Overview
This section establishes the Procurement List as the official record of supplies and services that federal agencies are mandated to purchase from AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Source Requirement: Federal agencies are required to purchase supplies or services appearing on the Procurement List from participating nonprofit agencies (AbilityOne).
- Maintenance and Accessibility: The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled maintains the list and makes it accessible via abilityone.gov.
- Identification in Catalogs: Mandatory items in General Services Administration (GSA), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) catalogs are identified by a black square symbol and the text "NIB/NISH Mandatory Source."
- Central Supply Agencies: GSA, DLA, and VA serve as the primary conduits through which other federal agencies must purchase specific supply items found on the Procurement List.
- Inquiry Process: Specific questions regarding the status of a supply or service can be directed to the Committee via email or their Arlington, VA headquarters.
Practical Implications
- Contracting Officers must perform due diligence during market research to ensure a requirement is not on the Procurement List before seeking commercial alternatives.
- Procurement personnel should look for specific visual indicators (the black square) in federal supply catalogs to ensure compliance with mandatory source laws.