SOLICITATION 57523
ATTACHMENT 11
ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING SPECIFICATIONS
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING
The State of California, Department of General Services Procurement Division is responsible for the
implementation of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) as mandated by the California Public Contract
Code (PCC), Chapter 6, Sections 12400-12404.
The law requires, “the procurement or acquisition of goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on
human health and the environment when compared with competing goods and services that serve the same
purpose.” Comparison requires evaluating for associated impacts from the product’s raw materials acquisition,
production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, disposal, energy efficiency,
product performance, durability, safety, the needs of the purchaser, and cost. As part of this solicitation bidders
must be compliant with mandatory requirements and may receive preference when compliant with non-mandatory
environmental specifications
CERTIFIED PESTICIDES: (Mandatory)
The State of California participates in U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) to achieve sustainable, healthy and environmentally conscience owned and
operated properties. Participation requires the evaluation of materials, chemicals and processes and choosing
environmentally preferable products. Identifying pesticides in reference to pesticide hazard ratings is a valuable
tool in calculating LEED credits.
Bidder shall identify items offered as low hazard, Tier I, Tier II, Tier III or OMRI certified as defined by the
following organizations:
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Our Water Our World:
San Francisco Environment:
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Certified Listed product:
Hazard tiers and certification to be entered within “Item Description” column of Attachment 1 – Pricing Workbook.
Certification to be submitted at time of bid. The state will waive the certifications submittal requirement when
material can be verified in a written advertisement and is identified per line item in a catalog or vendor internet
website.
POST CONSUMER-CONTENT CERTIFICATION: (Mandatory)
State agencies are required to report purchases made within 11 product categories in the California Integrated
Waste Management Board’s (CIWMB) State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) per Public Contract Code
(PCC) 12200-12217. In order to comply with those requirements, the Contractor(s) will be required to certify, in
writing, the minimum percentage, if not the exact percentage, of post consumer recycled content material (PCRC)
in each of the products and associated shipping/packaging materials offered as part of this solicitation.
Attachment 12, Post Consumer Recycled Content (PCRC) Certification Workbook contains the following
documents:
1)
PCRC Percentages Worksheet – Contractor(s) shall complete the PCRC Percentages Worksheet listing
the percentage of post consumer recycled content material for each product offered.
2)
Letter of Certification – Contractor(s) shall print and sign the Letter of Certification certifying that the
minimum percentage, if not exact percentage, listed in the PCRC Percentages Worksheet is accurate.
The Letter of Certification shall be furnished under penalty of perjury. The Letter of Certification shall be
provided regardless of content, even if the product(s) contain no post consumer recycled material.
3)
Reportable Product Categories Table – This table is provided for informational purposes only and
identifies the 11 reportable SABRC product categories.
Within 30 calendar days from contract award, the Contractor will be required to provide a signed Letter of
Certification and the completed PCRC Percentages Worksheet to the State Contract Administrator. The PCRC
Percentages Worksheet shall be provided in hard copy and electronic copy (on a CD-ROM in Microsoft Excel
format).
During the life of the contract, the Contractor(s) will be required to submit revised PCRC Certification Workbook
information if percentages are adjusted or if substitute line items are approved by the State Contract Administrator.
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SOLICITATION 57523
ATTACHMENT 11
PACKAGING, PACKING AND MARKING: (Mandatory)
No Polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic bags or films are permitted for packaging. Containers and corrugated boxes
are to be readily recyclable, without coating or other treated substances such as wax prohibiting or limiting
repulpability. Markings to be made of ink manufactured in USA or bidder to declare in writing inks are free of heavy
metals.
PACKAGING MATERIALS: (Mandatory)
Bidders offering bio-degradable or compostable packaging materials must ensure materials meet ASTM Standard
Specifications for Compostable Plastics D 6400-04 and ASTM 6400-00 Standard for packing materials marked
Biodegradable.
Paper products used for labeling, packaging or catalogs to be Process Chlorine Free (PCF), minimum 30 % postconsumer recycled content material and be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Other certifications may
be substituted case by case providing the certification standards are similar to FSC’s standards.
All wood packing materials, i.e. pallets shall be heat treated and meet International Standard for Phytosanitary
Measures, ISPM 15 and bear the ISPM 15 official mark to signify compliance with the ISPM 15 standard. Use of
brominated treatments or flame retardants is prohibited. Wood to be FSC certified and marked with FSC logo.
Other certifications may be substituted case by case providing the certification standards are similar to FSC’s
standards and marked accordingly.
All wood packing material producers must be enrolled with an inspection agency accredited by the American
Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) .
TOXICS IN PACKAGING: (Mandatory)
All packages, packaging components, and packaged retail-ready products offered during the life of the contract
must be in full compliance with all requirements of the Toxics in Packaging Prevention Act (Health and Safety
Code (HSC) sections 25214.11-25214.26.) “Package” and “packaging components” are defined in HSC section
25214.12. Provisions for exemption from this Act are contained in HSC section 25214.14.
Upon request by the State, the awarded supplier shall provide a Certificate of Compliance (Attachment 13) which
covers each type of package, packaging component, or packaged retail-ready product supplied, distributed, or
sold under this specification. The certification shall be based either on direct written correspondence from the
packaging product manufacturer or from any written advertisement issued by the product manufacturer including,
but not limited to, the products label, the manufacturers catalog, or the manufacturers or vendors Internet Web
site.
More information can be found at: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/ToxicsInPackaging/index.cfm
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE DECLARATION: (Mandatory)
Products, that contain hazardous substances, as defined by California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 5194,
Hazard Communication, shall comply with the requirements of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations
including section 5194(g), Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
The Contractor must provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), via facsimile or email, to the ordering agency
upon written request.
END OF LIFE MANAGEMENT: (Mandatory)
Take-Back container services are to be offered to all requesting agencies and include a recycling program for highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) type containers. The recycling program must be certified by an ANSI-accredited
third-party organization, in compliance with Food and Agriculture Code Section 12841.4 and provided at no
additional cost to the State. Pesticide containers shall be picked up at least every 90 days/3 months, scheduled as
mutually agreed with the State agency and taken to recycling facility within 10 days. A signed receipt of recycling
or report is to be provided to requesting agency and must note: the number and size of containers removed, the
State agency’s address where removed from and the name of the recycling facility accepting the containers.
Agencies are to receive the report or recycling receipt within 30 days of request.
Bidder may choose to offer refillable containers in place of a recycling service for non-reusable containers. Nonreusable containers are prohibited during the terms of the contract when contractor has opted for providing
refillable containers.
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