May 6, 2010
AbilityOne Program Overview
How to Leverage the Program to Fulfill Your Needs
Eric Beale – Committee for Purchase
Harlan Erker – National Industries for the Blind
David Brown – NISH
GSA Expo 2010
Page 2
Program Mission
Provide employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the manufacturing and delivery of products and the provision of services required by Federal customers
Page 3
Organizational Chart
President of the United States
Committee for Purchase From PeopleWho Are Blind or Severely Disabled
Chairperson
NISHNational IndustriesFor the Blind (NIB)
Nonprofit Agenciesemploying persons with
severe disabilities
Nonprofit Agenciesemploying persons
who are blind
CongressCommittee Members
DOCDOD
Air ForceArmyNavyDOJDOLED
GSAUSDA
VACitizenCitizenCitizenCitizen
Legal Authority
Page 4
Committee Staff Responsibilities
• Establishing strategic direction for program• Creating/Maintaining Procurement List• Setting and revising Fair Market Prices• Designating Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs)• Making rules and regulations necessary to
administer the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act• Assisting Federal customers increase their
purchases under the program
Page 5
NIB/NISH Responsibilities
• Oversee and assure nonprofit agency (NPA) contract compliance
• Solve problems; single point of contact for complaints or delivery issues
• Help educate customers• Represent NPAs to the Committee• Evaluate and report NPA qualifications and
capabilities to the Committee• Recommend suitable additions to the list
including the initial fair market price
Page 6
NIB/NISH Responsibilities (cont.)
• Equitably distribute orders to NPAs
• Recommend price changes
• Ensure NPA compliance with Act
• Enter into contracts with federal agencies
• Increase awareness of the Program
Page 7
Nonprofit Agency Responsibilities
• Manufacture and deliver products or perform services as assigned by the CNA
• Meet qualification for participation– 75% of direct labor hour performed by people who are
blind or severely disabled– Net income cannot benefit individual shareholder or
other individual
• Maintaining qualifications to continue to participate
• Meet other requirements of Federal contractors
Page 8
Why is This Important?
• Over 17 million working-age adults are blind or severely disabled with only 38% of this population employed
• The AbilityOne Program serves people who cannot obtain or maintain employment on their own
• The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employer of Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities
Page 9
Customer Focus
• Federal Government is the AbilityOne Customer
– The AbilityOne Team must balance the needs of the Government and the employment needs of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities
– Preferred Source vs. Mandatory Source– Provide Solutions
Page 10
Benefits to the Government
• Quality products and services, on-time delivery
• Fair market prices, best value procurement
• National network of solutions providers
• Long-term relationships• Moral satisfaction in
helping people to help themselves
Page 11
Federal Customer’s Role
• Your support is critical to the success of AbilityOne
– Not limited to contracting personnel– Includes purchase card holders, agency program
officials, and functional managers
• Key role in Procurement List additions; ongoing role as consumer and advocate
Page 12
How does AbilityOne work with Federal Customers?
• Partner with Federal customers to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, and become their preferred source for products and services
• Increase customer satisfaction– Responsiveness, consistency, reliability, quality,
timeliness, and price
• Establish collaborative plans
Page 13
Benefits to the Employee who is Blind or Severely Disabled
• Wide range of employment opportunities
• Long-term work experience
• Marketable job skills• Equitable wages and
benefits, plus a chance to advance
• A measure of independence
April 19, 2023
Buyer’s Guide for SKILCRAFT® and Other AbilityOne Products –
How to Get the Quality, Value and Convenience You Need
Harlan Erker
National Industries for the Blind
GSA Expo 2010
Page 16
What Products Can I Buy?
• Chemical Supplies• Cleaning Products• Clocks• Clothing• Computer Accessories• Disposable Paper
Products• Furniture• Kitchen & Break Room
Supplies• Mattress & Bedding
• Medical Supplies• Military/Combat Clothing• Office Supplies• Paint & Accessories• Personal Care & Safety• Picture Frames• Safety & Maintenance
Items• Shipping & Packaging
Supplies• Writing Instruments
Page 18
“Green” Products
• Biodegradable paper cups
• Process Chlorine Free (PCF) office paper
• Pens made from recycled materials
• Disposable cutlery• Environmental
cleaning agents
Page 19
Custom Products
• Awards and recognition items
– Plaques– Pen sets
• Clocks• Military picture
frames• Stamps
Page 20
Safety & Personal Care
• First aid kits• Fire hoses• Flashlights• Gloves• Nonskid deck covering• Traffic safety clothing
items
Page 21
Government Unique Products
• Military Police Belts• Gloves for the TSA and VA• Services Dress Clothing
– Slacks– Trousers– Shirts– Blouses
• Food– Military ration components– Bakery mix and cake mixes– Instant beverage mix
Page 22
Micro-Purchase Limits
Is AbilityOne still a required source if I only buy small amounts with my purchase card?
– Yes, the AbilityOne
Program is applicable at
any dollar amount– No exemptions for
micro-purchases
Page 23
How to Buy AbilityOne Products –
Off-the-Shelf Items
• GSA Global Supply www.GSAglobalsupply.gsa.gov
• GSA Advantage!® www.gsaadvantage.gov
• DoD EMALL www.emall.dla.mil
• Multiple Award Schedule Holders - Authorized AbilityOne Distributors
• Base Supply Centers• www.abilityone.com
Page 24
AbilityOne Procurement List
• Official list of all AbilityOne items
• Maintained by the Committee for Purchase
• Identifies name and National Stock Number (NSN) or commercial name for each product
• Access the list: www.abilityone.gov
Page 27
U.S. Military Industrial Base
AbilityOne products are an important part of the U.S. military industrial base:
– Chemical and Biological Protective Apparel and Equipment Systems
– Dress and Battle Uniforms (BDU, ACU, ABU)
– Subsistence Items such as MRE Components and special Navy packaging for shipboard use
– Energy Dissipating Pads to cushion the fall of air-dropped humanitarian aid items
Page 28
Industrial Base Balance
• AbilityOne understands and supports DOD agencies’ need to balance their purchases across multiple sources to ensure a healthy industrial base
• Multiple AbilityOne manufacturing agencies can serve as back-ups and surge capacity
• AbilityOne will grant purchase exceptions as needed to enable the government to purchase critically needed items outside our capacity
Page 29
AbilityOne and DoD
• Current Large Volume Items– DeCA
• Military Resale• Commissary Shelf Stocking
– DSCR/DSCC• Belts and Straps• Battery and Lighting Acquisition, Storage, Repackaging and
Distribution
– DAU Detail Program • Acquisition AbilityOne curriculum online
Page 30
What Services Can I Buy?
• Admin support• Braille production• Facilities Management• Food service• Grounds maintenance• Secure Document
Services which includes: -- Document Mgmt. -- Secure Mailroom services -- Secure Documentation -- Destruction
• Janitorial/custodial• Laundry• Order Processing• Recycling• Fleet Management &
Maintenance• Warehousing/Distribution• TeleServices (call centers,
customer service, hot lines, etc.)
• Healthcare Environmental Services
Page 31
Do I Have to Buy from AbilityOne?
• FAR Part 8• Required source if on Procurement List
– Services – first priority– Products – first priority after FPI Schedule– Applies to micro-purchases
• Purchase exceptions may be requested, if– NPAs cannot meet contract requirements or
timeframes.
Page 32
AbilityOne Unique Military Products
• Provide Soldier, Airman, Sailors, and Marine Battle and Dress Uniforms (these items created the highest number of new jobs for FY2008)
• Warfighter items, helmet components, ID kits, Vehicle side racks, “Navy-pack” dry food mixes
• Mattresses for submarines and ships• Medical items
Page 33
AbilityOne Unique Services
• Facility Operations Support Services• Full Food Services (DoD, FBI, DEA…)• Facilities Management ( DoD• Vehicle Up-fitting (DHS)• Switchboard Operations (VA)• Uniforms (Forest)• Document Destruction• Consolidated Secure Mailrooms (DHS)
Government-Unique Items• Batteries• Emergency Light
Markers• Head Lanterns• Flashlights• Terminal Adapters• Tire Inflator Gauge• Mechanic’s Creeper
Battle-board ID KitsSeat CushionsAircraft Cargo Tie DownKits, Nets and StrapsOil Sample BottleFuel Tank FoamTire Inflator GaugeRakes
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How Do I Order Services?
• Services are specific to the customer and location(s) added to the Procurement List
– Standard procurement process with certain exceptions
– Nonprofit agencies follow the Performance Work Statement (PWS).
– If additional services are needed outside of the scope of the Procurement List, must add new work to the Procurement List
Page 37
Customer satisfaction is the key to keeping people employed, so…
AbilityOne
Customer Satisfaction
Performance+
Value=
Customer Satisfaction=
Jobs
Page 39
Committee Contact Information
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
1421 Jefferson Davis HighwayJefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800 Arlington, VA 22202-3259Phone: (703) 603-7740Fax: (703) 603-0655E-Mail: [email protected]
Page 40
Presenter Information
Eric Beale
Committee for Purchase From PeopleWho Are Blind or Severely Disabled1421 Jefferson Davis HighwayJefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800 Arlington, VA 22202-3259Phone: (703) 603-2119Fax: (703) 603-0655E-Mail: [email protected]
Page 41
NIB Contact Information
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) 1310 Braddock Place
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1691
Phone: (703) 310-0500
Fax: (703) 998-8268
www.nib.org
Page 42
Nish Contact Information
NISH8401 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna, Virginia 22182
Phone: (571) 226-4660
Fax: (703) 849-8916
www.nish.org
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