Alliant 3: The first GWAC to require Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reporting and reduction targets

At a glance:

• The main takeaway: Alliant 3 is the first GWAC to require greenhouse gas reporting as a condition of award, which may have significant implications for the way contracts are awarded and completed. 
• The impact on your business: Government contractors who want to win governmentwide acquisition contracts will need to take the new environmental requirements into account if they want to continue winning profitable contracts.
• Next steps: Take in the insights this piece has to offer and consider how the new requirements will affect your business, then reach out to Aprio’s ESG team for advice and assistance complying with the new requirements.

Schedule a consultation with Aprio’s ESG team today.

Overview

• Greenhouse Gas Reporting now a requirement: Alliant 3 is the first GSA Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) to require GHG reporting as a condition of award.
• Significant Scoring Weight for Sustainability: Sustainability-related disclosures can earn up to 3,500 points in the proposal evaluation process.
• Emphasis on Emission Reduction: Alliant 3 places a strong emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the contract lifecycle

The full story:

Introduction

GSA Alliant 3 is a government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) that is a centralized procurement vehicle for federal agencies seeking to acquire information technology (IT) products, services and solutions. Set to be an eco-friendly procurement platform, Alliant 3 includes several  requirements related to environmental sustainability that aim to promote sustainable IT practices and reduce federal IT operations’ carbon footprint. To achieve these objectives, contractors bidding on Alliant 3 contracts must provide energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable products and services with an emphasis on products that meet the recognized energy efficiency standards such as Energy Star, EPEAT, and WaterSense.

Additionally, contractors should be prepared to offer services supporting sustainable IT development and implementation, such as data center optimization, electronic waste management, and green computing. Moreover, Alliant 3 GWAC will contain a range of new compliance requirements related to GHG emissions and energy consumption. These include the Federal Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting Guidance, which establishes protocols for measuring and reporting GHG emissions associated with federal operations. The guidelines also cover the Federal Energy Management Program, which sets targets for reducing energy consumption and promoting renewable energy use in federal facilities.

Sustainability Requirements in Alliant 3

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reporting and Scoring:

• Scoring: Alliant 3 will improve on Alliant 2 proposal requirements by using Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting as a scoring criterion. Proposals that included public disclosures of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions receive additional points.
  • To receive these points, the offer must identify the location of the public disclosures and provide self-attestation that the conversions and calculations were  done in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s corporate accounting and reporting standard.
  • The potential GHG disclosure points are worth approximately 4% of the total available points.
  • The available 3,500 points for public disclosures of GHG emissions are broken down into Scope 1 and 2 (1,750 pts.) and Scope 3 (1,750 pts.).
  • The location of the public disclosure can be on the company website or through a third-party sustainability reporting portal such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
• Mandatory for Award: Contract holders will be required to report GHG emissions and reductions annually.
• Data Verification: will be required either through third-party or internal processes aligned with recognized standards.

Emission Reduction Targets:

• Contract-Level Goals: Alliant 3 has emission reduction targets that align with federal sustainability initiatives.
• Contractor Encouragement: Contractors are encouraged to set their own emission reduction targets and demonstrate progress towards them.

Sustainability Considerations in Procurement:

• Evaluation Criteria: Sustainability factors, such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing practices, are considered in proposal evaluations.
• Contract Task Orders: Agencies can incorporate sustainability requirements into task orders issued under Alliant 3.

Challenges and Opportunities of Alliant 3’s Sustainability Requirements

Contractors’ bidding on Alliant 3 could face some challenges associated with the GWAC’s sustainability requirements. These challenges include increased costs from implementing sustainable practices and hiring vendors or personnel to implement and manage these new initiatives. Challenges may also include navigating the complex landscape of federal regulations and guidelines can be time and resource-intensive. However, despite these challenges, the potential opportunities associated with Alliant 3’s sustainability requirements are significant.

Opportunities exist for long-term cost savings, despite the upfront costs, by implementing initiatives such as  data center optimization or moving to renewable energy sources as well as gaining competitive advantage by demonstrating expertise in sustainable IT practices.

There are also opportunities for innovation of new products and services to achieve the federal agencies’ sustainability goals, leading to further market growth and economic benefits. As federal agencies increasingly prioritizing sustainability, contractors who meet their needs will be more likely to be successful in securing future federal contracts.

Summary

GSA’s Alliant 3 GWAC sustainability objectives showcase the program’s commitment to holistic and long-term environmental sustainability within the federal IT landscape.

Aprio helps Government contractors comply with sustainability requirements, from calculating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, conducting materiality analysis, sustainability data management, and educating clients on the various reporting frameworks to sustainability reporting.

Connect with Aprio’s dedicated ESG team today for help with your Government Sustainability Compliance.

Related Resources:

Earned Value Management System (EVMS)

Is Sustainability Becoming Part of Government Contracting?

The Rise of ESG and its Impact on Private and Public Corporations