Overview
This section prescribes the procedures for assessing the capability of nonprofit agencies to provide supplies or services under the AbilityOne Program before they are designated as mandatory sources. It details the cooperation required between the AbilityOne Committee and federal contracting offices to ensure these agencies meet specific technical and production standards.
Key Rules
- Capability Prerequisite: The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled must find a nonprofit agency capable of performance before designating it as a mandatory source for a specific supply or service.
- Survey Requests: Upon the Committee’s request, the contracting office must either request a capability survey from the relevant preaward survey activity or provide a written waiver if the agency is already deemed capable.
- Focus Areas: Surveys must specifically evaluate the technical and production capabilities of the nonprofit relative to the items being considered for the Procurement List.
- Standardized Documentation: Contracting offices are required to use Standard Form (SF) 1403 when requesting a capability survey.
- Reporting Requirements: The contracting office must deliver the completed survey or the waiver notice to the Executive Director of the Committee.
Practical Implications
- Due Diligence: This process ensures that the government’s mandatory source requirements do not compromise mission readiness by vetting nonprofits for performance ability before a contract is finalized.
- Administrative Burden: Contracting officers must be prepared to coordinate with preaward survey activities and handle specific SF 1403 filings when the Committee initiates the addition of new items to the Procurement List.