SoyBiobased.org

Policies give “permission,” leadership provides “encouragement,” and training “shows how” preferable purchasing plans can be implemented. Training can be conducted in a variety of venues and using many different tools.

USDA has developed the following biobased training for Federal and Federal Contractor Personnel:

• BioPreferred^®Seminars (60 minutes) 
  From Awareness to Action: The BioPreferred^® Federal Procurement Preference Program
  Products in Operations, Maintenance, and Cleaning
• BioPreferred^® Federal Procurement Preference Program Training
  An introduction to your responsibilities under the BioPreferred Federal Procurement Preference Training
  Web 1 hour
• Purchasing Green Products
  Specifically for purchase card holders, this training covers all of the Federal government-recognized green purchasing categories
  Web 1 hour
• Buying Smart! Using a Lifecycle Checklist
  A useful tool to help determine the total lifecycle costs of biobased products as compared to their non-biobased counterparts
  Video + Lifecycle checklist; approximately 15 minutes
• BioPreferred Classroom Training
  A resource for instructors who wish to introduce the BioPreferred Procurement Preference Training in a classroom setting
  Web 2 hours

President Obama’s February 21, 2012 Presidential Memorandum directs the Federal Government to take decisive steps to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products.  Specifically, Section 7 of the Memorandum addresses education and outreach by:

• Directing the Secretary of Agriculture to update all existing USDA BioPreferred and related sustainable acquisition training materials within one year.
• Directing the Senior Sustainability Officers and Chief Acquisition Officers of all agencies to work cooperatively with USDA to immediately implement the updated BioPreferred education and outreach programs.
• Directing USDA to work with the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to promote education and outreach on BioPreferred AbilityOne products.

The Presidential Memorandum also requires federal agencies to provide appropriate training on procurement of biobased products for all acquisition personnel.  More detailed information on the Presidential Memorandum may be found here.

The United Soybean Board does not endorse any of the products shown or the companies that produce them. The United Soybean Board does not make any representations regarding product safety or performance or the accuracy of any of the information in this guide. All information in the guide has been provided by soy product manufacturers and has not been verified.