Greener Shots: Sustainable- Ammunition for a Cleaner Future
The state acquires ammunition to support training and law enforcement activities. Traditional ammunition, which contains lead, poses a risk of lead poisoning to wildlife when they come into contact with this toxic metal. In response to the Department of Fish and Game’s initiative to ban the use of lead projectiles during hunting to protect the endangered California condor, ammunition manufacturers have developed non-lead alternatives. The California condor, scientifically known as Gymnogyps Californianus, is a critically endangered species of vulture native to North America. It is one of the most iconic and largest land birds in North America. One significant step taken to safeguard the condors was the ban on lead ammunition for hunting in areas inhabited by the species. Lead poisoning from ingesting lead fragments in carcasses or gut piles was identified as a significant threat to condor survival, leading to initiatives promoting the use of non-lead ammunition.
As part of the state’s commodity contracts, both lead and non-lead ammunition options are offered to state agencies. In line with the state’s environmental goals to reduce lead ammunition and increase post-consumer recycled content in products, in 2022, the state spent a total of $149,453.80 towards the procurement of non-lead ammunition containing 10 percent PCRC. Notably, the California Highway Patrol accounted for 80 percent of these purchases.
|
State of California Departments |
PCRC |
Dollars of Spend on Non-Lead Ammunition |
|
California Highway Patrol |
10% |
$119,940.00 |
|
Department of Justice |
10% |
$25,199.60 |
|
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation |
10% |
$4,314.20 |
|
Grand Total |
|
$149,453.80 |
Green Contracts
The green leverage procurement agreements below provide an opportunity for state departments and agencies to purchase non-lead ammunition that offer 10 to 15 percent PCRC, meeting the requirements of the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC). This procurement agreement promotes environmental preferable purchasing by incorporating recycled materials and adhering to state agency guidelines, this showcases the commitment to environmental preservation and sets the example for other organizations to follow.
|
Contract Type |
Commodity/Service Description |
Contract Number |
Contractor Name |
Mandatory |
State Users |
Open to Local Agencies (Yes/No) |
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing |
|
SC |
Ammunition, New Factory Loaded |
San Diego Police Equipment Co., Inc. |
Yes |
Statewide |
Yes |
||
|
SC |
Ammunition, New Factory Loaded |
Dooley Enterprises, Inc. |
Yes |
Statewide |
Yes |
EPP Training
The California Procurement and Contracting Academy (CalPCA) has developed training modules to help requisitioners, buyers, supervisors and managers buy green with ease. These training programs assist procurement officials by introducing the criteria that can be used while purchasing goods and services to increase EPP within a department.
To participate in online self-paced training, register free here.
The BASIC and EXECUTIVE training will cover:
The BASIC course will focus on the criteria that can be used while purchasing goods and services to increase EPP within your department. This program will cover third-party environmental certifications, DGS purchasing standards, State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) compliant products, product take-back programs, greenwashing, and EPP resources. The training will equip you with knowledge and skills to identify approved certifications and labels, use standards within your procurement contracts, report goods and materials within the SABRC category, identify EPP goods, and provide guidance on available resources.
The EXECUTIVE course will focus on the EPP practices that align with state contracting policies that support climate initiatives. This certificate will cover the benefits of the state EPP program, reasons for establishing an EPP program in your organization, recommended steps, and strategies for implementing an EPP program, and access to additional resources that provide specific fundamentals to the process.
Who should participate?
- Purchasers
- Purchasing Authority Contacts (PACs)
- Procurement and Contracting Officers (PCOs)
- Small Business/Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SB/DVBE) Advocates
- Supervisors and managers
- Executives
DGS has developed job aids to help simplify buying green. The EPP and FI$Cal job aids together comprise a comprehensive “how-to” manual that provides detailed instructions on how to apply EPP to purchases, and consist of the following documents: