US Executive Order 14030, signed by President Biden in May 2022, represents a landmark in integrating climate considerations into federal procurement and financial systems. The Executive Order directs federal agencies to assess and mitigate climate-related financial risks, including those embedded in government supply chains. For US federal contractors, this mandate creates both an obligation and an opportunity to align supply-chain operations with national climate priorities. As agencies move to embed climate risk and greenhouse gas (GHG) criteria into purchasing decisions, contractors must adopt strategies that provide visibility into supplier emissions and demonstrate leadership in supply-chain decarbonization. This article explores how contractors can leverage open Department of Energy (DOE) datasets to track supplier carbon footprints, and it offers a practical template for integrating GHG criteria into requests for proposals (RFPs) and contract evaluations.
Executive Order 14030 recognizes that supply chains are critical levers for addressing climate risk in public spending. By requiring agencies to consider climate-related risks in procurement, EO 14030 pushes contractors to disclose Scope 1, 2, and increasingly Scope 3 emissions associated with federal contracts. Contractors bidding for government work, particularly in sectors such as defense, energy, and infrastructure, are expected to demonstrate how their operations and suppliers align with federal sustainability goals. To meet these expectations, contractors need to go beyond internal carbon accounting and implement systems that collect, analyze, and report supplier-level emissions data in a standardized, auditable form.
Open DOE datasets offer a valuable starting point for contractors seeking to assess the climate impact of their supply chains. The DOE publishes extensive data on energy consumption, emissions intensity, and renewable energy adoption across industries and geographies. These datasets, including resources from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), allow contractors to estimate supplier emissions profiles where direct data is unavailable. For example, contractors can cross-reference supplier facility locations and industry classifications with DOE energy intensity benchmarks to derive preliminary carbon footprint estimates. This approach ensures that contractors can provide agencies with defensible emissions data while working toward primary data collection from suppliers.
To operationalize these insights, contractors should embed GHG performance criteria into their procurement processes, starting with the language of their RFPs. A well-designed RFP template should require bidders and sub-suppliers to disclose Scope 1 and 2 emissions and, where feasible, provide estimates of Scope 3 contributions relevant to the contract. The RFP should specify preferred data sources, such as EPA’s FLIGHT tool or DOE datasets, and outline minimum expectations for supplier climate disclosures, including third-party verification where available. Evaluation criteria should explicitly weight GHG performance, with clear scoring guidelines for suppliers that demonstrate low-carbon operations, science-based targets, or participation in recognized climate initiatives such as the DOE’s Better Plants Program.
Contractors can further strengthen their climate alignment by integrating GHG considerations into contract award and management processes. Contracts should include clauses requiring periodic emissions reporting from suppliers, commitments to continuous improvement in emissions performance, and cooperation with contractor-led initiatives to reduce supply-chain emissions. These clauses can reference specific federal standards or protocols, such as the GHG Protocol Supply Chain Standard, to ensure consistency and auditability. Contractors should also establish internal governance structures, such as sustainability steering committees, to oversee implementation of climate criteria in procurement and contract oversight.
To support federal agencies’ climate objectives, contractors should create dashboards or reports that aggregate supplier emissions data and provide actionable insights for both internal use and government reporting. These reports can draw on open DOE data to contextualize supplier performance against industry benchmarks and national climate targets. By transparently sharing this information with agencies, contractors can position themselves as preferred partners in advancing the federal government’s sustainability agenda.
A phased approach to integrating supply-chain climate considerations is recommended. In the initial phase, contractors should focus on high-impact suppliers and contracts, using open data to fill gaps while building supplier engagement programs. In subsequent phases, contractors should work toward comprehensive primary data collection, leveraging digital tools such as supplier portals, blockchain-based reporting platforms, and automated data validation systems. Training procurement and contract management teams on climate criteria and data interpretation is essential to ensure consistent application and drive meaningful emissions reductions.
Executive Order 14030 reflects a broader shift in federal procurement priorities, where climate risk is no longer a peripheral consideration but a central component of value-for-money assessments. Contractors that proactively invest in supply-chain transparency, data-driven emissions management, and climate-aligned procurement practices will be better positioned to secure federal contracts and contribute to national climate goals. By making strategic use of open DOE datasets and embedding GHG criteria into RFPs and contracts, federal suppliers can help catalyze the decarbonization of public supply chains while strengthening their own competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving policy landscape.