AbilityOne and the Procurement List

What Is AbilityOne?

AbilityOne® enjoys a long history of supporting the federal government. In 1938, Congress created the Wagner-O'Day Act, which enabled nonprofits that served people who were blind to sell products to the federal government. The Act was amended in 1971 to include people with other significant disabilities. This expanded Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act serves as the basis for the federal AbilityOne Program.

The AbilityOne Program is among the nation's largest providers of jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The Program uses the purchasing power of the federal government to buy products and services from participating nonprofit agencies that train and employ workers with disabilities.

AbilityOne expertise is in our DNA

SourceAmerica® was established in 1974 to support and implement the federal AbilityOne Program. AbilityOne expertise is a big part of our organization's DNA, and we know how to guide you through the process to ensure a smooth AbilityOne procurement experience for your agency.

AbilityOne employee

Is my product or service on the Procurement List?

The U.S. AbilityOne Commission® maintains a Procurement List of products and services that have been placed in the AbilityOne Program, as referenced in FAR 8.002 and Subpart 8.7.

Federal agencies must purchase supplies or services on the Procurement List, at prices established by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, from designated nonprofit agencies as long as those supplies and services are available within the period requested.

Your first step on the way to AbilityOne compliance is to find out if the product or service you need is on the AbilityOne Procurement List.

If it's not, you can add it using the following steps.


How do I add a product or service to the AbilityOne Procurement List?

1. Determine your need(s) & identify a solution

Requirement identified and delivery on the solution assessed

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: Federal Government, SourceAmerica

2. Document acquisition strategy

Contracting officer documents the AbilityOne solution in the acquisition strategy

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: Contracting Officer

3. Review & refine requirement

Contracting officer and AbilityOne collaborate on the requirement review

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: Contracting Officer, SourceAmerica, Nonprofit Agency

4. Negotiate recommended price

SourceAmerica works with the nonprofit and contracting officer to develop the solution, negotiate terms & create a no-obligation price proposal

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: Contracting Officer, SourceAmerica, Nonprofit Agency

5. SourceAmerica submits Procurement List Addition Proposal to the Commission

We share our nonprofit recommendation and negotiated price recommendation with the U.S. AbilityOne Commission

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: SourceAmerica, U.S. AbilityOne Commission

6. Commission deliberates & makes a decision

U.S. AbilityOne Commission conducts administrative review, commences the initial Federal Register notice, and makes a decision

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: U.S. AbilityOne Commission

7. Procurement List addition & contract award

Commission issues a second Federal Register notice of the approved PL Addition as well as a notice to the contracting officer so that contract performance can begin after 30-day final notice period expires

WHO'S INVOLVED HERE: Contracting Officer, SourceAmerica, Nonprofit Agency