Procurement List; Additions and Deletions, 48127-48129 [2014-19397]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 158 / Friday, August 15, 2014 / Notices
This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 8503 (a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
Deletions
The following products are proposed
for deletion from the Procurement List:
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. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR
51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Products
Computer Accessories
NSN: 6150–00–NIB–0005.
NSN: 6150–00–NIB–0006.
NPA: Wiscraft, Inc., Milwaukee, WI.
Contracting Activity: General Services
Administration, New York, NY.
Patricia Briscoe,
Deputy Director, Business Operations,
(Pricing and Information Management).
[FR Doc. 2014–19396 Filed 8–14–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions and
Deletions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from
the Procurement List.
AGENCY:
This action adds products and
services to the Procurement List that
will be provided by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities, and
deletes products from the Procurement
List previously furnished by such
agencies.
DATES: Effective Date: 9/15/2014.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite
10800, Arlington, Virginia 22202–4149.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Lineback, Telephone: (703) 603–
7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Additions
On 5/30/2014 (79 FR 31095–31096);
6/13/2014 (79 FR 33911–33912); and 6/
20/2014 (79 FR 35320), the Committee
for Purchase From People Who Are
Blind or Severely Disabled published
notices of proposed additions to the
Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the products and services and impact of
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:31 Aug 14, 2014
Jkt 232001
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 provide the
products and services to the
Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to provide the
products and services to the
Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) 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
Socket Set
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0111—1⁄4 Drive Shallow,
SAE 6 and 12 Point Fasteners, 10 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0112—1⁄4 Drive Deep,
SAE 6 and 12 Point Fasteners, 10 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0113—Combination, 1⁄4
Drive Shallow, SAE 6 and 12 Point
Fasteners, 14 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0114—3⁄8 Drive Shallow,
SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 11 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0115—3⁄8 Drive Deep,
SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 13 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0116—Combination, 3⁄8
Shallow, SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 18
Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0117—1⁄2 Drive Shallow,
SAE 6 and 12 Point Fasteners, 13 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0118—1⁄2 Drive Deep,
SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 13 Pieces
NSN: 5120–00–NIB–0119—Combination, 1⁄2
Drive Shallow, SAE 12 Point Fasteners,
17 Pieces
NPA: Wiscraft, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
Contracting Activity: General Services
Administration, Kansas City, MO
Coverage: B-List for the Broad Government
Requirement as aggregated by the
General Services Administration, Kansas
City, MO.
Services
Service Type/Location: Warehouse & Supply
Support Service, Space and Naval
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48127
Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, One
Innovation Dr., Bldg. 3147 North
Charleston, SC
NPA: Goodwill Services, Inc., Richmond, VA
Contracting Activity: Dept of the Navy,
SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, North
Charleston, SC
Service Type/Location: IT Service Desk
Support Service, USDA Forest Service,
101B Sun Avenue NE., Suite 200,
Albuquerque, NM
NPA: Peckham Vocational Industries, Inc.,
Lansing, MI
Contracting Activity: Department of
Agriculture Forest Service, WO–AQM IT
Support, Albuquerque, NM
Comments: Comments were received
from an AbilityOne nonprofit agency
(NPA) that provides home-based
employment for people with severe
disabilities (hereafter ‘‘home-based
NPA’’). The home-based NPA was
among the AbilityOne NPAs considered
to provide the IT Service Desk Support
service to USDA. However, the central
nonprofit agency (CNA) that is required
to propose projects, along with qualified
and capable NPAs to perform the
projects, to the Committee for
Procurement List (PL) consideration,
did not recommend the home-based
NPA to perform the subject service.
The home-based NPA’s comments
focused on the CNA’s procedures for
evaluating its NPAs when making
recommendations to the Committee of
suitable projects for the government to
procure from qualified nonprofit
agencies. The home-based NPA asserts
the CNA’s evaluation of its NPA and the
subsequent recommendation were
flawed since the CNA did not consider
which NPA would maximize
employment for people with severe
disabilities. The home-based NPA also
states that the CNA recommendation is
not sufficient to support a government
contract award decision and the review
and recommendation was based on stale
information that did not include the fact
that the home-based NPA is currently
performing these services for USDA.
The home-based NPA also stated that it
appealed the CNA recommendation
through program channels; however, the
appeal was not properly evaluated by
the CNA and Committee staff.
Therefore, the home-based NPA asserts
that the recommendation should not be
relied upon by the Committee.
The Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act
authorized the Committee to establish
rules and regulations to administer the
AbilityOne Program and directs the
Committee to designate CNAs to assist
in the program. Committee regulations
require the CNAs to evaluate the
qualifications and capabilities of the
NPAs they represent in the AbilityOne
Program. Committee regulations and
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15AUN1
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
48128
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 158 / Friday, August 15, 2014 / Notices
policy also establish criteria and
procedures that are used when
considering products and services for
addition to the PL and in determining
which of the approximately 600
qualified NPAs will be designated to
perform specific projects added to the
PL.
In this instance, the CNA
recommended that the IT Service Desk
Support service be considered for
addition to the PL. The CNA also
recommended a qualified AbilityOne
NPA to perform the service for USDA;
however, it was not the home-based
NPA. The home-based NPA did not
agree with the CNA recommendation
and twice appealed the decision
through the established AbilityOne
Program procedures. The Committee ED
conducted remanded the CNA’s first
selection for recommendation back to
SourceAmerica for corrective action.
The corrective action required a second
review process with new proposal
submissions and a new and
independent SourceAmerica review
team. The second review team results
and CNA recommendation was
appealed by the home-based NPA. On
review of the new NTI appeal the
Commission ED concluded that the
CNA followed and documented its
process as required; therefore, there was
no change or corrective action to the
CNA recommendation of the NPA to
perform the service. The CNA was then
able to submit the Call Center PL
addition for consideration of the
Commission.
The Committee does not subscribe to
the commenter’s suggestion that
products and services added to the PL
must be furnished by the AbilityOne
nonprofit agency that will maximize
employment for people who are blind or
severely disabled. Neither the JWOD Act
nor the implementing regulations
impose that as a requirement
determining what nonprofit will
provide the PL service. The JWOD Act
requires all qualified nonprofit agencies
to employ persons who are blind or
significantly disabled on an annual
basis for not less than 75% of the direct
labor hours required to furnish products
or services. To be considered suitable,
Committee regulations require every
AbilityOne product or service to meet
the Federal customer’s requirement and
standards, as well as provide
employment potential for people who
are significantly disabled. The vision of
the AbilityOne Program is to enable
each person with a disability to
maximize his or her employment
potential. None of these guidelines
impose a measure of maximizing
employment on a project level, which,
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17:31 Aug 14, 2014
Jkt 232001
if not balanced, could lead to
inefficiencies or suboptimal solutions
that are not in the best interest of the
Government.
The home-based NPA’s comment that
the CNA recommendation is not
sufficient to support a government
contract award misstates the facts. The
Committee determines which products
and services are suitable for addition to
the PL and designates which NPA will
furnish the product or service to the
government. The Committee does not
award contracts to NPAs after items are
added to the PL, nor does the CNA
recommendation dictate the
Committee’s decision. The government
contract award is made by the
appropriate contracting activity and is
authorized by the PL addition in
accordance with the JWOD Act.
The home-based NPA also asserts that
the CNA recommendation was based on
stale information, since the CNA
evaluation did not consider that the
home-based NPA is currently
performing contact center services for
USDA. The home-based NPA’s
comments state it is the incumbent. The
Committee finds that the home-based
NPA does not have a contract with the
USDA for the Call Center, but a modest
subcontract with the current
commercial provider (IBM). Such
commercial subcontracts are not
evaluated by the Committee, as there is
no requirement that commercial
contracts meet JWOD Act standards.
The home-based NPA established the
subcontract after it was not
recommended by the CNA to furnish the
service. Prime contractors, not their
subcontractors; have a contractual
relationship with the government and
primes are the incumbent. Therefore,
the existence of a subcontract does not
confer a priority over nonprofit agencies
recommended to be the prime
contractors through the established CNA
process.
Having fully considered all
appropriate information, including
information submitted by the CNA as
required by Committee regulations, the
Committee is satisfied that the IT
Service Desk Support service is suitable
for procurement by the Government and
that the AbilityOne nonprofit agency
designated by the Committee to perform
the service is qualified and capable.
Deletions
On 7/11/2014 (79 FR 40066–40067),
the Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled published notice of proposed
deletions from the Procurement List.
After consideration of the relevant
matter presented, the Committee has
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
determined that the products listed
below are no longer suitable for
procurement by the Federal Government
under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 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
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities.
2. The action may result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
products to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in
connection with the products deleted
from the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products
are deleted from the Procurement List:
Products
NSN: 2510–01–251–8548—Blanket,
Insulation, Thermal, Vehicular.
NSN: 2510–01–251–9995—Panel, Insulation,
Vehicular, Interior Left Hand Front
Tunnel.
NSN: 2510–01–335–7363—Panel, Insulation,
Vehicular, Interior Right Hand Front
Tunnel.
NSN: 2510–01–421–8067—Panel, Insulation,
Vehicular, Cab.
NPA: New York City Industries for the Blind,
Inc., Brooklyn, NY.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus,
OH.
Label, Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive
NSN: 7530–00–577–4368.
NSN: 7530–00–577–4369.
NSN: 7530–00–577–4370.
NSN: 7530–00–577–4371.
NSN: 7530–00–577–4372.
NSN: 7530–00–577–4376.
NSN: 7530–00–982–0062.
NSN: 7530–00–982–0064.
NSN: 7530–00–982–0065.
NSN: 7530–00–982–0066.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc.,
Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: General Services
Administration, New York, NY.
NSN: 8465–00–118–4956—Cover, Canteen,
Water, Natural, 1 qt.
NPA: Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc.,
Kinston, NC.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia,
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 158 / Friday, August 15, 2014 / Notices
PA.
Patricia Briscoe,
Deputy Director, Business Operations (Pricing
and Information Management).
[FR Doc. 2014–19397 Filed 8–14–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Information Collection; Submission for
OMB Review, Comment Request
Corporation for National and
Community Service.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Corporation for National
and Community Service (CNCS) has
submitted a public information
collection request (ICR) entitled
AmeriCorps VISTA Project Progress
Report for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–
13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of
this ICR, with applicable supporting
documentation, may be obtained by
calling the Corporation for National and
Community Service, Mr. Robert Cox, at
202–606–6851 or email to vista@
americorps.gov. Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TTY–TDD) may call 1–800–833–3722
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted, identified by the title of the
information collection activity, to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB
Desk Officer for the Corporation for
National and Community Service, by
any of the following two methods
within 30 days from the date of
publication in the Federal Register:
(1) By fax to: 202–395–6974,
Attention: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk
Officer for the Corporation for National
and Community Service; or
(2) By email to: smar@omb.eop.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB
is particularly interested in comments
which:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of CNCS, including whether
the information will have practical
utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
• Propose ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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17:31 Aug 14, 2014
Jkt 232001
• Propose ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments
A 60-day Notice requesting public
comment was published in the Federal
Register on February 20, 2014. This
comment period ended April 28, 2014.
All comments and the disposition of
each are addressed below.
One set of comments was in regard to
the Member Development section of the
Project Progress Report. One comment
expressed appreciation for the change in
how applicants report information in
this section. Specifically, respondents
are now asked to report the number of
hours of member development
opportunities provided to AmeriCorps
VISTA members, where previously
respondents were asked to report the
number of AmeriCorps VISTA members
that received member development
opportunities. The commenter stated
that counting hours will be less
burdensome for respondents.
A second comment regarding the
Member Development section suggested
providing more detailed definitions of
the individual member development
areas. CNCS lists these member
development areas (which include
Community Volunteer Generation/
Recruitment, Effective Volunteer
Management, and Grantwriting) without
detailed definition because they are
broad functions that are reflected in the
assignment descriptions of VISTA
members. CNCS believes their meaning
is understandable to individuals
involved in sponsoring a VISTA project.
A third comment regarding the
Member Development section was a
suggestion to provide a higher character
limit for the ‘‘Other’’ line than has been
allowed in the past. CNCS notes that the
character limit for respondents to
provide professional development
information for the ‘‘Other’’ area is
higher than it has been in the past in the
CNCS eGrants system and is of
sufficient size to adequately spotlight
professional development.
A fourth set of comments focused on
the Demographics section of the Project
Progress Report. One comment noted a
lack of clarity on whether respondents
are being asked to provide information
about a duplicated or unduplicated
count of community volunteers who are
recruited and managed. Another
comment expressed a preference for one
combined count that reflects community
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48129
volunteers who are recruited and
managed. CNCS notes that the measures
included in the Demographics section
are a subset of the CNCS National
Performance Measures, which include
specific definitions and data collection
standards for each measure. Those
standards require that the total number
of volunteers recruited and managed is
an unduplicated count and that
respondents control for double counting
or select the measure that best fits their
program model.
To clarify this requirement in the
Project Progress Report, CNCS amended
the Demographics section by creating
one response line for community
volunteers recruited and a separate
response line for community volunteers
managed. CNCS also added language
that refers respondents to the definitions
and data collection standards for each
measure and thus the requirement to
report an unduplicated count.
Additionally, CNCS also created one
line for respondents to report the
number of hours of service contributed
by community volunteers and a separate
line for respondents to report the
number of hours of service contributed
by community volunteers managed.
CNCS also added language that refers
respondents to where they can find the
definitions and data collection
standards for those measures, as well as
every other measure in this section.
The fifth set of comments focused on
the Performance Measure section of the
Project Progress Report. One comment
asked whether the instructions were
requiring respondents to report on data
collected for performance measures for
the project in the aggregate or for each
VISTA member individually. The CNCS
requirement is neither. The CNCS
requirement is for respondents to report
progress with respect to each individual
performance measure set that the
respondent identified in their approved
application. An individual performance
measure set is based on the unique
combination of a site and a capacity goal
and may represent the activities of
multiple VISTA members.
To further clarify the requirement,
CNCS amended the Performance
Measurement section to require
respondents to enter data for each
individual performance measure set that
was created in the application. The
CNCS eGrants system will also
automatically display each performance
measure set for which respondents must
enter data, further clarifying the
requirement.
Other comments regarding the
Performance Measure section expressed
the preference that CNCS require
respondents to report data for the
E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48127-48129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19397]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions and Deletions
AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from the Procurement List.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action adds products and services to the Procurement List
that will be provided by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are
blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes products from the
Procurement List previously furnished by such agencies.
DATES: Effective Date: 9/15/2014.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite 10800, Arlington, Virginia 22202-
4149.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Lineback, Telephone: (703) 603-
7740, Fax: (703) 603-0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additions
On 5/30/2014 (79 FR 31095-31096); 6/13/2014 (79 FR 33911-33912);
and 6/20/2014 (79 FR 35320), the Committee for Purchase From People Who
Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notices of proposed additions
to the Procurement List.
After consideration of the material presented to it concerning
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the products 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. 8501-8506 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 provide the products and
services to the Government.
2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to provide
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.
8501-8506) 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
Socket Set
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0111--\1/4\ Drive Shallow, SAE 6 and 12 Point
Fasteners, 10 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0112--\1/4\ Drive Deep, SAE 6 and 12 Point
Fasteners, 10 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0113--Combination, \1/4\ Drive Shallow, SAE 6 and
12 Point Fasteners, 14 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0114--\3/8\ Drive Shallow, SAE 12 Point Fasteners,
11 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0115--\3/8\ Drive Deep, SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 13
Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0116--Combination, \3/8\ Shallow, SAE 12 Point
Fasteners, 18 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0117--\1/2\ Drive Shallow, SAE 6 and 12 Point
Fasteners, 13 Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0118--\1/2\ Drive Deep, SAE 12 Point Fasteners, 13
Pieces
NSN: 5120-00-NIB-0119--Combination, \1/2\ Drive Shallow, SAE 12
Point Fasteners, 17 Pieces
NPA: Wiscraft, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
Contracting Activity: General Services Administration, Kansas City,
MO
Coverage: B-List for the Broad Government Requirement as aggregated
by the General Services Administration, Kansas City, MO.
Services
Service Type/Location: Warehouse & Supply Support Service, Space and
Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, One Innovation Dr., Bldg.
3147 North Charleston, SC
NPA: Goodwill Services, Inc., Richmond, VA
Contracting Activity: Dept of the Navy, SPAWAR Systems Center
Atlantic, North Charleston, SC
Service Type/Location: IT Service Desk Support Service, USDA Forest
Service, 101B Sun Avenue NE., Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM
NPA: Peckham Vocational Industries, Inc., Lansing, MI
Contracting Activity: Department of Agriculture Forest Service, WO-
AQM IT Support, Albuquerque, NM
Comments: Comments were received from an AbilityOne nonprofit
agency (NPA) that provides home-based employment for people with severe
disabilities (hereafter ``home-based NPA''). The home-based NPA was
among the AbilityOne NPAs considered to provide the IT Service Desk
Support service to USDA. However, the central nonprofit agency (CNA)
that is required to propose projects, along with qualified and capable
NPAs to perform the projects, to the Committee for Procurement List
(PL) consideration, did not recommend the home-based NPA to perform the
subject service.
The home-based NPA's comments focused on the CNA's procedures for
evaluating its NPAs when making recommendations to the Committee of
suitable projects for the government to procure from qualified
nonprofit agencies. The home-based NPA asserts the CNA's evaluation of
its NPA and the subsequent recommendation were flawed since the CNA did
not consider which NPA would maximize employment for people with severe
disabilities. The home-based NPA also states that the CNA
recommendation is not sufficient to support a government contract award
decision and the review and recommendation was based on stale
information that did not include the fact that the home-based NPA is
currently performing these services for USDA. The home-based NPA also
stated that it appealed the CNA recommendation through program
channels; however, the appeal was not properly evaluated by the CNA and
Committee staff. Therefore, the home-based NPA asserts that the
recommendation should not be relied upon by the Committee.
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act authorized the Committee to
establish rules and regulations to administer the AbilityOne Program
and directs the Committee to designate CNAs to assist in the program.
Committee regulations require the CNAs to evaluate the qualifications
and capabilities of the NPAs they represent in the AbilityOne Program.
Committee regulations and
[[Page 48128]]
policy also establish criteria and procedures that are used when
considering products and services for addition to the PL and in
determining which of the approximately 600 qualified NPAs will be
designated to perform specific projects added to the PL.
In this instance, the CNA recommended that the IT Service Desk
Support service be considered for addition to the PL. The CNA also
recommended a qualified AbilityOne NPA to perform the service for USDA;
however, it was not the home-based NPA. The home-based NPA did not
agree with the CNA recommendation and twice appealed the decision
through the established AbilityOne Program procedures. The Committee ED
conducted remanded the CNA's first selection for recommendation back to
SourceAmerica for corrective action. The corrective action required a
second review process with new proposal submissions and a new and
independent SourceAmerica review team. The second review team results
and CNA recommendation was appealed by the home-based NPA. On review of
the new NTI appeal the Commission ED concluded that the CNA followed
and documented its process as required; therefore, there was no change
or corrective action to the CNA recommendation of the NPA to perform
the service. The CNA was then able to submit the Call Center PL
addition for consideration of the Commission.
The Committee does not subscribe to the commenter's suggestion that
products and services added to the PL must be furnished by the
AbilityOne nonprofit agency that will maximize employment for people
who are blind or severely disabled. Neither the JWOD Act nor the
implementing regulations impose that as a requirement determining what
nonprofit will provide the PL service. The JWOD Act requires all
qualified nonprofit agencies to employ persons who are blind or
significantly disabled on an annual basis for not less than 75% of the
direct labor hours required to furnish products or services. To be
considered suitable, Committee regulations require every AbilityOne
product or service to meet the Federal customer's requirement and
standards, as well as provide employment potential for people who are
significantly disabled. The vision of the AbilityOne Program is to
enable each person with a disability to maximize his or her employment
potential. None of these guidelines impose a measure of maximizing
employment on a project level, which, if not balanced, could lead to
inefficiencies or suboptimal solutions that are not in the best
interest of the Government.
The home-based NPA's comment that the CNA recommendation is not
sufficient to support a government contract award misstates the facts.
The Committee determines which products and services are suitable for
addition to the PL and designates which NPA will furnish the product or
service to the government. The Committee does not award contracts to
NPAs after items are added to the PL, nor does the CNA recommendation
dictate the Committee's decision. The government contract award is made
by the appropriate contracting activity and is authorized by the PL
addition in accordance with the JWOD Act.
The home-based NPA also asserts that the CNA recommendation was
based on stale information, since the CNA evaluation did not consider
that the home-based NPA is currently performing contact center services
for USDA. The home-based NPA's comments state it is the incumbent. The
Committee finds that the home-based NPA does not have a contract with
the USDA for the Call Center, but a modest subcontract with the current
commercial provider (IBM). Such commercial subcontracts are not
evaluated by the Committee, as there is no requirement that commercial
contracts meet JWOD Act standards. The home-based NPA established the
subcontract after it was not recommended by the CNA to furnish the
service. Prime contractors, not their subcontractors; have a
contractual relationship with the government and primes are the
incumbent. Therefore, the existence of a subcontract does not confer a
priority over nonprofit agencies recommended to be the prime
contractors through the established CNA process.
Having fully considered all appropriate information, including
information submitted by the CNA as required by Committee regulations,
the Committee is satisfied that the IT Service Desk Support service is
suitable for procurement by the Government and that the AbilityOne
nonprofit agency designated by the Committee to perform the service is
qualified and capable.
Deletions
On 7/11/2014 (79 FR 40066-40067), the Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice of proposed
deletions from the Procurement List.
After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the Committee
has determined that the products listed below are no longer suitable
for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 8501-8506 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 additional reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities.
2. The action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish
the products 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.
8501-8506) in connection with the products deleted from the Procurement
List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products are deleted from the
Procurement List:
Products
NSN: 2510-01-251-8548--Blanket, Insulation, Thermal, Vehicular.
NSN: 2510-01-251-9995--Panel, Insulation, Vehicular, Interior Left
Hand Front Tunnel.
NSN: 2510-01-335-7363--Panel, Insulation, Vehicular, Interior Right
Hand Front Tunnel.
NSN: 2510-01-421-8067--Panel, Insulation, Vehicular, Cab.
NPA: New York City Industries for the Blind, Inc., Brooklyn, NY.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime,
Columbus, OH.
Label, Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive
NSN: 7530-00-577-4368.
NSN: 7530-00-577-4369.
NSN: 7530-00-577-4370.
NSN: 7530-00-577-4371.
NSN: 7530-00-577-4372.
NSN: 7530-00-577-4376.
NSN: 7530-00-982-0062.
NSN: 7530-00-982-0064.
NSN: 7530-00-982-0065.
NSN: 7530-00-982-0066.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc., Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: General Services Administration, New York, NY.
NSN: 8465-00-118-4956--Cover, Canteen, Water, Natural, 1 qt.
NPA: Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc., Kinston, NC.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support,
Philadelphia,
[[Page 48129]]
PA.
Patricia Briscoe,
Deputy Director, Business Operations (Pricing and Information
Management).
[FR Doc. 2014-19397 Filed 8-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P
