Chapter 1223 - Appendix A - DOT Affirmative Procurement Program for Use of Recovered Materials

Preface

Federal agencies are required by Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962) and Executive Order (EO) 13101, "Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition," to buy certain products containing recovered materials.

This guidance was developed in May 2003 and represents the collaborative efforts of several offices within the DOT Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of Administration.  This guidance addresses all 54 Comprehensive Procurement Guideline items designated by EPA.  Future updates will be provided as EPA designates additional items.

Questions on compliance and implementation issues in this guidance may be directed to:

Catherine Johnson, OST, M-50                                    Lenita Ahmadi, OST, M-60
Catherine.Johnson@ost.dot.gov                                    Lenita.Ahmadi@dot.gov
202-366-0266                                                             202-366-9956

Additional information can be found at the Senior Procurement Executive’s website:  http://www.dot.gov/ost/m60/recycled.

Contents

1.0       Purpose, Authority, and Applicability

1.1       Purpose (See EO 13101 Secs.101-103, in Attachment A)

This document formally establishes DOT’s Affirmative Procurement Plan (APP) for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated recycled content products and provides agency-wide guidance for implementing an effective program.  The purpose of Federal affirmative procurement programs is to increase and expand markets for recovered materials through greater Government preference and demand for products made with such materials consistent with the demands of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.  Expanding markets will reduce the amount of solid waste requiring disposal through the purchase and use of products containing recovered materials.

DOT's APP ensures items composed of recovered material (also known as recycled content products) will be purchased to the maximum extent practicable, and is consistent with EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) and Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMAN).  Each EPA guideline, including recovered material minimum content standards, has been referenced and incorporated into this APP.  

Nothing in this APP shall be used to negate any state or local affirmative procurement requirement more stringent than a similar requirement implemented by the Department's APP.

1.2       Authority

The following documents establish the requirements for DOT’s APP:

·       Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962);

·        Executive Order (EO) 13101, “Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling and Federal Acquisition”;

·        EPA CPG and RMAN;

·        Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Policy Letter 92-4; and

·        The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Specific requirements contained in these documents are discussed in greater detail in Attachment A.

1.3       Applicability

Section 6002(a) of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962) and EPA's procurement guidelines apply to all procuring agencies, defined as "any Federal agency, or any State agency, or agency of a political subdivision of a State which uses appropriated Federal funds for such procurement, or any person contracting with any such agency with respect to work performed under such contract."

·        Section 6002(a) of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962) determines those parties responsible for developing and implementing an APP and those responsible for APP compliance. DOT as a Federal agency has developed a comprehensive APP, which shall be implemented by all DOT program offices, operations offices, sites, and applicable contractors.  All Operating Administrations must take steps to carry out DOT’s comprehensive APP.

·        EPA's procurement guidelines apply to an agency whose total annual purchases (for each designated item) exceeded $10,000 in the current fiscal year or exceeded $10,000 in the previous fiscal year.  Thus, the procurement requirements identified in EPA's guidelines apply to DOT as a whole and all Operating Administrations, program offices, operations offices, sites, and applicable contractors shall be responsible for implementing the procurement requirements outlined in both this document and EPA's guidelines.

2.0       Responsibility

2.1       Federal Environmental Executive

EO 13101 requires Federal agencies to expand waste prevention and recycling programs, implement affirmative procurement programs for EPA-designated items, and procure environmentally preferable products and services.  The EO requires the designation of a Federal Environmental Executive (FEE) to take all actions necessary to ensure agencies comply with the requirements of the EO.  The EO also requires the FEE to prepare a biennial report to the President on the actions taken by agencies to comply with the EO.  Under EO 13101 and Section 6002 of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962), the FEE and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy submit a biennial report to Congress on actions taken by the Federal agencies to purchase EPA-designated items.

2.2       Agency Environmental Executive

EO 13101 also requires the head of each major Executive department and major procuring agency to designate an Agency Environmental Executive (AEE), at a level no lower than the Assistant Secretary or equivalent, responsible for, among other things:

·        Agency implementation of the buy-recycled requirements and other requirements of EO 13101;

·        Working with the FEE and the Task Force in furthering implementation of the EO; and

·        Tracking the agencies’ purchases of EPA-designated guideline items and reporting agencies’ purchases of such guidelines items to the FEE.

The Assistant Secretary for Administration is DOT’s AEE. 

3.0       Why Reduce Our Waste Stream?

As a Federal agency, DOT’s participation in waste prevention and the procurement of recycled content products contributes to sound waste management practices.  In its day-to-day operations, DOT has the opportunity and obligation to be environmentally and energy conscious in its selection and use of needed products and services.  This will enhance Departmental credibility and demonstrate DOT's commitment to environmental quality by becoming a model consumer of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.

For the nation to fully recognize the benefits of recycling and resource recovery, there must be commercial markets available for products made from recovered materials.  When DOT procures products containing such materials, it helps create demand for those products.  There also may be direct financial gains to be achieved by DOT and other procuring agencies from the procurement of products containing recovered materials.  For example, the dollar value of materials recovered from solid waste has become substantial:  $3.6 billion in 1996 and a projected $5.2 billion by 2005.  Recovered paper and paperboard account for about one-third of the total in both years.  In 1996, the market value of recovered paper and paperboard was 24 percent of the value of all pulp mill shipments.  By 1999, the paper industry relied on recovered paper for 36.5 percent of its feedstock.

The extraction and processing of raw materials into manufacturing feedstocks are some of the most energy-intensive activities of industry.  Reducing or nearly eliminating the need for these processes, therefore, achieves huge savings in energy.  Recycling aluminum cans, for example, saves 95 percent of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source, bauxite.  The amount of energy saved differs by material, but almost all recycling processes achieve significant energy savings compared to virgin material production.

Additionally, efficient use of resources may reduce operating costs.  For example, maintenance costs for plastic restroom dividers are less than maintenance costs for dividers made from competing materials.

There are also environmental and financial gains to be achieved on a national level.  Promoting waste prevention by purchasing recycled content items can slow the use of virgin material, as well as slow the rate at which the nation's landfills become filled and closed.  If organic wastes such as leaves, grass clippings, and paper, are recycled instead of landfilled, we reduce production of methane, a major greenhouse gas.  This is especially true for paper since paper takes up roughly one-third of the space in our nation's landfills.  Extensive life-cycle analyses find overall emissions to all environmental media to be lower when we use recovered rather than virgin materials.  Also, recycling is a highly effective strategy for reducing all the categories of health risks and pollution resulting from virgin material extraction and processing.  Federal government procurement and use of recycled content products also can reduce our nation's dependency on imported raw materials.

4.0       Affirmative Procurement Program (APP)

4.1       Policy

It is DOT’s policy to purchase EPA-designated items containing recovered materials to the maximum extent practicable unless written justification is provided for not doing so.  DOT’s goal is that 100 percent of purchases of EPA-designated products will contain recovered materials, considering product performance, price, and availability.

4.2       General

For certain items designated by EPA, Section 6002 of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962) requires procuring agencies to implement an APP consisting of four elements: (1) a preference program; (2) a promotion program; (3) procedures for estimation, certification, and verification; and (4) procedures for annual review and monitoring.  Subsections 4.3 - 4.6 describe DOT’s implementation of each of these elements.

4.3      Part 1.  Preference Program for Recycled Content Products

In accordance with Section 402(c) of EO 13101, 100 percent of DOT’s purchases of EPA-designated recycled content products will meet or exceed EPA guideline standards unless there is a price, performance, or availability justification for not doing so.

4.3.1    EPA-Designated Products Purchased by DOT

DOT's preference program is based on EPA's CPG designations of recycled content products.  DOT will give preference to procuring and using such products containing recovered materials versus products made with virgin materials when: (1) such products are available competitively within a reasonable time frame, (2) meet reasonable performance standards, or (3) are available at a reasonable price.  Recycled content products will be purchased containing the percentages of recovered materials (recycled content) indicated in EPA’s recommended recovered materials minimum content ranges.

4.3.2    Special Requirements

The following special requirements apply to recycled content products purchased by the Department:

·        Paper Products - EO 13101 directs agencies to purchase office and printing papers containing 30 percent postconsumer fiber.

·        Oil - EO 13149 directs that, beginning in October 2000, agency fleets must use re-refined oil unless it is not available or does not meet performance needs.

In addition, EPA recommends that procuring agencies review their procurement practices and eliminate those inhibiting or precluding the use of items containing recovered materials. 

4.3.3    Future EPA-Designated Items

RCRA and EO 13101 direct EPA to continue to designate items made from recovered materials, in order to further increase markets for recovered materials.  As required by Section 6002 of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962), DOT’s Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (M-60) will incorporate additional items into its APP within one year after new items are designated by EPA.

4.3.4    Other Recycled Content Products

There are thousands of products made with recovered materials.  Procurement originators are encouraged to request, procure, and use other products containing recovered materials in addition to those items specified above.  Additional recycled content products are available through Federal supply sources and outside vendors.

4.3.5    Other “Green” Products

The purchase of other “green” products, such as energy-efficient/energy savings products, alternative fuel vehicles, water-efficient products, environmentally preferable products and services, and biobased products is encouraged.

4.3.6    Acquisition Planning

The buy-recycled requirements shall be considered during the acquisition planning stage if non-Federal supply sources are used as required by EO 13101 and FAR Part 7.103(n).

DOT personnel involved in planning for acquisitions will consider environmental and energy factors from the beginning of acquisition planning in order to save money, increase efficiency, and reduce pollution in procurements.  Their actions shall be consistent with the “waste management hierarchy”; reduce, reuse, and recycle, in that order.

4.3.7    Recovered Materials Determination

Procurement originators are responsible for defining product specifications, utilizing RMANs, when procuring EPA-designated items from outside vendors.  The procurement originator must make a written determination certifying that the statement of work/specifications for the requisition of materials/services specified complies with RMANs.  The completed determination becomes part of the original contract file.  A copy of the “Recovered Materials Determination” form is provided in Exhibit 1.

A determination is not required when EPA-designated items containing recovered materials are obtained through GSA's Federal Supply Service or other established Federal supply sources.

4.3.8    Justification for Not Buying EPA-Designated Recycled Content Products

FAR 23.405 requires agencies to justify, in writing, decisions not to buy recycled content products.  The contracting officer must base the justification on the inability to acquire the product—(1) competitively within a reasonable period of time; (2) at reasonable prices; or (3) to reasonable performance standards in the specifications, provided a written determination by technical or requirements personnel of the performance standard’s reasonableness is included with the justification.  The technical and requirements personnel must base their determination on National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines, if available.  Written justification is not required for purchases below the micro purchase threshold.

The procurement originator shall document the decision not to buy recycled content products.  A copy of the “Request for Waiver” form is provided in Exhibit 2.  The original copy of the documentation becomes part of the original contract file.  The procurement originator is responsible for submitting a copy of the documentation form to the responsible program manager.  As required by FAR 23.405(c), the contracting officer shall forward a copy of all waivers to the DOT Environmental Executive within 30 days, after contract award, for annual reporting purposes.

4.3.9    Simplified Acquisitions/Micro-Purchases

The requirement to purchase recycled-content CPG items applies to all purchases, including those at or below the micro-purchase threshold ($2,500).  However, written justifications are not required for not buying recycled content products.  DOT shall procure recycled content products when making purchases at or below the micro-purchases threshold.

EO 13101 requires agencies making micro-purchases to provide guidance regarding purchasing of recycled-content products.  DOT has developed a pamphlet on this process for all DOT purchase card holders.  Copies of the pamphlet may be obtained from the Office of Transportation and Facilities, Policy Division (M-50).

4.3.10  Federal Supply Sources

Established Federal supply sources, such as the General Services Administration (GSA), Government Printing Office (GPO), Javits-Wagner-O’ Day (JWOD) Program, the Defense General Supply Center (DGSC), and UNICOR are competitive sources for EPA-designated items and other recycled content products.  Procuring recycled content products through these sources offers the following advantages:

·        Products have been competitively bid;

·        Products meet or exceed EPA minimum content standards for recovered materials; and

·        Electronic catalogs identifying CPG Compliant Products.

These sources also provide an additional service through independent estimation, certification, and verification of EPA-designated items containing recovered materials, thereby reducing overhead costs for procurement originators to track and monitor vendor compliance with affirmative procurement requirements.  Information on Federal supply sources of recycled content and environmentally preferable products is contained in Attachment B.

4.3.11  Contractors

The buy recycled requirements apply to contractors when they are purchasing or supplying EPA designated products for use in the performance of a contract.  The FAR requires agency contracting officers to insert the clause at 52.211-5, Material Requirements, in all solicitations and contracts for supplies that are not commercial items.  The FAR also requires agency contracting officers to insert the clause at 52.223-10, Waste Reduction Program, in all solicitations and contracts for contractor operation of government-owned or leased facilities and all solicitations and contracts for support services at Government-owned or operated facilities.

When contractors are purchasing goods on behalf of the Federal agencies with appropriated funds, they need detailed instructions on their responsibilities for implementing the order.

This guidance applies to all DOT operations and contractors.  Operating Administration’s contracting officers shall ensure that the FAR clauses at 52.211-5, Material Requirements, and 52.223-10, Waste Reduction Program, are inserted appropriately in all applicable solicitations and contracts.  Once appropriate provisions are included in the contract the contractor shall comply with DOT’s APP as if the contractor were a DOT entity.  Accordingly, the contractor shall be required to monitor and report on its APP-related procurement activities as well as require its applicable sub-contractors to comply with DOT’s APP.  It is the responsibility of each Operating Administration to ensure: (1) appropriate existing contracts are revised to include APP compliance provisions and (2) appropriate new contracts contain APP compliance provisions. 

4.3.12  Assistance Agreements

State and local agencies purchasing more than $10,000 worth of an EPA-designated item in a year, and using some Federal funds for these purchases, are required to establish an APP for those particular items.

For example, State and local agencies may use some funds from the Federal Highway Grants Program to purchase an EPA designated item.  If the agency, or the agency's contractors, purchase more than $10,000 worth of the item in a year and use some Federal funds for these purchases, then they are required to purchase the product containing recovered materials.

4.3.13  Life-Cycle Cost Analysis

OFPP's Policy Letter 92-4 requires Federal agencies to use life-cycle cost analysis, wherever feasible and appropriate, to assist in selecting products and services.  Whenever possible, cost shall be calculated over the life of the item, not just the initial, up-front cost.  When comparing alternative products, the initial cost of the acquisition, as well as lifetime maintenance costs, operational costs, etc., must be considered in the analysis.  A product having a higher initial cost may have lower operational cost or a higher resale value and will, therefore, prove to be a better value and more cost-effective compared to the alternatives.

At this time, life-cycle cost information for EPA-designated items is not yet available.  Until such information is developed and issued, DOT will rely on minimum content standards or preference standards in EPA's guidelines.

4.4       Part 2.  Promotion Program

Operating Administrations must actively promote their affirmative procurement programs.  Promotion should be internal as well as external.  Internal promotion can consist of activities such as wide distribution of copies of the DOT affirmative procurement policy, articles in newsletters, workshops to educate employees, and using logos/recycling statements on official stationary and publications.  Most importantly, the message must reach field operations, procurement officials, supply and requirements personnel and individuals who purchase material or products with a government credit card.

DOT’s AEE is responsible for actively promoting the Agency’s preference for recycled content products.  This includes making recycled content products suppliers aware of DOT’s preference program, educating program and procurement offices about requirements to procure recycled content products, and providing DOT employees and contractors with information on sources of recycled products.  DOT will internally and externally promote its desire to buy recycled products by:

·        Including explicit recovered materials preference standards for EPA-designated items in appropriate solicitation and contract language, specifications, drawings, plans, statements of work, and during contract negotiations.

·        Providing informational materials, statements, and training to program and procurement offices regarding DOT’s recovered materials preference program through internal documents, newsletters, and at appropriate conferences, workshops, and meetings.

·        Providing vendor and product information from established Federal supply sources and outside vendors to program and procurement offices through:

Ø      Electronic media such as DOT’s procurement office web site and other appropriate systems; and

Ø      Internal documents and publications; newsletters;

Ø      and at appropriate conferences, workshops, and meetings.

4.5       Part 3.  Procedures for Vendor Estimation, Certification, and Verification

EPA recommends that procuring agencies require vendors to provide an estimate of the total recycled content of their products and certify that the recycled content meets the minimum content standards in the agency’s solicitation documents.  EPA also recommends that agencies establish procedures to verify vendor estimates and certifications.  Agencies should verify these estimates and certifications through their normal quality control assurance procedures.

Program and procurement offices shall adopt the following procedures:

4.5.1    Certification

Contracting officers shall assure that vendors (1) provide written certification that their products meet the minimum content standards in the solicitation documents; (2) maintain copies of certification documents; and (3) produce copies of the written certification upon request by DOT.

DOT contracting officers will insert the provision 52.223-4, “Recovered Material Certification,” in solicitations that are for, or specify the use of, recovered materials. 

4.5.2    Estimation

DOT contracting officers will insert the clause, 52.223-9, “Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA Designated Products,” in solicitations and contracts exceeding $100,000 that include the provision, 52.223-4, “Recovered Material Certification.”

4.5.3    Verification

DOT's AEE shall periodically review vendor certification documents as part of the annual review and monitoring process.  Such reviews shall enable DOT's AEE to verify the contractors’ compliance with EO 13101.

4.6       Part 4.  Annual Review and Monitoring Program

4.6.1    Data Tracking

DOT’s Office of Transportation and Facilities (M-50) will actively track DOT’s procurement of EPA-designated recycled content products.

4.6.2    Annual Review

For each EPA-designated recycled content product that it purchases, DOT’s Office of Transportation and Facilities (M-50) will review available data on purchases from central supply sources, purchases using the government purchase card, and purchases by contractors in performance of their contracts.  M-50 will assess its progress in achieving the EO 13101 goal of purchasing 100 percent recycled content products.  M-50 will determine whether recycled content products are not being purchased due to lack of training of contracting officers, purchase card holders, and/or program managers.  Training will be provided as appropriate.  M-50 also will determine whether recycled content products are not being purchased due to price, performance, or availability constraints.  Whenever performance is the constraint, M-50 will work with vendors and the White House Task Force on Recycling to identify products that meet the agency’s needs.  Whenever availability is the constraint, M-50 will increase its promotion program and work with the White House Task Force on Recycling to identify sources.

5.0       Annual Reports

Section 6002 of RCRA, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 6962) requires OFPP to report to Congress biennially on agency implementation of RCRA.  EO 13101 requires Executive Agencies to report progress towards achieving waste prevention and recycling goals to the FEE.  The FEE and OFPP jointly request purchasing data annually for these reports.

Agencies are encouraged to establish goals to increase the procurement of products made from recovered materials; for solid waste diversion; and for increasing the use of environmentally preferable products and services.  DOT will report on its goals, which are established in Section 6 of this plan, to the FEE annually.

DOT’s AEE is responsible for tracking the Department’s purchasing of EPA-designated items and reporting this information to the OFPP and the FEE.  DOT’s AEE must also report on DOT's compliance with requirements to review and revise specifications, product descriptions, and standards to enhance the procurement of recycled content and environmentally preferable products.  DOT's AEE will justify why designated items have not been purchased, or submit a plan for increasing DOT’s purchases of the EPA-designated item(s).

6.0       Additional Requirements

6.1       Goals

EO 13101, Part 6, requires agencies to establish goals for (1) waste diversion, (2) increasing the procurement of recycled content products, and (3) increasing the use of environmentally preferable products and services. 

DOT’s AEE established the following goals:

Waste diversion

By 2005, 35% waste diversion

By 2010, 40% waste diversion

Procurement of recycled content products

            100% of the EPA designated products purchased will meet the standard for recovered material content, given that the price is competitive, the product is readily available and the performance is comparable to the performance of products made of virgin materials.

Procurement of environmentally preferable products and services

Goals for this initiative will be established after DOT has performed several projects.

As appropriate, DOT’s Office of Transportation and Facilities will report its progress on obtaining the goals identified above to the FEE for the biennial report specified in Section 302(a)(2) of E.0.13101.

6.2       Awards

DOT has established an annual awards program to recognize successful and innovative waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement programs throughout the Department.  The program is administered by DOT's Office of the Secretary, Office of Transportation and Facilities as part of the environmental policy program.  Award winners are eligible to compete in the White House Closing the Circle Awards Program and other applicable public and private awards programs.

The Environmental Achievement Awards Program covers all DOT personnel, and all DOT programs, which directly address recycling, waste prevention, affirmative procurement and pollution prevention.  This includes, but is not limited to, research and development which lead to pollution prevention, as well as development and implementation of procedures which reduce the use of environmentally hazardous systems or materials, increase recycling rates and/or increase the purchase of environmentally preferable products.  Awards will be given for excellence of performance in the following categories:  Waste/Pollution Prevention, Recycling, Affirmative Procurement, Environmental Preferability, Model Facility Demonstration, Education and Outreach, Environmental Management Systems and Biobased Products.  Individuals and team awards will be given in each category.

The awards program process shall be conducted in a manner that recognizes the broadest number of people and organizations possible while maintaining the fairness and integrity of the process.  This awards program uses a self-nomination process.

• The Awards Program Manager, appointed by the DOT AEE, shall issue a call for nominations to all the Administrators no later than October 1 of each year.  This call shall then be distributed as appropriate within each organization.  This call shall include the awards criteria as developed by the Awards Program Manager in conjunction with the Awards Program Committee.

• Nominations must be submitted to the Office of Administration by December 15 of the same year.  

• The nominations will be given to the Awards Program Committee, a panel comprised of Office of Transportation and Facilities personnel.  The committee will evaluate the nominees against award criteria and select one individual and one team to receive each award. The Awards Program Committee shall complete this process by January 15 of each year.

• The Awards Program Manager shall acquire additional information on the nominees and prepare selection/briefing packages on the nominees, if requested by the Awards Program Committee.  The Awards Program Manager shall ensure that no adverse actions or performance issues are pending against any of the nominees.

• The AEE, M-1, shall approve the final selection of the award recipients and shall notify each award recipient as soon as possible following the selection.

6.3       White House Closing the Circle Awards Program

The White House Closing the Circle Awards program was developed to recognize Federal employees and their facilities for efforts, which resulted in significant impact on the environment in specific categories under EO 13101.  Every year this program continues to seek and recognize outstanding affirmative procurement, waste reduction, and recycling success stories that can set the example for other Federal facilities to follow.  The existing categories are: Waste/Pollution Prevention, Recycling, Green Purchasing, Environmental Management Systems, and Sustainable Design/Green Buildings.

Each category recognizes efforts made by either an individual Federal employee (“individual award”) or teams/groups of Federal employees (including teams made of Federal and contract employees) at government facilities (“team/project award”).  Each category has subsets for military and civilian nominations.

Only the winners of the DOT Environmental Achievement Awards will be submitted to the White House Task Force on Recycling for consideration in the White House Closing the Circle Awards Program.

6.4       Model Facilities

Section 704 of EO 13101 requires each agency to establish a model demonstration program.  Agencies are encouraged to demonstrate and test new and innovative approaches such as incorporating environmentally preferable and biobased products; increasing the quantity and types of purchases of products containing recovered materials; expanding collection programs; implementing source reduction programs; composting organic materials when feasible; and exploring public/private partnerships to develop markets for recovered materials.  Any DOT facilities that wish to be considered for this program should contact the DOT’s Office of Transportation and Facilities.

6.5       Waste Prevention and Recycling Programs

6.5.1    Waste Prevention Opportunities

·        To promote waste prevention, DOT strongly encourages the electronic transfer of documents and double-sided printing and copying.

·        Agency contracting and program officials shall consider all waste prevention opportunities such as recyclability, reusability, and repairability when acquiring products and services.

·        Solicitations and contracts, exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, shall include the provision at FAR 52.204-4, “Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Recycled Paper,” requiring documents to be printed double-sided on recycled paper containing 30 percent postconsumer fiber.

·        DOT will utilize electronic acquisition systems to the maximum extent practicable.

·        Contracting Officers will include the provision at FAR 52.223.10, "Waste Reduction Program,” in all solicitations and contracts for contractor operation of Government-owned or -leased facilities and in all solicitations and contracts for support services at Government-owned or operated facilities.

·        DOT vehicle maintenance facilities shall acquire and use engine coolant recycling equipment.

·        DOT vehicle maintenance facilities shall utilize the Defense Supply Center Richmond’s used oil recycling/re-refined lubricating oil supply contract.

6.5.2    Recycling Programs

All DOT facilities must comply with local or state recycling requirements.  Each Operating Administration shall implement or maintain waste prevention and recycling programs at their facilities, where practicable.