Federal Supplier (Small Business) Greenhouse Gas Inventory Pilot

GSA launched the Federal Supplier Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Pilot in August, 2010 to assess the benefits and challenges experienced by small businesses in completing a GHG Emissions Inventory and how the inventory completion process may be facilitated by use of a registry.

Why launch the pilot program?

Section 13 of Executive Order (EO) 13514 Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance signed on October 5, 2009, required the General Services Administration (GSA), in coordination with the Department of Defense (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other key agencies, to provide to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) recommendations regarding the feasibility of

Requiring vendors and contractors -- those that provide products and services to the government and therefore constitute the “federal supply chain” -- to complete a GHG emissions inventory; and
The government using this data as part of the federal procurement process.

GSA’s Section 13 Report concluded that it is feasible to encourage federal contractors to inventory and disclose their GHG emissions data and then use this data within the federal procurement process. It recognized that small businesses may have distinct challenges and benefits in completing a GHG emissions inventory and recommended that GSA undertake further research to identify those challenges and what the government can do to address them.

GSA partnered with EPA’s Climate Leaders Program and launched the Federal Supplier Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Pilot with the goal to assist 60 small businesses in completing a GHG emissions inventory. In September 2010, EPA decided to cease funding the Climate Leaders Program but worked with GSA to continue assisting the small businesses participating in the pilot program [Excel, 15k].

The pilot is a three year program in which small businesses are required to develop annual GHG emissions inventories through September 2013. The small businesses are also required to develop and implement GHG emissions reductions strategies, and review their progress towards meeting their reduction goals and the associated benefits.

What will GSA do with the pilot results?

The pilot, which will continue through September 2013, will assist GSA in assessing the benefits and challenges specific to small businesses in inventorying and disclosing GHG emissions data via a registry. GSA is also interested in identifying the type of outreach, training, and other direct assistance and incentives that will encourage small business federal contractors to inventory and disclose their GHG emissions data.

What are the benefits to small businesses participating in the pilot?

Cost savings: Pilot participants will be assisted to identify inefficiencies in their business practices which, when addressed, can lead to the same benefits recognized by large companies: cost savings, risk mitigation and an increase in operational efficiency.
Market Advantage: Pilot participants will be amongst a progressive group of small businesses that have completed GHG emissions inventories.
Public Recognition: GSA, in conjunction with EPA, will publicly acknowledge pilot participants that meet and/or exceed GHG reduction goals.
Free Third-Party Assurance Services: GSA will provide third party assurance services to pilot participants, at no cost, during the third year of the pilot program.

For more information about the program go to:
http://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/smallbiz/index.html or send an email to: ghgemissionspilot@gsa.gov