What if I can get a commercial item at a lower price? Am I still required to purchase the AbilityOne item?
The AbilityOne Program saves the taxpayers considerable money each year by turning over 40,000 “tax users” into “tax payers”. While buyers can typically find commercial items at a lower price than AbilityOne items, that is not a valid reason for federal buyers to circumvent the AbilityOne Program. If there is a significant price difference, federal buyers should evaluate whether the commercial item and the AbilityOne item are “essentially the same” (ETS). Often times, there is a distinct difference that causes the significant price difference. In those cases, the buyer would be able to purchase the commercial item because it is not ETS as the AbilityOne item. When making that determination, the federal buyer should clearly document their reason for purchasing the commercial item. The AbilityOne Program will provide assistance if required.
