Ability One Program
The Federal government is mandated by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act to give award preference to Non-Profit Agencies that are under the jurisdiction of the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee). This jurisdiction governs the following two Central Nonprofit Agencies:
Prior to the placement of an item on the Procurement List, a study is performed to determine if there is an adverse impact on small businesses. Once an item is approved for the Procurement List the government's requirement must be offered to one of the nonprofit agencies. A purchase exception is issued to procure commercially when the Central Nonprofit Agency has determined that capacity to perform is not available. Nonprofit organizations are classified as "other than small" and are not permitted to participate in small business set asides.
It is the Department of Defense policy to cooperate with and assist the Committee in acquiring goods and services from such agencies. The DLA Troop Support Small Business Office assists the Committee by providing information on items identified as being suitable for manufacture by its workshops. Moreover, our office assists in determining the impact on small business.