehicles but are not required to use DGS procurement. Other local procurement options that offer better value can be utilized within campus procurement standards and the limits of this section.
7. CSU shall give preference to DGS management memo 12-03: solar reflective colors for light-duty vehicle acquisitions.
8. CSU's shall follow DGS Management Memo 15-03 (SAM Section 3620.1): average MPG requirements for light-duty vehicle acquisitions for any internal and flex fuel vehicle purchases.

For the CSU fleet vehicles policy, please visit: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6637418/latest/

Campus Transportation and Parking:
It is the policy of the CSU to meet the transportation needs of students, faculty, staff, and visitors at its campuses with safe, equitable, and cost-effective options. CSU will use the lowest life cycle cost evaluation and the greatest number of students, faculty, staff and visitors per vehicle mile traveled (VMT) served to determine its investment of scarce funding into transportation infrastructure that increases mobility and access for all.
The CSU shall use transportation options that have the lowest total cost of ownership, lowest carbon emissions, and best fit for regional transportation needs to mitigate congestion and pollution while maintaining access to campus.
For the CSU Transportation and Parking policy, please visit:
https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7728108/latest/

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.