1. Mike Green Overcoming Obstacles Mike Green is the Program Manager of USDA’s Preferred Procurement Program for Biobased Products.Mike Green is the Program Manager of USDA’s Preferred Procurement Program for Biobased Products. Mr. Green directs the design, development, testing, and implementation of a procurement model to serve as a blueprint for other federal agencies to develop their Biobased Procurement Preference Programs.Mr. Green directs the design, development, testing, and implementation of a procurement model to serve as a blueprint for other federal agencies to develop their Biobased Procurement Preference Programs.

2. Barriers t o B iobased P roduct P rocurement MIKE GREEN PROGRAM MANAGER BIOBASED CONTRACTING OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Federal Environmental Symposium May 2-4, 2006 United States Department of Agriculture

3. Barriers, What are they, and can they be overcome? 2 What are Barriers? They are (1) structures or objects that impedes free movement, (2) any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; "intolerance is a barrier to understanding" and (3) anything serving to maintain separation by obstructing vision or access. There are barriers that exist for everything that we do. Some are more difficult to overcome than others and some are deliberately placed in our way for any undisclosed reason. Barriers can be mobile, environmental, structural or psychological

4. Example #1 of a Barrier 3 How does he expect me to walk across this mountain in less than an hour?? What does he think I am, a superman or something!!

5. Thomas. Before I give you that Promotion I would like for you to chart the complete composition and length of the Great Wall. You want me to do what? You’ve got to be kidding!!! Example # 2 of a Barrier 4

6. Example #3 of a Barriers 5 But boss, we need to purchase some biobased products!! I thought I told you no. They cost too much and we just don’t have the budget!!

7. The Federal Role and How it Helps to Overcome Barriers. The 2002 Farm Bill and the final Biobased Guidelines, issued in January 2005, require each Federal agency to develop an affirmative procurement program (APP) for biobased products that consist of: 6 1. a biobased product preference program; 2. a biobased product procurement promotion program; and 3. an annual review and monitoring of program effectiveness.

8. I Wonder … What are some of the barriers that must be overcome to ensure that the Federal government increases its purchase and use of Biobased products? 7

9. 8 Barriers for Government Employees 1.Level of awareness about biobased product 2.Nay Sayers 3.Excuses (Lack of funds) 4.How to find Biobased products. 5.Level of Senior Management Support 6.Lack of Regulation and Guidance 7.What can I Purchase?

10. 9 Barriers for Biobased Manufacturers and Dealers 1.Level of awareness on how to market products to the Federal Government a.Register with CCR b.Understanding the North American Industry Classification System 2.How to find what contracts contain biobased products a.Search Procurement Forecast b. Search the Federal Business Opportunity (FedBizOps) 3.Not prepared for competition 4.Excessive pricing.

11. Strategies/Outline for Overcoming Barriers 1.Develop Procurement Tools/Templates that guide Requirement Officials on how and when to include biobased products as requirements in an SOW 2.Identify types of procurements that could easily utilize biobased products. 3.Develop language to be included in the procurement description being placed in FedBizOps that assist vendors in identifying requirements having biobased products. (Example) “This procurement requires the use of biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. Where available, these products should first be acquired from among qualified products that fall under the umbrella of items designated through the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program (FB4P)”. 10

12. Strategies/Outline for Overcoming Barriers 4.Develop internal policy 5.Consider including biobased opportunities in Procurement Forecast. 6.Provide information on where to identify biobased products that have been designated 7.Most importantly “Get Senior Management’s support” 11 SEE OUR WEB SITE AT http://www.usda.gov/biobased

13. For additional information I can be contacted at: mike.green@usda.gov or (202) 720-7921 U.S. Department of Agriculture Departmental Administration Office of Procurement and Property Management 12