[Federal Register: August 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 164)]
[Notices]
[Page 49644-49645]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au08-28]
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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions
AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to the Procurement List.
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SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List products and services
to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind
or have other severe disabilities.
DATES: Effective Date: September 21, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202-3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly M. Zeich, Telephone: (703)
603-7740, Fax: (703) 603-0655, or e-mail CMTEFedReg@jwod.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additions
On June 20 and June 27, 2008, the Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (73 FR35118;
35119; 36492) of proposed additions to the Procurement List.
The following comments pertain to Bulletin Rails; Bulletin Board;
and Marker Board, Wall Mounted:
Comments were received from a contractor that provides some of the
same commodities and is an authorized distributor of AbilityOne
products. The contractor stated that adding the proposed products to
the Procurement List will have a significantly adverse effect on her
company. However, the contractor did not demonstrate that her firm
holds a contract specifically for the proposed products versus holding
a multiple award contract for a broad category of products such as
office supplies. The Committee determined that its action will not have
a severe adverse impact on this contractor, as the company continues to
be able to do business with the government and may sell the AbilityOne
products in lieu of commercial equivalents to its federal customers.
Comments were received from a manufacturer's representative group,
stating that the addition of the proposed products to the Procurement
List will have significant impact on her business and a substantial
number of small entities who can no longer sell commercial equivalent
products to federal customers. The commenter stated that companies are
struggling to survive in the current economy without having to compete
with AbilityOne. The commenter questioned whether the products would in
fact be produced with 75% direct labor from people who are blind and
whether the products would be compliant with the Trade Agreements Act
(TAA).
The commenter did not support the claim that there was significant
impact on her business with specific contract or financial information.
As stated above, large and small office supply dealers will continue to
be able to do business with the government if they become authorized to
sell the AbilityOne manufactured products in the place of commercial
equivalents. In addition, the AbilityOne Program pertains to federal
purchasing, which is a small share of the U.S. market for office
supplies. The nonprofit agency designated to manufacture the proposed
products is in full compliance with Committee regulations for direct
labor by people who are blind, and proposes to manufacture the subject
items with 81% direct labor provided by people who are blind, creating
over 10 new jobs annually for these individuals. The production will
include several cutting functions, assembling, attaching/including
hardware and packaging the products, constituting a substantial
transformation. The resulting products, once added to the Procurement
List, will be compliant with the TAA.
The following comment pertains to Stapler, Spring Power:
A comment was received from an AbilityOne nonprofit agency
employing persons with severe disabilities that currently supplies
staplers under the AbilityOne Program to Federal customers. In its
comment, the nonprofit stated that the addition of the spring powered
staplers would have a significant negative impact on its current line
of staplers and indicated that the spring powered staplers should be
awarded to them as a product line extension.
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act establishes a clear priority for
products produced and offered for sale by qualified nonprofit agencies
for the
[[Page 49645]]
blind over products produced and offered for sale by qualified
nonprofit agencies for other severely handicapped (41 U.S.C. 47(d)(2)).
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has not previously waived the
priority for all staplers in the stapler line. Spring powered staplers
have been available to the Government from commercial vendors via GSA
schedule contracts concurrent with the sale of the nonprofit's standard
stapler for a considerable time; therefore the addition to the
Procurement List of spring powered staplers will not have a severe
adverse impact on the sale of standard staplers by the nonprofit
agency.
The following material pertains to all of the items being added to
the Procurement List:
After consideration of the material presented to it concerning
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the product and
services and impact of the additions on the current or most recent
contractors, the Committee has determined that the products and
services listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal
Government under 41 U.S.C. 46-48c and 41 CFR 51-2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will not have a significant
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors
considered for this certification were:
1. The action will not result in any additional reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other
than the small organizations that will furnish the products and
services to the Government.
2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish
the products and services to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would
accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46-
48c) in connection with the products and services proposed for addition
to the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products and services are added to the
Procurement List:
Products
Bulletin Rails
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1801--48'', Natural Cork, Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1802--36'', Natural Cork, Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1803--24'', Natural Cork, Aluminum Frame.
Marker Board, Wall Mounted
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0037--3'x2' , Combo Dry Erase, Cork Board, Oak
Finish.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0038--24''x18'', Melamine, Dry Erase Board, Thin
Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0042--24''x18'', Cork Board, Oak Finish.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0047--3'x2', Fabric Board, Grey, Black Plastic
Radius Corners.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0048--4--12''x12'', Cork, Panels w/Adhesive Backing
(no frame).
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0050--1''x3'', Cork Board, Vertical, Slim Line Oak
Finish.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0060--5'x3', Porcelain Magnetic Dry Erase Board,
Thick Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-01-416-5198--24''x18'', Melamine, Dry Erase Board, Thin
Aluminum.
NSN: 7195-01-235-4161--3'x2', Cork Board, Oak Finish.
Coverage: A-List for the total Government requirements as specified
by the General Services Administration.
Bulletin Board
NSN: 7195-01-218-2026-4'x3', Cork Board, Oak Finish.
Marker Board, Wall Mounted
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0028--24''x13'', Dry Erase, Cubicle Board,
Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0029--30''x18'', Dry Erase, Cubicle Board,
Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0030--30''x18'', Combo Dry Erase, Cubicle Color
Cork Board, Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0031--30''x18'', Cubicle Color Cork Board,
Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0032--30''x18'', Dry Erase, 1 mo. Calendar,
Aluminum.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0039--4'x3', Combo Dry Erase, Cork Board, Oak
Finish.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0040--6'x4', Melamine Dry Erase Magnetic, Thick
Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0043--6'x4', Porcelain, Dry Erase Magnetic, Thick
Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0045--24''x18'', In/Out Board System, Thin Aluminum
Frame.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0046--4'x3', Fabric Board, Black Plastic, Radius
Corners.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0049--6'x4', Cork Board, Thin Aluminum Frame.
NSN: 7110-00-NIB-0051--6'x4', Cork Board, Oak Finish.
Coverage: B-List for the broad Government requirement as specified
by the General Services Administration
NPA: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle Lighthouse),
Seattle, WA.
Contracting Activity: General Service Administration, Federal Supply
Service, National Furniture Acquisition Center, Arlington, VA.
Stapler, Spring Powered
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1916--20 sheet capacity.
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1917--60 sheet capacity.
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1992--15 sheet capacity.
NSN: 7520-00-NIB-1993--25 sheet capacity.
Coverage: A-List for the total Government requirements as specified
by the General Services Administration.
NPA: Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC.
Contracting Activity: General Services Administration, Federal
Supply Services, Region 2, New York, NY.
Services
Service Type/Location: Custodial Services, Illinois Military
Academy, 1301 North MacArthur Road, Springfield, IL.
NPA: United Cerebral Palsy of the Land of Lincoln, Springfield, IL.
Contracting Activity: Illinois National Guard--Camp Lincoln,
Springfield, IL.
Service Type/Location: Facilities Management, Naval Surface Warfare
Center, Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), Bayview, ID.
NPA: Skookum Educational Programs, Bremerton, WA.
Contracting Activity: Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC),
Silverdale, WA.
This action does not affect current contracts awarded prior to the
effective date of this addition or options that may be exercised under
those contracts.
Kimberly M. Zeich,
Director, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. E8-19476 Filed 8-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P