What are preference programs? Do environmental products enjoy any special, formalized advantages among products offered to Federal agencies?
Federal agencies encourage participation in procurement and contracting activities through preference programs for: • Small businesses that meet small business size standards for their industry; • Small disadvantaged businesses that are at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or stockholders; and • Women-owned small businesses. Regarding environmental products, Federal agencies provide purchasing preferences for products containing recovered materials, which are designated by EPA under RCRA section 6002. To date, EPA has designated 24 items in seven product categories, including paper, vehicular, construction, landscaping, transportation, park and recreation, and office products. Agenies are required to purchase EPA-designated items “to the maximum extent practicable,” considering price, performance, and availability. While there is no formalized Federal policy on providing price preferences for products containing recovered material
