University Sustainable Procurement Policy: Institutional Framework for Responsible and Sustainable Procurement
TSUULL is committed to integrating sustainability principles into all procurement-related activities, including the acquisition of goods, services, works, digital resources, and infrastructure. The university recognizes that procurement decisions have significant environmental, social, and economic implications and therefore commits to responsible purchasing practices that support sustainable development, ethical governance, and long-term institutional value.
This policy provides the institutional framework for sustainable procurement in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national sustainability priorities, and international higher education sustainability standards.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all procurement decisions at TSUULL reflect environmental responsibility, social inclusion, economic efficiency, and ethical governance. The university aims to promote lifecycle-based purchasing decisions, support sustainable suppliers, minimize environmental impact, and ensure transparent procurement processes.
National Policy and Presidential Decrees Alignment
TSUULL’s Sustainable Procurement Policy is developed and implemented in alignment with the strategic priorities, Presidential decrees, and national reform programmes of the Republic of Uzbekistan related to sustainable development, green economy transition, responsible resource use, and public sector efficiency.
The university aligns its procurement activities with:
• the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, which establishes long-term national priorities for sustainable growth, environmental protection, and institutional modernization
• the national Green Economy Transition Strategy 2019–2030, which promotes energy efficiency, low-carbon development, and sustainable use of resources
• the Law on Public Procurement, which provides the legal basis for transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement procedures in Uzbekistan
• Presidential reforms and state programmes focused on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience
• state policies on resource efficiency, waste minimization, and green infrastructure development, including the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy programme
• the nationwide Yashil Makon greening initiative and other ecological transformation programmes supporting sustainable public sector development
• state policies encouraging education for sustainable development and ecological literacy
TSUULL ensures that all procurement decisions directly contribute to national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), while also supporting institutional accountability and sustainable resource management.
Institutional Coverage and Applicability
This policy applies comprehensively to all academic departments, faculties, schools, research centres, laboratories, administrative offices, procurement units, support services, and all other structural units operating under TSUULL.
It applies to all staff, administrative personnel, procurement officers, project coordinators, contractors, suppliers, and service providers engaged in university procurement activities.
The scope includes:
• office and academic supplies
• IT and digital systems procurement
• facility management and infrastructure
• research equipment and laboratory materials
• outsourced services and contracts
• construction and maintenance works
Environmental Sustainability
TSUULL is committed to ensuring that all procurement activities support environmental sustainability and contribute to the university’s broader climate and ecological objectives. In all purchasing decisions, priority shall be given to energy-efficient, low-emission, and environmentally responsible products, services, and technologies, in line with Uzbekistan’s Green Public Procurement reforms and the national Green Economy Transition Strategy 2019–2030.
The university actively seeks to minimize packaging waste, reduce the use of single-use plastics, and promote the procurement of recyclable, reusable, and sustainably sourced materials. Wherever feasible, in line with national green procurement initiatives encouraging recycled materials and eco-labelled goods.
Preference shall be given to suppliers and service providers that demonstrate recognized environmental certifications, responsible production standards, and measurable sustainability commitments, consistent with Uzbekistan’s mandatory environmental criteria and eco-labelling mechanisms introduced for public procurement from 2026 onward.
In addition, TSUULL integrates lifecycle costing principles into procurement decisions to ensure that environmental and financial costs associated with acquisition, maintenance, usage, and disposal are considered alongside the initial purchase price, reflecting international best practices in sustainable procurement and Uzbekistan’s evolving green public procurement framework.
TSUULL is committed to maintaining socially responsible and ethically sound procurement practices across all university operations. The university ensures that procurement decisions are aligned with principles of fair labour, human rights protection, and ethical supply chain governance, in accordance with the Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and national human rights and employment regulations.
All suppliers and contractors are expected to comply fully with applicable labour legislation, anti-discrimination requirements, occupational health and safety standards, and ethical business conduct principles, as set out in national legal frameworks and public procurement regulations, including the Law on Public Procurement and the Law on Combating Corruption.
The university actively supports local suppliers, socially responsible enterprises, and organizations that demonstrate positive community impact and inclusive employment practices, in line with national priorities on social development and regional economic support.
Transparency, fairness, and accountability shall be maintained throughout all tendering, evaluation, and contract award processes. Anti-corruption safeguards, conflict-of-interest controls, and clear documentation standards shall be applied in all procurement procedures in accordance with state anti-corruption compliance requirements and ethical governance standards.
TSUULL promotes economically sustainable procurement by ensuring that all purchasing decisions deliver long-term institutional value and responsible financial stewardship. Procurement choices shall be based not solely on the initial purchase cost, but on the best overall value throughout the full lifecycle of the product or service, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Public Procurement, which emphasizes value for money, rationality, cost efficiency, and life-cycle costs.
The university prioritizes durable, high-quality, repairable, and cost-efficient products that reduce long-term operational expenses and minimize replacement frequency. Financial decisions within procurement processes shall be guided by responsible budgeting principles, cost-efficiency analysis, lifecycle costing, and risk-informed planning mechanisms, in line with national procurement evaluation criteria such as quality, maintenance cost, and cost of use over time.
This approach ensures that procurement contributes to both financial sustainability and institutional resilience, while also aligning with national standards on efficient use of public resources and transparent financial governance.
Supplier Requirements
All suppliers, contractors, and service providers working with TSUULL are required to comply with the university’s sustainability expectations and applicable legal standards.
Suppliers are expected to comply with all relevant environmental regulations, follow fair and ethical labour practices, and maintain transparent disclosure of their sustainability policies and operational practices. They should actively minimize their environmental footprint through responsible production, transportation, packaging, and logistics systems.
Where appropriate, suppliers may be required to participate in sustainability assessments, provide evidence of compliance with environmental and social standards, and engage in periodic supplier performance evaluations conducted by the university.
Monitoring and Governance
TSUULL ensures that sustainable procurement practices are supported by transparent governance structures, systematic monitoring mechanisms, and continuous policy review processes.
The university shall maintain transparent procurement reporting systems, conduct annual reviews of procurement performance, and integrate sustainability indicators into procurement planning, supplier selection, and contract management processes.
Supplier performance shall be assessed against sustainability criteria, including environmental compliance, ethical standards, cost efficiency, and service quality. These processes are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that procurement contributes measurably to institutional sustainability performance.
The implementation of this Sustainable Procurement Policy shall be the collective responsibility of the University Administration, the Procurement Office, the Finance Department, and all relevant academic and administrative units operating within TSUULL. The University Administration shall provide strategic oversight and ensure that sustainability objectives are fully integrated into institutional governance, financial planning, and operational decision-making processes.
The Sustainable Management Office shall be responsible for embedding sustainability criteria into all procurement procedures, tender documentation, supplier selection processes, and contract management practices. The Finance Department shall ensure that procurement decisions align with responsible budgeting principles, lifecycle costing approaches, and long-term financial sustainability objectives.
All academic departments, research centres, administrative offices, and support services are required to apply sustainability considerations in all purchasing and contracting decisions and to maintain full compliance with the provisions of this policy.
Continuous improvement shall be ensured through systematic annual reporting, supplier performance reviews, procurement audits, and periodic policy evaluation to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, national regulatory requirements, and international sustainability standards.
This policy shall be formally reviewed on an annual basis to ensure continued alignment with institutional priorities, national regulations, and international sustainability standards.
University Administration
Reviewed date: 2025, August
Review Cycle: Annual