FAR 23.104 General procedures

(a) Maximum extent practicable. If the requiring activity submits a written justification addressing the reasons described in 23.103(a)(1), the contracting officer may consider it not practicable to procure sustainable products or services. A written justification may be for a specific product or service or at the line item or contract level. The contracting officer shall maintain the written justification in the contract file.

(b) Identification.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the contracting officer shall ensure the solicitation and contract identifies—

(i) The sustainable products and services, including the purchasing program and type of product or service, that are applicable to the acquisition, as identified by the requiring activity; and

(ii) Any products and services that are not subject to the requirements of this subpart and the clause at 52.223-23, Sustainable Products and Services, based on the written justification under paragraph (a) of this section, an exception at 23.105, or an exemption at 23.106.

(2) The requirement in paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply if the justification, exception, or exemption covers the entirety of the contract action requirements.

(c) Prioritization. Agencies shall prioritize sustainable products and services as follows:

(1) Procure products and services that meet applicable statutory purchasing program requirements (see 23.107). When both an EPA-designated item (see 23.107-1) and a biobased product in a USDA-designated product category (see 23.107-2) could be used for the same purposes, and there is not an EPA-designated item that is also a biobased product in a USDA-designated product category that meets the agency's needs, procure the EPA-designated item.

(2) Consistent with other statutory procurement requirements, prioritize multi-attribute sustainable products and services, which are those that meet applicable statutory purchasing program requirements (see 23.107) and one or more required EPA purchasing programs (see 23.108).

(3) If no statutory purchasing program requirements apply, procure sustainable products and services that meet required EPA purchasing program requirements (see 23.108).

(d) Resource. The Green Procurement Compilation (GPC) available at https://sftool.gov/​greenprocurement provides a comprehensive list of sustainable products and services and other related sustainable acquisition guidance. In addition to the resources identified for each purchasing program listed in 23.107 and 23.108, agencies should consult the GPC when determining which purchasing programs apply to a specific product or service.