Overview
This section establishes the foundational terminology for the AbilityOne Program, defining the administrative bodies, participating entities, and specific processes used to provide supplies and services from people who are blind or have severe disabilities to the federal government.
Key Rules
- Designated Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs): Explicitly identifies National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people with severe disabilities other than blindness) as the two representative agencies for the program.
- Broad Applicability: Defines "Government" extensively to include all three branches (Legislative, Judicial, and Executive), the U.S. Postal Service, and nonappropriated-fund instrumentalities.
- The Procurement List: Establishes the official catalog of supplies and services mandated for government purchase as determined by the Committee under 41 U.S.C. chapter 85.
- Allocation Authority: Defines "Allocation" as the formal action where a CNA designates a specific participating nonprofit agency to fulfill a government order.
- Qualified Agencies: Requires that participating nonprofit agencies must be Committee-approved and qualified to employ individuals who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
Practical Implications
- Contracting officers must treat the AbilityOne Program as a mandatory source across nearly all federal entities, not just executive agencies.
- Procurement professionals must coordinate through the designated CNAs (NIB or NISH/SourceAmerica) to manage the "Allocation" of orders, rather than contracting directly with individual nonprofit agencies outside of the established program framework.