How are new products or services added to the AbilityOne Program Procurement List?
When a Federal contracting activity chooses to work with the AbilityOne Program to meet its requirements, the first step of the process is to develop the project with either NIB or NISH. Preparing the proposed addition to the Procurement List for the Committee’s review can take between six and nine months to finalize. The Committee’s review of the proposed addition takes about 90-120 days from when it receives a complete package from either NIB or NISH. During this time, the Committee considers the proposed addition in terms of job creation; potential impact on other commercial entities; nonprofit agency capabilities; and, the recommended contract price as determined through negotiations between the contracting activity and the nonprofit agency that will perform the work, with assistance from NIB or NISH. In accordance with the Committee’s Regulations, a portion of this time is also used to notify the public, through the Federal Register, of its intent to consider the addition, as well
