Glossary
75/25% Ratio
Nonprofit agencies (NPAs) must employ people who are blind or significantly disabled for at least 75 percent of their overall direct labor hours (ODLH) during the fiscal year. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.401) https://www.abilityone.gov/laws,_regulations_and_policy/documents/Commission%20Policy%2051.401%20Effective%2015Aug2020.pdf
8(a)
Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act that established the Minority Business Enterprise Program.
A-76
Office of Management and Budget Circular on government outsourcing.
AAP
Affirmative Action Plan
AbilityOne Distributor
Companies (also called dealers) that have been formally authorized by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission® to buy and resell AbilityOne products in accordance with Commission Policy.
AbilityOne Program
The program authorized by the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act to increase employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities through Government purchasing of commodities and services from nonprofit agencies employing these persons. (41 CFR 51-1.3)
AbilityOne Program Fee
Formerly known as the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA) Fee. AbilityOne Program funding fee that is the primary source of funding for CNAs (National Industries for the Blind [NIB] and SourceAmerica). Set by the AbilityOne Commission to apply to Procurement List additions, annual price changes for products, base year renewals for services, and bilateral contract modifications that result in a price change submission to the Commission.
ACB
American Council of the Blind
ACCSES
American Congress of Community Supports and Employment Services
ACO
Administrative Contracting Officer
Act
Legislation passed by Congress
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government programs and services.
AEQ
Annual Estimated Quantity
AFB
American Foundation for the Blind
Affirmative Action Policy
Employers who do more than $10,000 in federal contracts in one year must establish a nondiscrimination policy. The $10,000 applies to the aggregate value of all federal contract work performed in a year—not the value of any one contract. Covered employers are prohibited from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
Affirmative Action Written Program
Written affirmative action programs specify the proactive policies and procedures to be used, assign management responsibility for implementation, and are reviewed and updated annually.
AFMC
Air Force Materiel Command
ALC
Air Logistics Command
Allocation
Distribution of orders by the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA) for items on the Procurement List among multiple nonprofit agencies (NPAs) that have been designated by the Commission to fulfill that particular product or service requirement.
Allocation of a product or service occurs when the product or service is placed on the Procurement List as determined by the Commission. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission
Policy 51.301)
AMC
Army Materiel Command or Air Mobility Command
Annual Reporting (Representations and Certifications)
Each nonprofit agency must submit to its Central Nonprofit Agency, by November 1 of each year, two completed copies of the appropriate Annual Certification (Representations and Certifications), covering the fiscal year ending the preceding September 30.
APA
Administrative Procedures Act
Applicant and Employee Self-Identification Invitations to "protected veterans" and individuals with disabilities.
Coverage for these provisions stem from the requirements of the Hiring Benchmarks for Veterans or the Workforce Utilization Goal for Workers with Disabilities. Covered contractors must establish a program that invites both workers with disabilities and protected veterans who are either applicants for a job or employees of the firm to self-identify their respective statuses. This requirement includes reminders to employees that they may update such statuses.
Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Treasury Appropriations Subcommittees that determine the funding for the U.S. AbilityOne Commission.
AR
Assignment Roster
At Risk Agency
An NPA that has a direct labor ratio below 75 percent or one that is out of compliance for a single reason.
Authorization Violation
Action (or lack of required action) by an AbilityOne authorized distributor which the Commission determines does not conform to the requirements of this Policy (51.540), including its Appendices and its Procedure (51.540-01). Authorization violations may include, but are not limited to, the marketing/sale of a commercial product in lieu of the appropriate AbilityOne item, failing to block and substitute the AbilityOne product at the order entry point, failing to carry all prescribed AbilityOne products, or excessive pricing of AbilityOne products on a contract or schedule. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.540)
BA
Bid Abstract
Base Date
The month and year the NPA and the Contracting Activity reach agreement on the initial or subsequent base price, as approved by the Commission.
Base Price
The initial Fair Market Price for the product or service in the base year of a contract with multiple follow-on option years. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.600)
Base Year
Each time the U.S. AbilityOne Commission makes a Fair Market Price determination for a project, a base price is established. Normally, contracts are awarded with a base price/base year and four (4) follow-on years.
Beneficiaries
People with disabilities served by the AbilityOne Program (also called consumers).
Beta.sam.gov
The beta.SAM.gov domains contain data that has been migrated from legacy systems. The domains support two distinct types of federal awards: acquisition and federal assistance.
• Acquisition awards are contracts awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
• Federal assistance awards are grant, cooperative, loan, insurance, service, and other agreements covered by the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 2 CFR 200.
Bilateral Agreement
An agreement where both parties to a contract (or change) must agree on the terms.
Blind
Refers to an individual or class of individuals whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle of no greater than 20 degrees.
BLUF
Bottom Line Upfront
BOA
Basic Ordering Agreement
BPA
Blanket Purchase Agreement. A simplified acquisition (usually via a Schedule) that government agencies use to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services.
BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure: Federal legislation that specifies the closing of selected military bases.
CA
Cooperative Agreement
CA (Contracting Activity)
1. Contracting Activity - Any element of an entity of the government that has responsibility for identifying and/or procuring government requirements for products or services. 2. State of California
CAGE Code
Commercial Activity/Government Entity Code
CARF
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities: An independent, nonprofit organization focused on advancing the quality of services to meet the needs for the best possible outcomes for recipients of rehabilitation services.
CBA
Collective Bargaining Agreement: Written, legally enforceable contract for a specified period (usually one year), between the management of an organization and its employees represented by an independent trade union. It sets down and defines conditions of employment (wages, working hours and conditions, overtime payments, holidays, vacations, benefits, etc.) and procedures for dispute resolution.
CBD
Commerce Business Daily
CBO
Congressional Budget Office
CCD
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
CCR
Central repository of all companies and agencies currently performing or seeking to perform business with the federal government.
CDR
Contract Discrepancy Report
CFM
Contractor Furnished Materials
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations: The codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government of the United States. The CFR is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to federal regulation.
CICA
Competition in Contracting Act
CID
Commercial Item Description
CIMS-GB
Cleaning Industry Management Standard — Green Building certification
CLIN
Contract Line Item Number - specific line in contract pricing schedule identifying separate price or funding for contract requirements.
CNA
Central Nonprofit Agency: There are the three Central Nonprofit Agencies designated by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. To represent nonprofit agencies for the blind: National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). To represent nonprofit agencies employing persons with other severe disabilities: SourceAmerica (Formerly NISH) 41 CFR 51-3.2.
CNA Fee
AbilityOne Program funding fee that is the primary source of funding for CNAs (NIB and SourceAmerica).
CO
Contracting Officer (civilian agencies)
COC
Certificate of Competency/Certificate of Compliance
COC
Certificate of Conformance
COCO
Contractor Owned-Contractor Operated
COD
Certificate of Destruction
Commensurate Wages
Wages based on the worker's individual productivity, no matter how limited, in proportion to the wage and quantity of work performed in the same job in the geographic area from which the labor force of the community is drawn.
Commensurate Wage— Products
• The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (PCA), as amended, establishes minimum wage, maximum hours, and safety and health standards for work on contracts in excess of $15,000 for the manufacturing or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to the U.S. government or the District of Columbia. All provisions of the PCA are administered by the Wage and Hour Division except the safety and health requirements, which are administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Covered workers must be paid not less than the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) federal minimum wage and overtime pay of at least one and one-half times the worker's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek.
• Federal Contractors with Fair Labor Standards Act 14c Certificates can pay sub-minimum wage if they hold a current certificate and meet all requirements of 29 CFR Part 525 Section 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• The contractor must display copies of the Service Contract Act/Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act Poster during the period that covered work is being performed on the contract.
Commensurate Wage— Services
• For Service Contract Act (SCA) covered work, the range for the commensurate wage is typically the minimum established by Executive Order (the floor) and the prevailing wage for that position listed in the Wage Determination Rate for the county where the work is performed. SCA covered work is compensated well in excess of the current federal minimum wage. In some cases, the NPA must also consider the applicability of Collective Bargaining Agreement wages and Davis- Bacon regulations. SourceAmerica suggests members confer with their local, or federal Department of Labor representatives to address any questions regarding compliance.
• The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act requires contractors and subcontractors performing services on prime contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality, or the rates (including prospective increases) contained in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement. The Department of Labor issues wage determinations on a contract-by-contract basis in response to specific requests from contracting agencies. These determinations are incorporated into the contract.
• For contracts equal to or less than $2,500, contractors are required to pay the federal minimum wage as provided in Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• For prime contracts in excess of $100,000, contractors and subcontractors must also, under the provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, as amended, pay laborers and mechanics, including guards and watchmen, at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act may also apply to SCA-covered contracts.
• Federal Contractors with Fair Labor Standards Act 14c Certificates can pay sub- minimum wage if they hold a current certificate and meet all requirements of 29 CFR Part 525 Section 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act however, the commensurate wages cannot be lower than the current Executive Order 13658— Establishing a Minimum Wage for Federal Contract Workers rate.
Commercial Item
As defined in FAR 2.101, "commercial item" means: (1) Any item, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by non- governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and (i) Has been sold, leased or licensed to the general public; or (ii) Has been offered for sale, lease or license to the general public.
Competitive Employment
Competitive employment is work that is performed on either a full- or part-time basis in which individuals are compensated for their work. The compensation paid must be at or above the set minimum wage, but not less than the wages paid to individuals who are not disabled and performing work that is the same or similar.
Competitive Integrated Employment
Work that—
(i) Is performed on a full-time or part-time basis (including self-employment) and for which an individual is compensated at a rate that—
(A) Is not less than the higher of the rate specified in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) or the rate required under the applicable State or local minimum wage law for the place of employment;
(B) Is not less than the customary rate paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by other employees who are not individuals with disabilities and who are similarly situated in similar occupations by the same employer and who have similar training, experience, and skills; and
(C) In the case of an individual who is self-employed, yields an income that is comparable to the income received by other individuals who are not individuals with disabilities and who are self-employed in similar occupations or on similar tasks and who have similar training, experience, and skills; and
(D) Is eligible for the level of benefits provided to other employees; and
(ii) Is at a location—
(A) Typically found in the community; and
(B) Where the employee with a disability interacts for the purpose of performing the duties of the position with other employees within the particular work unit and the entire work site, and, as appropriate to the work performed, other persons (e.g., customers and vendors), who are not individuals with disabilities (not including supervisory personnel or individuals who are providing services to such employee) to the same extent that employees who are not individuals with disabilities and who are in comparable positions interact with these persons; and
(iii) Presents, as appropriate, opportunities for advancement that are similar to those for other employees who are not individuals with disabilities and who have similar positions. (Authority: Sections 7(5) and 12(c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; 29
U.S.C. 705(5) and 709(c)).
Conflict of Interest
A real or apparent inconsistency between one's personal interest in a matter and one's official, positional responsibility to carry out duties with impartiality. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.301)
Contract Consolidation
Multiple contracts in multiple locations or different services are combined into one contract; formerly called "bundling".
Contracting Activity (CA)
Any element of an entity of the Government that has responsibility for identifying and/or procuring Government requirements for commodities or services. Components of a contracting activity, such as a contracting office and an ordering office, are incorporated in this definition, which includes all offices within the definitions of "Contracting Activity," "Contracting Office," and "Contract Administration Office contained in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, 48 CFR 2.101. (48 CFR 2.101)
Contracting Out (See A-76)
Government initiative to contract out services, rather than performing the tasks in-house by government employees.
Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct
Requires a contractor must have a written code of business ethics and conduct in place within thirty days of the award of any contract exceeding $5 million.
Cooperative Agreement (CA)
Agreement entered into by and between the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, operating as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission "Commission"and authorized Central Nonprofit Agencies for the purpose of establishing the governing relationship and roles and responsibilities of each party in its respective role within the AbilityOne Program.
COR
Contracting Officer's Representative
COTR
Contracting Office Technical Representative
CR
Cost Reimbursable Contract (sometimes called a cost-plus contract) is one in which the contractor is reimbursed the actual costs they incur in carrying out the work, plus an additional fee.
CRP
Community Rehabilitation Program: Terminology used in the Rehabilitation Act. CRPs are organizations that perform services or produce products with Contracting Activities that require a specific product or service. Term currently preferred is NPA.
CRS
Congressional Research Service
CSS
Commissary Shelf Stocking
CY
Calendar Year
D&B
Dun and Bradstreet: Reporting services provide commercial data, analytics, and insights for businesses. SourceAmerica uses their services to obtain details about current contractors to help determine impact and an overview of the company.
D&F
Determinations and Findings: A special form of written approval by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission for Procurement List actions that is required by the statute or regulations.
DBA
Davis-Bacon Act: A United States federal law that establishes the requirement for paying the local prevailing wages on public works projects for laborers and mechanics.
DBA
Doing Business As
DCAA
Defense Contract Audit Agency
DDS
Direct Delivery Shipment
DeCA
Defense Commissary Agency
Deleted Agency
An NPA that has not been authorized to provide a product or service on the Procurement List in more than one year, or a verified agency that has not received a project in a year since verification.
DESC
Defense Electronics Supply Center (part of Defense Logistics Agency)
Designation
The official determination by the Commission that one or more NPAs will deliver a product or service that is on or added to the Procurement List. Designation occurs after the Commission determines a proposed product or service is suitable to be added to the Procurement List and the Commission independently decides that the NPA(s) are qualified and capable to deliver the product or service. The designation is announced in the Federal Register Notice of addition to the Procurement List. Designation may also be changed by administrative action subsequent to Procurement List addition. A notice of change to the Procurement List is issued to show the designated NPA(s). Note: A designated NPA is not the same as a participating NPA. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.301)
DFAS
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
DFTEs
Disabled Full Time Equivalents
Direct Employment
Placement that occurs when a nonprofit agency places an individual with a significant disability who has never performed direct labor at the NPA into a supported or competitive employment job. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.401)
Direct Labor
Includes all work required for preparation, processing, and packing of a product, or work directly relating to the performance of a service; but does not include supervision, administration, inspection, or shipping.
DISC
Defense Industrial Supply Center (part of Defense Logistics Agency)
DLA
Defense Logistics Agency
DLA Troop Support (new name for DSCP)
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (part of DLA)
DLA Troop Support (new name for DSCP)
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (part of Defense Logistics Agency)
DOA
Direct Order Authorization
DOAA
Direct Order Authorization Amendment
DOC
Director of Contracting
DoD
Department of Defense
DOE
Department of Energy
DoED
Department of Education
DOJ
Department of Justice
DOL
Department of Labor: A cabinet-level department of the U.S. federal government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, reemployment services, and some economic statistics.
DRMS
Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (part of Defense Logistics Agency)
Drug Free Workplace Policy
Applies to all federal grantees (regardless of the amount of the grant) and most prime contracts more than $100,000. Coverage is on a contract by contract basis—not on an enterprise basis—so not all employees may be covered. Subcontractors on a covered contract are not subject to the provisions. Contracts paid from non-appropriated funds are not subject to this program. Covered employers must create both a drug free workplace policy and program and advise covered employees of both. Covered employees must notify employer within 5 calendar days of any drug conviction; employers then have 10 calendar days to advise contracting agency of the conviction.
DSCP
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (part of Defense Logistics Agency)
DVA
Department of Veterans Affairs: A federal Cabinet-level agency that provides near- comprehensive healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country; several non-healthcare benefits including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance; and provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries.
EC
Electronic Commerce
EDI
Electronic Data Exchange
EDLH
Estimated Direct Labor Hours: A projection made by an NPA regarding the number of hours to be performed by individuals living with a disability.
Education and the Workforce Committee
One of two U.S. House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over the JWOD Act.
EEO-1 Form
Applies to a prime or first-tier subcontract of $50,000 or more. This is not a cumulative amount; at least one of the employer's contracts or subcontracts must be at least $50,000. The survey EEO-1 form requires NPA employment data to be categorized by race/ethnicity, gender and job category. Electronic or mail submission of form by September 30th annually.
EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission: A federal agency that administers and enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.
EO
Executive Order: A means of issuing federal directives in the United States, used by the president of the United States, that manages operations of the federal government.
EOQ
Economic Order Quantity
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
Fair Market Price (FMP)
The price the Commission determines for products and services on the Procurement List.
FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulation: The body of regulations that are the primary sources of authority governing the federal government procurement process.
FASA
Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FED-SPEC
Federal Specification
FLSA
Fair Labor Standards Act: A United States labor law that creates the right to a minimum wage, and "time-and-a-half" overtime pay when people work over forty hours a week. It also prohibits employment of minors in "oppressive child labor"
FMP
Fair Market Price
FOB
Freight on Board
FOB Destination
Seller retains the risk of loss until the goods reach the buyer.
FOB Origin
Purchaser pays shipping cost from factory or warehouse and gains ownership of goods as soon as it leaves its point of origin.
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act
FOY
Follow-On Year
FPI
Federal Prison Industries
FR
Federal Register: A daily publication of general and permanent, proposed rules legislation, and notices of federal government agencies and organizations.
FSS
Federal Supply Schedule or GSA Federal Supply Service
FTE
Full-time Equivalent
FY
Fiscal Year: October 1 through September 30 for the federal government.
GAO
Government Accountability Office
GBL
Government Bill of Lading
GCIB
General Council of Industries for the Blind
GFE
Government Furnished Equipment
GFM
Government Furnished Materials
GII
Goodwill Industries International
GOCO
Government Owned-Contractor Operated
Government Reform
Committee
One of two U.S. House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over the JWOD Act.
GPO
Government Printing Office
Greening
Green Cleaning Program: Federal environmental initiative that encourages organizations to integrate health and environmental considerations in business decisions and practices.
GSA
General Services Administration
GSA Advantage
GSA Online Shopping System
HELP Committee
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that has jurisdiction over the JWOD Act.
HES
Healthcare Environmental Services
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
Hiring Benchmark for
Veterans
Annual VEVRAA Benchmark: Applies to federal contractors and subcontractors who perform at least $100,000 in federal work in one year. Note that the $100,000 amount applies to the aggregate value of all federal work performed in a year, not the value of a single contract or subcontract. Effective March 24, 2014, covered employers must establish an "annual hiring benchmark" for veterans.
HUD
Department of Housing and Urban Development
I-9
Employment Eligibility Verification: All employers are subject to the provisions of the I-9; it does not depend on government contract status. Form is to be completed for all new hires after November 6, 1986.
IAJVS
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Act
IDIQ
Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
IFB
Invitation for Bids
IMP
SourceAmerica's Integrated Marketing Plan
Impact
Impact on current or most recent contractor is one of the suitability criteria used by the Commission to determine if a requirement is suitable for addition to the Procurement List. The Commission will not find a project as suitable whose addition would have a significant, adverse impact on the current contractor.
Impact (SEI)
Severe Economic Impact - An analysis is conducted when considering placing a service or product on the Procurement List that the current or most recent competitive contractor is not adversely impacted.
Impasse
When a pricing issue, controversy, or disagreement occurs, and the Contracting Activity or the Nonprofit Agency is unable to reach a recommended fair market price or is unable to proceed with negotiation of a contract price. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.600)
Indirect Labor
Any labor hours not falling in the category of Direct Labor.
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
ISSA
International Sanitary Supply Association
IT
Information Technology
JPID
AbilityOne Program Information Database for the U.S. AbilityOne Commission.
JWOD Act
Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act established an employment program designed to provide job opportunities for people who are blind or who have other significant disabilities. These jobs involve the sale of goods or services to the federal government. 41 U.S.C. § 46 et seq.
JWOD Program®
(See AbilityOne® Program)
KO
Contracting Officer (Department of Defense activities)
LOB
Line of Business
LSA
Labor Surplus Area
M&D
Manufacturing and Design
Medical Documentation
Disability documentation from a licensed medical or mental health professional capable of making that evaluation. This documentation must specify the nature and extent of the condition or combination of conditions that have resulted in the determination that he/she is significantly disabled. OR certification of the disability or disabilities by a state or local governmental entity. The certification must indicate who the issuing entity is, be signed, and list the disability or disabilities.
Member
See NPA
MIL-STD
Military Standard
MOD
Modification of Contract
MODAPTS
Modular Arrangements of Predetermined Time Standard
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MR
Military Resale
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet
NAID
National Association for Information Destruction
NAVFAC
Navy Facilities Engineering Command
NAVSUP
Naval Supply Systems Command
NCSE
National Council of SourceAmerica Employers
NCWC
National Council of Work Centers
NDA
Non-Disclosure Agreement
NESS
National Easter Seals Society
NEXCOM
Navy Exchange Command
NFB
National Federation of the Blind
NIB
National Industries for the Blind
NISH
SourceAmerica's name from 1974 - 2013
NLRB
National Labor Relations Board (part of Department of Labor)
NLT
No Later Than
NNA
National Nonprofit Agency; the six (6) organizations that founded SourceAmerica.
NOD
National Organization on Disability
Nonprofit Agency (NPA)
NPA is an alternate term for CRP (Community Rehabilitation Program). The U.S. AbilityOne Program requires that NPAs be an agency organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of the blind or persons with other severe disabilities, the net income of which does not incur in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual, and designated by the Committee to facilitate the distribution (by direct allocation, subcontract, or any other means) of orders of the Government for commodities and services on the Procurement List among nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, to provide information required by the Committee to implement the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program, and to otherwise assist the Committee in administering these regulations as set forth herein by the Committee. (41 CFR 51.1-3) Affiliated—A nonprofit that has applied and been accepted as a SourceAmerica affiliate; these NPAs do not have AbilityOne contracts. Producing—A nonprofit that has an AbilityOne contract(s) set aside on the Procurement List.
North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
NAICS (pronounced "Nakes") is the standard used by federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
NPR
Notice of Proposal to Regulate
NRFC
National Rehabilitation Facilities Coalition
NSN
National Stock Number
O&M
Operations and Maintenance
OBE
Overcome By Events
OD
Operations Directive
OFCCP
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
OFPP
Office of Federal Procurement Policy: Part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the OFCCP is responsible for ensuring that employers doing business with the federal government comply with the laws and regulations requiring nondiscrimination.
OIG
Office of Inspector General
OMB
Office of Management and Budget
OPM
Office of Personnel Management
Opportunity Notice (ON)
Opportunity Notice as referenced in the NPA Recommendation Process
OPS
SourceAmerica Operations division
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: An agency of the United States Department of Labor, tasked with protecting employee working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and providing training.
PA
Procurement Agency
Partnering
Relationship between two entities: 1) NPA and SourceAmerica or NIB and 2) the government customer (Contracting Agency) that promotes the goal of the AbilityOne Program.
PBS
Public Buildings Service (GSA)
PBSD
People who are blind or severely disabled
PCER
Price Change Exception Request
PCO
Procuring Contracting Officer
PE
Purchase Exception: A Central Nonprofit Agency will normally grant a purchase exception for a contracting activity to procure from commercial sources commodities or services on the Procurement List when both of the following conditions are met:
• (1) The Central Nonprofit Agency or its nonprofit agency(ies) cannot furnish a commodity or service within the period specified, and
• (2) The commodity or service is available from commercial sources in the quantities needed and significantly sooner than it will be available from the nonprofit agency(ies).
PEO
Program Executive Office
Performance-Based Service Contracting (PBSC)
Performance-Based Service Contracting: A government model for developing services contracts which emphasizes that all aspects of an acquisition be structured around the purpose of the work to be performed to meet the government's performance objectives and achieve the appropriate performance quality levels.
PF&D
Personal Time, Fatigue, and Delay
PFI
Plant Facility Inspection
PI
Producer Price Index
PL
Procurement List: A list of commodities (including military resale commodities) and services the Commission has determined suitable to be furnished to the government by nonprofit agencies for the blind or nonprofit agencies employing persons with significant disabilities pursuant to the JWOD Act and associated regulations.
PL
Procurement List - Public list managed by the US AbilityOne Commission identifying all required purchases for services or products through the AbilityOne Program or Public Law.
PLIMS
Procurement List Information Management System: The information management system used by the Commission to collect electronic submissions from the Central Nonprofit Agencies for proposed additions, deletions, and changes to the Procurement List, including prices. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.600)
PM
Program Management / Project Manager
PMO
Project or Program Management Office
PO
Purchase Order
POC
Point of Contact
PPC
Product Price Change
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PPI
Producer Price Index
PPM
Packaging, Pricing, and Marketing
PR
Pricing Memoranda
PR-2
JWOD Act Pricing Memorandum #2 (PR-2) is the Pricing Memorandum that describes the current rules (as defined by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission) for pricing PRODUCTS contracts.
PR-3
JWOD Act Pricing Memorandum #3 (PR-3) is the Pricing Memorandum that describes the current rules (as defined by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission) for pricing SERVICE contracts. PR-3 allows for more negotiation and a more flexible escalation rate schedule for follow-on years.
PR-6
JWOD Act Pricing Memorandum #6 (PR-6) is the old Pricing Memorandum now replaced by PR-3.
PREPRO
Pre-production Sample
Prevailing Wage
A wage rate that is paid to an experienced worker who is not "disabled for the work performed."
Primary Business Partner
NPAs involved in the AbilityOne Program with SourceAmerica.
Productivity Studies / Time Studies
The industrial work measurement methods used by the employer to establish standard production rates of workers "not disabled for the work performed."
PWS
Performance Work Statement: The PWS identifies technical, functional, and performance characteristics. It describes the outcome as opposed to describing how a function is to be performed. The PWS is more commonly used for services contracts.
QA
Quality Assurance
QAE
Quality Assurance Evaluator or Evaluation
QAP
Quality Assurance Plan
QAR
Quality Assurance Representative
QAS
Quality Assurance Specialist
QASP
Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan
QC
Quality Control
QCP
Quality Control Plan
QDN
Quality Deficiency Notice
QDR
Quality Deficiency Report
QER
Quarterly Employment Report: The QER was developed by SourceAmerica to facilitate the collection of data from NPAs that participate in the AbilityOne Program. This report is submitted quarterly via a web-based application that is available to NPAs that have AbilityOne contracts. The QER helps SourceAmerica monitor the disabled direct labor ratios of AbilityOne participating NPAs throughout the year. Additionally, it enables the SourceAmerica Regulatory, Oversight and Monitoring team to provide technical assistance when necessary and to ensure each NPA maintains the required agency-wide direct labor ratio of 75%. A Quarterly Employment Report User's Guide is available on the Extranet (login required).
QIS
Quality Inspection Specialist
Qualified Nonprofit Agency
An agency organized under the laws of the United States or any State, operated in the interests of persons with severe disabilities who are not blind, and the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual; which complies with applicable occupational health and safety standards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and which in furnishing commodities and services (whether or not the commodities or services are procured under these regulations) during the fiscal year, employs persons with severe disabilities (including blind) for not less than 75 percent of the work hours of direct labor required to furnish
such commodities or services. (41 CFR 51-1.3)
QWE
Quality Work Environment: A workplace that identifies and adopts best practices intended to fulfill the Commission's guiding principles for AbilityOne Program employers:
(1) Opportunities to do the work of their choice with appropriate supports and/or workplace flexibilities, alongside non-disabled employees where all workers receive competitive wages and benefits, either with their current employer or other community-based businesses;
(2) Ongoing training opportunities that make employment with other community- based businesses possible, by teaching job skills and social skills, as well as promoting the worker's leadership and management potential; and
(3) A clear path to career advancement opportunities, which details what opportunities are available and the steps the worker must accomplish to achieve promotion in a reasonable time period. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.100)
R&D
Research and Development
Randolph-Sheppard Act (RS)
Randolph-Sheppard Act: The federal legislation enacted to provide persons who are blind with remunerative employment, to enlarge their economic opportunities, and to enable persons who are blind to be self-supporting.
Ratio (75/25%)
75% of the direct labor hours must be performed by individuals who are blind or who have significant disabilities; to 25% of direct labor hours performed by person who are not blind or non-disabled.
REA
Request for Equitable Adjustment
Reclama
Response from government contractor on a quality deficiency notice.
Regs / Regulations
Rules that explain the intent of a law (like the Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Act
The federal legislation that authorizes the formula grant programs of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance; as well as, a variety of training and service discretionary grants administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The Act also includes a variety of provisions focused on rights, advocacy, and protections for individuals with disabilities.
Related Corporation
A corporation that is related to another corporation by owning shares, common ownership significantly overlapping board members or management or other means of control. Some NPAs are closely related to other corporations. The nonprofit agency may be one of several subsidiaries of a common parent corporation, or the parent or subsidiary of another corporation or may otherwise be related to one or more corporations that are either nonprofit or for-profit. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.402)
RFI
Request for Information
RFP
Request for Proposal
RFQ
Request for Quotation
RID
Request for Impact Determination
RO
SourceAmerica Regional Office
ROM
Regulatory, Oversight, and Monitoring supports SourceAmerica's mission and role as a CNA by education, assisting, monitoring, and reporting NPAs compliance with the applicable laws and regulations of the AbilityOne Program.
RSA
Rehabilitation Services Administration: A division of the Department of Education that administers many disability programs; including the Rehabilitation Services Act.
SADBU
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
SADBUS
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Specialist
SAH
Standard Allowable Hours
SAM
Standard Allowable Minutes
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sarbanes- Oxley)
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is designed to oversee the financial reporting landscape for finance professionals for all U.S. public company boards, management, and public accounting firms. Its purpose is to review legislative audit requirements and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures. The act covers issues such as establishing a public company accounting oversight board, auditor independence, corporate responsibility, and enhanced financial disclosure. It also significantly tightens accountability standards for directors and officers, auditors, securities analysts and legal counsel. The law is named after Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael G. Oxley.
SB
Small Business
SBA
Small Business Administration
SBSA
Small Business Set-Aside
SCA
Service Contract Act: The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act requires contractors and subcontractors performing services on prime contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality, or the rates (including prospective increases) contained in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement.
SDB
Small Disadvantaged Business
SDF
Supply Distribution Facility
Section 14(c)
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Allows for the payment of wages based on level of productivity for certain specified groups of individuals.
Section 504
Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.
Section 508
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others.
ServCost
A SourceAmerica electronic, web-based application for costing service contracts.
Severe Disability
"A severe physical or mental impairment (residual limiting condition resulting from an injury, disease, or congenital defect) which so limits the person's functional capabilities (mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, work tolerance, or work skills) that the individual is unable to engage in normal competitive employment over an extended period of time." Code of Federal Regulations, Section 51-1.3. The term "significant disability" was adopted by SourceAmerica in August 2010. In correspondence and policy, the term "significant disability" is synonymous with the term "severe disability" as defined in 41 U.S.C. 8501 and the applicable regulations.
SF
Standard Form
Skilcraft™
Trade name for NIB AbilityOne products
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SOW
Statement of Work: A document that enables offeror's to clearly understand the government's needs for the work to be done in developing or producing the goods or services to be delivered by a contractor; also see PWS.
SPC
Standard Price Change
SPEC
Specification
Special Minimum Wage
Federally mandated wage authorized under a certificate issued to an employer and is less than the statutory minimum wage.
Specification-Based Products Contracting (SBPC)
Specification-Based Products Contracting is the same as PBSC (performance-based services contracting), but for products. A government model for developing products contracts which emphasizes that all aspects of an acquisition be structured around the purpose of the work to be performed to meet the government's performance objectives and achieve the appropriate performance quality levels.
SPF
Service Pricing Form
SSA
Social Security Administration
SSDI
Social Security Disability Income
SSI
Supplemental Security Insurance
Stakeholders
Refers to all groups that are or might be affected by an organization's actions and success. Examples of key AbilityOne stakeholders include: federal customers, AbilityOne employees, NPA partners, the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, and the CNAs (NIB and SourceAmerica).
State-Use
State-level procurement programs similar to AbilityOne.
Subcontracting
Any acquisition from another source of materials, including raw materials, or services required by the nonprofit agency(ies) to provide a Procurement List product or service allocated under the AbilityOne Program. (41 CFR 51-4.4) Subcontracting under the AbilityOne Program is subject to U.S. AbilityOne Commission Operations Memorandum Number 21.
Supported Employment
(i) Supported employment means competitive integrated employment, including customized employment, or employment in an integrated work setting in which an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, is working on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment that is individualized, and customized, consistent with the unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including with ongoing support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
(A) For whom competitive integrated employment has not historically occurred, or for whom competitive integrated employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a significant disability; and
(B) Who, because of the nature and severity of their disabilities, need intensive supported employment services and extended services after the transition from support provided by the designated State unit, in order to perform this work. (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA, 2014) Section 7(38) of the Act and §363.1(b) of the regulations.
Supported Employment Services
Supported employment services means ongoing support services, including customized employment, and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, in supported employment that are:
(iii) Organized and made available, singly or in combination, in such a way as to assist an eligible individual to achieve competitive integrated employment;
(iv) Based on a determination of the needs of an eligible individual, as specified in an individualized plan for employment;
(v) Provided by the designated State unit for a period of time not to exceed 24 months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment; and
(vi) Following transition, as post-employment services that are unavailable from an extended services provider and that are necessary to maintain or regain the job placement or advance in employment. (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA, 2014) Section 7(38) of the Act and §363.1(b) of the regulations.
SUPRA
State Use Programs Association, Inc.: Association that represents NPAs involved in the State-Use Program.
Surge Protection
Exemption from meeting the AbilityOne Program's 75 percent direct labor requirement in order to meet a contractual surge requirement. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.401-02)
Surge Requirement
Notification of the necessity to meet rapidly changing military or civilian delivery requirements above those stated in the contract. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.401-02)
T&M
Time and Materials
TA
Technical Assistance: Refers to a myriad of approaches utilized to provide education, impart skills, and target supportive services to members of the SourceAmerica Member Network.
TFM
Total Facilities Management
The Arc
Formerly the Association of Retarded Citizens
The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
(Committee for Purchase)
A1A144:B144
The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled was established as an independent federal agency by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) amendments of 1971. The function of the Committee was to provide employment opportunities for people who were blind or severely disabled. In 2006 JWOD was re- named AbilityOne. The AbilityOne Program uses the purchasing power of the federal government to buy products and services from participating, community-based nonprofit agencies nationwide dedicated to training and employing people who are blind or have disabilities.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA)
Federal legislation that established a program to allow people with disabilities to select their own support services while maintaining health benefits when they enter the workforce.
TINA
Truth in Negotiation Act
TRAC
Truth, Responsibility, Accounting in Contracting Act
Training Incentive Program (TIP)
The Training Incentive Program is available to SourceAmerica AbilityOne-producing NPAs who have complied with the Employee Research System (ERS). The program helps NPAs defray travel costs to attend SourceAmerica instructor-led training.
U.S. AbilityOne Commission®
The Commission's legal name remains the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. However, since October 1, 2011, the Committee has been operating as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission®.
UCP
United Cerebral Palsy Association
UNICOR
Trade name of Federal Prison Industries products.
Unilateral Agreement
A contract modification that is signed only by the Contracting Officer and does not require agreement by the Contractor.
USC
U.S. Code
USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USPS
United States Postal Service
Verified Agency
An NPA whose articles of incorporation and by-laws have been reviewed by the Commission and found to meet the requirements for qualification to participate in the AbilityOne Program as per 41 CFR 51-4.1, but the agency has not yet been approved on the Procurement List to provide a product or service. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission Policy 51.402)
Veteran
A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (38 U.S.C. 101)
VETS Report 4212
The VETS-4212 Report is to be completed by all nonexempt federal contractors and subcontractors with a contract or subcontract in the amount of $150,000 or more with any department or agency of the United States. This threshold is applied to each contract held.
Voucher
SourceAmerica training voucher; part of the Training Incentive Voucher Program.
VR
Vocational Rehabilitation
WAW
Wide Area Workflow - payment system for electronic payments to/from the federal government.
WD
Wage Determination/Department of Labor Wage Determination: Establishes the prevailing wages and fringe benefits that prime contractors and subcontractors must pay service employees working on covered contracts in specified geographic areas.
WDR
Wage Determination Rate: The established amount of compensation and fringe benefits due to an employee working on a covered service contract based upon the prevailing wage rate of a given geographic location.
WFD
Workforce Development
WHD (Wage & Hour) Division
Department of Labor, Wage, and Hour Division: The WHD mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce.
WIA
Workforce Investment Act
Work Measurement
The process of determining the amount of time it takes a worker who does not have a disability to perform an operation or an element of an operation using a prescribed method. This amount of time becomes the "standard" against which the productivity of the worker with a disability is compared to determine the commensurate wage.
Workforce Utilization
Goal for Workers with Disabilities
Contractors or subcontractors with a contract of $10,000 or more are subject to this provision. Covered contractors must establish a 7% "workforce utilization goal" for employing individuals with disabilities within each job group. The regulations do, however, allow contractors with fewer than 100 employees to apply the 7% goal to the entire workforce.