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Program Sees 1000% Increase in Contractor Reported Federal Purchasing of Biobased Products in FY21!

DoD, VA, USDA and GSA lead the government in buying biobased.

Each year, the USDA BioPreferred® Program analyzes the biobased product purchases reported in the System for Award Management (SAM). Contractors with service and construction contracts are to report their biobased product purchases annually. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, federal contractors reported spending $6,920,095 on biobased products. However, in FY 2021, contractors reported biobased products purchasing of $76,118,423 – a 1000% increase! The Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and General Services Administration reported the most purchasing of biobased products.

This FY20 to FY21 increase is a huge win for sustainable acquisition. While the increase is largely due to one-time Construction/ Renovation projects, it demonstrates the impact a single agency or contract can have when a commitment is made to choose biobased products. With the recent passing of the Federal Budget and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the next several years offer ample opportunities for acquisition teams and federal contractors to make a real and tangible difference in meeting lawmakers’ objectives. Check out the complete list of 139 Designated Categories by Functional Area and thousands of eligible products in our catalog.

Thanks to all who were part of this year’s success, particularly the Contracting Officers who ensured Clause 52.223.2 was included in their solicitations, biobased products were used, and purchases were reported! We look forward to continuing to report how biobased product purchasing continues to rise!

Meet Some Sustainability Superstars!

In reviewing new service and construction solicitations for FY 2022, we want to recognize and thank Contracting Officers and Contracting Specialists who are achieving high standards by including biobased product purchasing requirements in their solicitations. Their important efforts are helping to create a more sustainable government... Lindsey Christian – USDA; John Curry – USDA; Josh Dobereiner – USDA; Melody Flores - USDA; Keary Haubner – Navy; Aaron Kretzer – USDA; Robert Law – Army.

More About Federal Purchasing Requirements The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, (7 U.S.C. 8102, aka Farm Bill) requires federal agencies and their contractors to purchase biobased products in categories designated by USDA. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires the inclusion of Clause 52.223.2, Affirmative Procurement of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts, as prescribed in FAR Clause 23.406 (b). When this contract clause is included in solicitations, federal contractors with service and construction contracts must purchase biobased products whenever feasible and report those purchases each year via the SAM.

CAUTION: Don’t Miss This New Course on Service and Construction Contracts!

New web-based training designed to help COs and CORs boost sustainable acquisition efforts.

From traffic cones and erosion control to concrete repair and floor coverings, you have a host of biobased product options to support your service and construction contracts. But, if you’re not aware of these options or how best to meet procurement mandates, check out our new web-based training course titled: Incorporating Biobased Purchasing and Reporting Requirements in Federal Service and Construction Contracts.

This 1.5-hour online course is designed for Contracting Officers, Procurement Professionals and Contracting Officer Representatives. Through engaging video, narration, and interactive elements, attendees will learn how to incorporate biobased requirements into their solicitations, report their annual purchases in SAM, and boost their overall sustainable acquisition efforts. (1.5 CLPs recommended for this course.)

You Spoke. We Listened!

Categories now easier to find online!

You told us that the list of designated categories was difficult to find on our website.  So we provided two points of access on our home page at www.biopreferred.gov.

Have other ideas for how we can improve our efforts? Drop us an email at: help@usdabiopreferred.net

Planning to Attend the Federal Environmental Symposium?

The USDA BioPreferred Program‘s Andrew Jermolowicz, Assistant Deputy Administrator, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Services, will speak on March 30^th 12:15 to 1:15 EDT.

What Does “Biobased Content” Mean Exactly?

Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act requires agencies to purchase qualified biobased products composed of the highest percentage of biobased content practicable.

Through a regulatory process referred to as designation, the BioPreferred Program identifies product categories that must be afforded this federal procurement preference. As a part of this process, a minimum percentage of biobased content is specified for each product category. For example, products within the Blast Media category must be at least 94% biobased to earn federal purchasing preference. However, within the category for Aircraft Cleaners, products need only be 48% biobased to qualify. Products that do not meet the minimum biobased content percentage for a particular category do not qualify for federal purchasing. 

Biobased content percentages indicate the amount of renewable "new" organic carbon in a product, which is estimated using the ratio of new organic carbon (such as from agricultural materials) to total organic carbon ("new" + "old" or petroleum-based carbon).

Do you have a success story you’d like to share? Or content you’d find helpful in BioBuzzGov? Send an email to: Vernell Thompson