Subpart 508.7 - Acquisition from Nonprofit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

This subpart prescribes supplemental policies and procedures to support acquisition from AbilityOne Nonprofit Agencies (NPAs) (see FAR subpart 8.7).

The AbilityOne Program is administered by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission), the operating name of the Commission is the Committee For Purchase From People Who Are Blind Or Severely Disabled. The Commission has designated the National Industries for the Blind and SourceAmerica as Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs). CNAs work closely with Federal contracting activities and AbilityOne NPAs to match Government requirements with AbilityOne NPA capabilities. Information about the AbilityOne Program is available on the GSA AbilityOne Program page on the GSA Acquisition Portal at https://insite.gsa.gov/acquisitionportal.

(a) Requests. Requests to add a requirement to the Procurement List shall be submitted to the AbilityOne CNAs at opportunity@abilityone.org. Contracting officers may request assistance from the GSA ABOR team at GSAABOR@gsa.gov. The request shall include the following information:

(1)Start date/delivery date.

(2)Place of performance/delivery address.

(3)Estimated annual dollar value of the acquisition.

(4)Contracting office agency ID code.

(5)A copy of the requirements document (e.g., Performance Work Statement).

(6)If there is an incumbent contractor, the following information shall also be included:

(i)Contract number.

(ii)Name of the contractor.

(iii)Contractor’s unique entity identifier.

(iv)Contract period of performance.

(v)If applicable, indication that a collective bargaining agreement applies.

(b) Preliminary impact assessment. The CNAs will perform a preliminary impact assessment to determine if the requirement can be added to the Procurement List. The CNAs will notify the contracting officer of the results of their preliminary impact assessment. The contracting officer shall inform the ABOR of the results provided by the CNAs.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy memorandum, Increasing the Participation of Americans with Disabilities in Federal Contracting, requires each Chief Financial Officers Act agency to designate an agency-level ABOR. Each Service (i.e., FAS and PBS) shall designate a Service-level ABOR.

(a) Agency-level ABOR responsibilities. Responsibilities of the Agency-level ABOR include, but not limited to—

(1)Developing and maintaining an agency action plan for increasing the use of the AbilityOne Program and meeting with the SPE on a regular basis to discuss progress made against the action plan;

(2)Conducting in-reach and training activities with the GSA acquisition workforce to bring greater attention to the AbilityOne Program;

(3)Identifying contract performance mitigation measures;

(4)Collaborating with the AbilityOne Commission, GSA Acquisition Innovation Advocates, GSA Industry Liaisons, and other stakeholders regarding acquisition strategies that promote increased participation of people with disabilities in the workforce through use of AbilityOne nonprofit agencies or other private sector contractors;

(5)Consulting with the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization to coordinate actions that may simultaneously promote the achievement of small business goals and increase purchases from AbilityOne nonprofit agencies (e.g., use of distributors of AbilityOne products and subcontracting possibilities); and

(6)In coordination with the SPE, establishing a pledge to award a percentage of the agency’s total contract spend on AbilityOne products and services each year. Monitoring progress towards the pledge and working with management and the workforce to adjust practices as necessary and appropriate to ensure the pledge is met.

(b) Service-level ABORs responsibilities. Responsibilities of Service-level ABORs include, but not limited to—

(1)Supporting the Agency-level ABOR, as necessary, to increase the use of the AbilityOne Program across GSA (e.g., developing training and program utilization strategies; promoting program participation within their respective Service(s); and identifying potential opportunities that may be suitable for addition to the Procurement List);

(2)As applicable, participating in acquisition reviews (see subpart  504.71); and

(3)Assisting the acquisition workforce on the use of the AbilityOne Program (e.g., acquisition planning (see 507.104), market research, subcontracting considerations, and inclusion of FAR clause 52.208-9).