Apply Now to Become a Green Purchasing Community

The Green Purchasing Communities (GPC) program makes it easy for local governments to ensure that the products they are purchasing have a lower environmental impact. 

Local governments that become a Green Purchasing Community commit to following the GreenNY purchasing specifications that New York State government uses By making this simple change, local governments can work towards purchasing products and services that are better for our public health and the environment. With over 75 different GreenNY purchasing specifications covering office and building management supplies, electronic equipment and appliances, food service items, and transportation items, there are specifications to follow for a wide variety of items frequently purchased by local governments.

In addition, the GreenNY Council is constantly working to update existing specifications and create new ones, meaning that Green Purchasing Communities will automatically be following the latest green purchasing specifications. Additional "environmentally preferable purchasing" language can also be added to local government purchasing policies to encourage procurement of "recycled" or "energy efficient" equipment, for example.

Watch program overview video

Local governments that become a Green Purchasing Community will receive the following benefits:
 

1. An easy-to-administer green procurement program for their operations that will be continuously updated by the GreenNY Council.
   Since New York State has already done the hard work of identifying what a green product or service is for various categories, all the local government’s purchasing officials need to do is follow the GreenNY approved specifications (many of which are on OGS Centralized Contracts). In addition, since the GreenNY Council is consistently approving new specifications and updating older ones, local governments can be assured that they’re following the latest green purchasing standards just by being a Green Purchasing Community.
    

2. Recognition for their efforts.
   Local governments that become a Green Purchasing Community will be listed on the GreenNY website and may be included in press releases, social media posts, and other announcements. In addition, local governments can promote their participation in the program to their constituents.
    

3. Certification Points in the Climate Smart Communities program.
   Becoming a Green Purchasing Community will allow local governments to receive points under the Climate Smart Communities Certification program for the action called PE3 Action: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy.

    

Any local government in New York State (counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and others) can participate in the program if it has a formal purchasing policy.

General Municipal Law § 104-b requires political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, district corporations, and boards of cooperative educational services) adopt internal policies and procedures governing all procurements of goods and services, which are not required to be competitively bid pursuant to the requirements of § 103. This municipal purchasing policy must be reviewed annually by the governing board.

Purchasing “green” is a socially responsible initiative that has gained momentum throughout our State and our country. In an effort to preserve our natural resources, many organizations, businesses, and governments have embarked upon programs that encourage environmentally preferable purchasing. When seeking competition, local governments and school districts generally can consider whether energy-efficient equipment will produce savings in energy costs and, if properly justified, may include an energy efficiency threshold in their specifications or consider energy efficiency as part of a “best value” analysis. In addition, local governments and school districts can express a preference for “recycled products.” It’s important to realize that investments in energy-efficient or recycled products may cost your locality more money initially. However, long-term benefits are typically realized through a reduction in energy costs combined with positive impacts on the environment. (See OSC – Seeking Competition 2016)

General Municipal Law (GML) § 103 requires competitive bidding for public works projects over $35,000, and bidding or best value RFP for commodities or services over $20,000.

GML § 104-a authorizes municipalities to purchase recycled products without a competitive bid where such products meet contract specifications and the price of such products is reasonably competitive. (See GML § 104-a for definitions of “recycled product” and “reasonably competitive”)

GML § 104-b requires the governing board of every political subdivision and any district therein to adopt by resolution internal policies and procedures governing all procurements of goods and services which are not required to be competitively bid pursuant to the requirements of § 103. This municipal purchasing policy must be reviewed annually by the governing board.

Under the GreenNY Green Purchasing Communities Program, language should be added to an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing section of a municipality’s (or school district’s) purchasing policy that reflects the local government’s commitment to following the GreenNY specifications, such as:

Where [the municipality] is procuring a commodity or service, whether by competitive bid or other type of procurement, that is the subject of a GreenNY procurement specification that has received final approval of the NYS GreenNY Council pursuant to Executive Order No. 22 (2022), the [municipal purchasing officer] shall follow the GreenNY procurement specification to the maximum extent practicable and where cost is reasonably competitive as defined in General Municipal Law § 104-a. GreenNY approved procurement specifications can be found online at: https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/approved-greenny-specifications.
 

Many of these commodities/services are available on OGS centralized contracts, which offers a compliant pathway for competitive procurement by participating municipal entities. (See GML § 104)

Submit the application, along with the resolution approving the inclusion of the model language and a copy of the new purchasing policy to [email protected].

Download Application

What You’ll Need for the Application

• A copy of the resolution approving the municipal purchasing policy that contains the new language
• A copy of the updated purchasing policy, including the new language
• The total estimated annual spending on all goods and commodities by your entity

You will be a Green Purchasing Community

Once the application, the resolution, and the new purchasing policy are received, the application will be processed, and the applicant will be notified if they are approved or not. If approved, a notice of the approval will be sent via email. If the application is not approved, an email will be sent notifying the applicant of the reason why and how they can correct that. 

Participating entities in the Green Purchasing Communities program are responsible for ensuring that their entity is purchasing products and services that meet the GreenNY specifications to the maximum extent practicable and where price is reasonably competitive. This includes making sure that their local purchasing officials have the necessary information regarding the GreenNY procurement specifications to allow them to follow the specifications. While not required, since there will not be audits or tracking of participant purchasing records, participating entities can also develop internal tracking procedures in order to determine how their purchasing officials are following the specifications and what products they are purchasing the most of.

With over 75 different GreenNY purchasing specifications covering office and building management supplies, electronic equipment and appliances, food service items, and transportation items, there are specifications to follow for a wide variety of items frequently purchased by local governments. And since the GreenNY team is always working to update their specifications and add new ones, Green Purchasing Communities will automatically be following the latest specifications.

GreenNY Specifications