On April 22, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council published a final rule, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Sustainable Procurement, with the stated goal of restructuring and updating existing requirements for sustainability in federal procurement. The rule was first announced in an April 19 White House press release.

The final rule reorganizes and implements changes to FAR part 23, with key provisions that:

• Establish a new directive for federal agencies to “procure sustainable products and services to the maximum extent practicable,” replacing existing 95% sustainability targets
• Direct agencies to ensure construction contracts comply with the Council on Environmental Quality’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
• Consolidate and update a range of environmental purchasing program requirements

The FAR Council also released a Small Entity Compliance Guide. The final rule will take effect May 22.