On May 16, 2023, GSA announced the release of pilot Buy Clean IRA requirements for the acquisition of low embodied carbon construction materials for use in federal construction and renovation projects funded by the IRA. Section 60503 of the IRA appropriates $2.15 billion for the procurement of low embodied carbon construction materials.
The requirements were developed by the agency through gathering market insights from domestic manufacturers, local suppliers, small businesses, and environmental and labor groups. Through these investments in low embodied carbon materials, the federal government intends to advance its sustainability goals and leverage its purchasing power to “spur markets for products that have substantially lower levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions associated with their raw materials, transportation, and manufacturing.” The requirements are based on the EPA’s Interim Determination, which sets global warming potential limits for carbon-intensive materials such as asphalt, concrete, glass, and steel.
The pilot will be implemented for six months, and will go into effect immediately. The requirements will be applied to procurement procedures for 11 construction and modernization projects. GSA is accepting questions and comments at embodiedcarbon@gsa.gov.