STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL …

STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
                                                                   NUMBER:

MANAGEMENT MEMO                                                    MM 06-08
SUBJECT:                                                           DATE ISSUED:
CARPET PURCHASES TO MEET ENVIRONMENTALLY                           May 15, 2006
                                                                   EXPIRES:
PREFERABLE CRITERIA
                                                                   May 15, 2007
REFERENCES:                                                        ISSUING AGENCY:
Chapter 590, Statutes of 2005, (Lowenthal SB 1106)                 DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL
Public Contract Code Sections 12153 and 12400-12404                SERVICES


Purpose          The purpose of this Management Memo is to help State agencies,
                 departments, boards, and commissions comply with the requirements of SB
                 1106 and Public Contract Code Sections 12153 and 12400-12404.

Referenced       California's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) law (Public
Laws             Contract Code sections 12400­12404) directs the Department of General
                 Services (DGS) in collaboration with the California Integrated Waste
                 Management Board (CIWMB) to develop and implement "a strategy to
                 increase environmentally preferable purchasing. This may include the
                 development of statewide policies, guidelines, programs, and regulations."

                 SB1106 modified numerous sections of the Public Contract Code to include
                 purchasing and reporting requirements for products purchased by the State of
                 California, including 10 percent minimum post-consumer content for plastic
                 products (including carpet).

                 Public Contract Code Section 12153 directs the DGS and other agencies
                 "...to draft, establish, and implement policies that ensure the procurement and
                 use of recycled resources."


Background       Carpet is an interior finish flooring material commonly used in public buildings.
                 According to the CIWMB's December 2004 Statewide Waste Characterization
                 Study, about 840,000 tons of carpet end up in California landfills each year at
                 the end of their useful life representing about two percent of the State's
                 overall waste stream.

                 An interagency EPP carpet working group from California's EPP Task Force
                 contributed to the development of a national consensus-based standard
                 resulting in a standard registered by NSF International with the American
                 National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a Draft Standard for Trial Use referred
                 to as the Draft American National Standard for Trial Use, NSF 140-2005
                 Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard (Draft NSF 140-2005).

                 California's interagency EPP carpet working group reviewed the criteria in the
                 Draft NSF 140-2005 standard and determined that products should meet
                 additional prerequisites addressing California areas of concern. The working
                 group added criteria related to material emissions, post-consumer recycled
                 content and end of life management. These criteria and minimum threshold
                 requirements are incorporated into the California Gold Sustainable Carpet
                 Standard.
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

                       This specification includes flexible criteria in five areas crucial to sustainable,
                       environmental performance and describes several potential levels of
                       attainment. The performance areas include:

                          ·   Safe for Public Health and Environment, regarding the effect the
                              product has on people and its surroundings;
                          ·   Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, relating to energy usage;
                          ·   Biobased or Recycled Materials, concerning material composition;
                          ·   Facility or Company Based; pertaining to the manufacturing process;
                          ·   Reclamation, Sustainable Reuse, and End of Life Management,
                              which covers waste stream issues.

                       Additionally, the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) and
                       Chapter 590, Statutes of 2005, (Lowenthal SB 1106), dictate that State
                       agencies must report purchases of products in eleven material categories to
                       demonstrate that they contain minimal levels of recycled content. The
                       plastics category, to which carpet belongs due to its nylon content, lists a
                       minimum of 10% post-consumer content as a threshold for purchases.


Intent                 The California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard was created for carpet
                       purchased by and for the State of California and establishes minimum
                       requirements to improve the State's management of materials by reducing its
                       waste stream and better safeguarding human health by protecting indoor air
                       quality. In addition, the establishment of these criteria will support the
                       referenced legislation.


Description            1. After August 31, 2006, carpet purchased by State agencies shall meet as a
                          minimum the California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard whenever three
                          or more manufacturers meet this standard. This requirement does not
                          replace technical product specifications, rather, it provides a minimum
                          environmental specification.
                       2. This requirement shall apply to all modular and broadloom carpet
                          purchases for new construction, renovation, and replacement, whether
                          purchased through construction contracts, leases, Contract Multiple Award
                          Schedule (CMAS), or other procurement methods. Patching and repairing
                          within an existing field of carpet is exempt from this requirement when not
                          possible to match existing patterns with carpet meeting the EPP criteria.
                       3. Carpet purchases shall require proof of independent third-party certification
                          as specified in the Standard from the manufacturers. Evidence of this
                          certification must accompany carpet submittals, and the owner must receive
                          a copy of the certification at the time of carpet product delivery.




GS MM (REVISED 3/97)                       STATE of CALIFORNIA
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

Information            Please direct questions concerning this management memo to Craig Duehring,
                       Procurement Division, Department of General Services at 916-375-4336.

                       The application of this standard may be reevaluated at the conclusion of the
                       final ANSI certification process for Draft NSF 140-2005 Standard.
                       Information regarding the California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard is
                       at http://www.green.ca.gov/EPP/standards.htm



                       Original SAM Management Memo is signed by Ron Joseph, Director
Signature              ___________________________
                       Ron Joseph
                       Director




GS MM (REVISED 3/97)                      STATE of CALIFORNIA