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Operational Services Division (OSD) - Climate and Sustainability

As the Commonwealth’s procurement oversight agency, the Operational Services Division (OSD) uses its statutory mandate to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by designing and implementing robust and sustainable procurement policies and practices.

OSD Climate and Sustainability Mission

The mission of the OSD Climate and Sustainability Unit (CSU) is to advance sustainability and combat climate change through strategic procurements and practices. We are dedicated to integrating climate and environmental considerations across all stages of the procurement cycle,  driving markets toward greener products and services, promoting responsible business practices, and positively influencing industries and supply chains. 

OSD Climate and Sustainability Objectives

The primary objective of the CSU is to implement comprehensive strategies in the public procurement process that significantly reduce GHG emissions, the root cause of climate change, and to support a transition to low-carbon and sustainable practices.

The CSU aims to develop policies and strategies that reduce the environmental impact of public procurement and support the shift to a low-carbon, sustainable supply chain. The CSU collaborates with Category Management teams to ensure that procurement decisions align with the State’s climate and environmental objectives.

Additionally, the CSU works with vendors, buyers, and stakeholders to raise awareness, promote commitment to, and encourage active involvement in climate mitigation and sustainable practices. The CSU uses data to track progress, monitor key metrics, achieve measurable results, and make informed, evidence-based decisions that support the State's transition to a sustainable, climate-resilient future.

Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program

The CSU oversees the State's Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program. Since the inception of the Program in 1994, thousands of EPPs have been incorporated into Statewide Contracts, and contract spending on environmental and climate-preferable products and services has grown substantially. Refer to the EPP Annual Reports for additional information.

Key Climate Initiatives

As climate concerns grow, the CSU is integrating sustainability requirements into public procurement, strengthening environmental criteria, promoting vendor sustainability practices, and adding mechanisms for post-award GHG emissions monitoring. OSD also is analyzing vendors' climate data to track progress, identify trends, and highlight areas needing support.

Strengthened RFR Language

To further integrate and strengthen climate and environmental considerations in public procurement, and with a focus on vendor sustainability performance, the standard Request for Response (RFR) template for Statewide Contracts was updated in January 2025. The update introduces comprehensive climate-related provisions, including the mandatory inclusion of the updated Climate and Environmental Practices (CEP) Form in the bid package and post-award climate and sustainability reporting requirements for vendors.

Climate and Environmental Practices Form

The Climate and Environmental Practices (CEP) Form is designed to assess how vendors are reducing their climate and environmental footprints, and it is a required component of every Statewide Contract bid. The CEP Form allows OSD to evaluate vendors across four sustainability indicators: policies, practices, monitoring, and certifications, which are essential data for bid evaluations, allowing vendors to earn points for strong sustainability practices while helping OSD identify overall trends and gaps in vendor sustainability. 

Access the CEP Form, Guidance on Completing the CEP Form, and the CEP Form Video Tutorial. 

Vendor Sustainability Assessment

In addition to integrating climate and environmental criteria into procurement, the CSU also evaluates vendors’ broader sustainability practices, which helps to ensure that vendors demonstrate environmental responsibility not only in their products and services offerings, but also across their operations.

Vendor Sustainability Baseline Assessment

The baseline for vendor sustainability performance serves as a reference point for tracking progress, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies to enhance sustainability and emissions management through public procurement.

Rightsizing and Electrifying the State Fleet

OSD is spearheading transformative change through the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in our state fleet, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are revolutionizing transportation toward a cleaner, sustainable future by replacing traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles with zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), aligning our efforts to achieve the state's carbon reduction objectives/goals. 

OSD Climate and Sustainability Unit

Michelle Broussard, Director of Climate and Sustainability

Julia Wolfe, Director of Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program

Agnes Wierzbicki, Climate and Sustainability Coordinator

Sophie Collins, Climate Data Specialist

Paul Carey, Manager of Strategic Climate Initiatives  

OSD Social Media

OSD Contact

Phone

Call OSD Help Desk at 888-MA-State (627-8283)

Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Online

Email OSD Help Desk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov

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