FAR 23.002—Policy.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 23.002 states the Government-wide policy direction for federal acquisition in the sustainability and clean energy space. It implements section 208(a) of Executive Order 14057 and tells agencies to use procurement to reduce emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions, promote environmental stewardship, support resilient supply chains, drive innovation, and incentivize markets for sustainable products and services. In practical terms, this section is not a detailed buying procedure by itself; it is the policy foundation that shapes later FAR Part 23 requirements, agency acquisition planning, and source selection considerations involving sustainable products, services, and practices. It signals that sustainability is a procurement objective, not just an environmental program goal, and that contracting decisions should support broader federal climate and resilience priorities. For contractors, it means agencies may increasingly look for lower-emission solutions, environmentally preferable offerings, and supply chains that can withstand disruption. For contracting officers and acquisition planners, it means sustainability considerations should be integrated early and consistently rather than added as an afterthought.
Key Rules
Reduce emissions
Agencies are directed to use procurement in a way that reduces emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions. This makes emissions reduction a core acquisition policy objective when agencies plan and award contracts.
Promote stewardship
Federal buying should support environmental stewardship, meaning agencies should consider the environmental effects of what they purchase and how they purchase it. The policy encourages responsible use of resources and environmentally preferable acquisition choices.
Support resilient supply chains
Agencies should favor procurement approaches that strengthen supply chain resilience. In practice, this means considering continuity of supply, vulnerability to disruption, and the ability of vendors and products to perform reliably over time.
Drive innovation
The policy encourages acquisition to stimulate innovation in clean energy and sustainability-related markets. Agencies may use their purchasing power to encourage new technologies, processes, and business models that advance sustainability goals.
Incentivize sustainable markets
Federal procurement should help create demand for sustainable products and services. This market-shaping role is intended to expand availability, improve performance, and lower costs over time through consistent government demand.
Responsibilities
Agencies
Use procurement to advance the policy goals in this section by reducing emissions, promoting environmental stewardship, supporting resilient supply chains, driving innovation, and incentivizing markets for sustainable products and services.
Contracting Officers
Apply this policy in acquisition planning, solicitation development, evaluation, and award decisions as appropriate, and ensure sustainability considerations are reflected in the procurement strategy and contract requirements.
Acquisition Planners and Program Offices
Identify opportunities to incorporate sustainability, emissions reduction, and supply chain resilience into requirements early in the acquisition process so those goals can be built into the procurement approach.
Contractors and Offerors
Be prepared to propose products, services, and supply chain approaches that align with agency sustainability objectives, including lower-emission solutions and resilient delivery models when relevant to the requirement.
Practical Implications
This section is a policy driver, so its real effect shows up in later acquisition decisions rather than in a standalone checklist. Contractors should expect sustainability language to appear in requirements, evaluation factors, and performance expectations.
A common pitfall is treating sustainability as optional or purely aspirational. Agencies should understand that this policy is intended to influence procurement outcomes, not just internal environmental messaging.
Contracting officers should watch for opportunities to address emissions and supply chain resilience early, because these issues are much harder to add after requirements are finalized.
Offerors should be ready to explain how their products or services support lower emissions, environmental stewardship, and resilient sourcing, especially when those features are relevant to best value.
Because the policy is broad, agencies must still connect it to the specific acquisition and applicable FAR provisions; the section does not itself prescribe a single method, clause, or evaluation formula.
Official Regulatory Text
In accordance with section 208(a) of Executive Order 14057 , Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, agencies shall reduce emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions; promote environmental stewardship; support resilient supply chains; drive innovation; and incentivize markets for sustainable products and services.