GSA has proposed that in 2014 vendors competing for the federal government’s $1.5 billion package delivery services contract be assessed on their ability to meet targets for alternative fuel use.
The American Clean Skies Foundation pitched the idea to GSA in June to update the solicitation for the Domestic Delivery Services – DDS3, contract, as an extension of the agency’s Green Purchasing Plan. ACSF sent GSA administrator Dan Tangherlini a letter in June arguing that the contract criteria could "significantly expand deployment of cleaner, fuel-efficient services by the package delivery industry."
"This new GSA contract could set an important new benchmark for government transport contracts, and GSA should be applauded for expressly recognizing that transport related pollution has quantifiable costs and negative impacts on federal agency operations," said the foundation’s CEO, Gregory Staple.
"Hence, it makes sense for the government to compare the environmental performance of its current and potential business partners," he added.
A request for information to replace the current shipping contract, which expires next September, was announced on the FedBizOpps website in May. UPS was awarded the DDS2 contract in 2009 and along with FedEx, has reportedly begun integrating alternative fuel use into their fleet operations.
