Introduction The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is seeking ways to “promote use of construction materials with lower embodied emissions,” in accordance with Executive Order 14057 on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability . In connection with an upcoming program to modernize and construct land ports of entry, GSA is seeking information from industry on the availability of low embodied carbon concrete mixes for buildings and pavement, particularly along the U.S. northern and southern borders. “Embodied carbon” in this context refers to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, production, transport, and manufacturing of materials. GSA has engaged with industry trade associations, architectural firms specializing in sustainable construction, and public sector agencies including the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local governments on this topic. Many have indicated that low embodied carbon concrete mixes for buildings and pavement may be readily available and cost-competitive, with regional variation. GSA seeks to learn more from industry regarding any barriers to the production of sustainable concrete and any opportunities to more consistently use such products in the future. This Request for Information (RFI) is for general fact-gathering purposes only. Interested parties will not be reimbursed for any costs related to providing information in response to this RFI. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI. The proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for these services is 327320 Ready Mix Concrete Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 500 employees. Purpose of this RFI To gather information on the ability of concrete manufacturers and resellers, including small businesses, across the country to provide product-specific cradle-to-gate Type III environmental product declarations for concrete mixes, and to provide concrete that has low embodied carbon. GSA also is interested in the impacts of its sustainability initiatives on underserved or disadvantaged communities. For the purposes of this RFI, “low embodied carbon concrete” refers to concrete that has reduced global warming potential, in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per cubic meter, compared to industry averages. Response Requested Your response must be provided no later than 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. To respond, please complete the "Online Form" below under Attachments/Links, or email responses to the questions below to
[email protected] . You are not required to answer all of the questions, but the more information we receive, the better GSA’s understanding of the concrete market. To follow the RFI results or learn more about GSA’s embodied carbon reduction actions, please send a request to
[email protected] . Thank you. Questions for Industry What is your company name, point of contact, telephone number, and email address? Are you a concrete manufacturer, re-seller, or retailer? Is your company a large or small (fewer than 500-employee) business? What, if any, SBA small business socio-economic category applies to your business, such as Small Disadvantaged Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, or Historically Underutilized Business Zone? Has your company developed a product-specific cradle-to-gate environmental product declaration (EPD) for any of its concrete mixes? How do you generate EPDs, or non-EPD documentation of attributes such as embodied carbon? Has your company received more business interest after investing in an EPD? Is your company aware of market demand for low embodied carbon concrete? What, if any, embodied carbon reduction strategies do you use ( e.g. EPDs from cement suppliers, plant energy efficiency, or alternative ingredients)? Do you have dedicated or specialized sustainability staff? Does your company currently produce or supply low embodied carbon concrete? How does the cost compare to conventional equivalents? Do you currently offer concrete with innovative or outstanding environmental or performance attributes? What, if any, are the technical, economic, or regulatory obstacles to reducing the embodied carbon of your product? Any suggestions to help the industry reduce concrete manufacturing’s carbon footprint? Is the strength and durability of your products tested using standard methods from ASTM International or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials? Has your company experienced quality, workability, or durability challenges with low embodied carbon concrete? Please share any implementation lessons learned or best practices. Please identify each state where your company is able to provide low embodied carbon concrete. Are you able to provide your product to remote areas of the states that you supply? Is your company’s concrete typically used on construction sites within 100 miles of your plants? Are measures such as mobile concrete batching plants typically employed when your products are used at remote sites? Have you generated an EPD for a mix produced at a mobile batching plant?