# Presentation: 541013

## Bureau of Reclamation	

*AbilityOne*TM* *
*&*
*Green Procurement*
*Training*

## AbilityOneTM Mission

- The AbilityOneTM Program is a federal initiative to help people who are blind or severely disabled find employment by working for nonprofit agencies (NPA’s) that sell products and/or services to the U.S. Government.

## AbilityOneTM History

- In 1938, the Wagner-O‘Day Act was passed under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind by allowing them to sell products to the Federal Government.

## AbilityOneTM History - Continued

- In 1971, under the leadership of Senator Jacob Javits, Congress amended this Act (_[41 U.S.C. 46-48c](http://www.jwod.gov/jwod/library/JWOD_Act.html)_) to include people with severe disabilities and allow the Program to also provide services to the Federal Government (**JWOD**).

## AbilityOneTM Facts 

- Employs nearly 43,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities;
- Provides largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the country;
- Coordinates participation from more than 600 nonprofit agencies throughout the United States;

## AbilityOneTM Facts - Continued

**Represents $2.3 billion of products and services purchased by the Federal Government in 2006**
**Operates at nearly 1,000 locations representing 40 Government agencies nationally**
**Surveyed the workforce in 2006 and found that 76% of people with severe disabilities were satisfied with their jobs and 79% are very proud of their work.**

*"The world is moved not only by the mighty shoves of the heroes,**but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." — Helen Keller*

## AbilityOneTM Suppliers

- Nation Industries for the Blind(NIB) (SKILCRAFTTM)
- National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH)

## 
Why use 
AbilityOneTM???

- Why use
- AbilityOneTM???

## Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

**8.704  Purchase priorities. **
- (a) The JWOD Act requires the Government to purchase supplies or services on the Procurement List, at prices established by the Committee, from JWOD participating non-profit agencies.

## 

Questions?

**Questions?**

## Green Procurement

## Why Green Procurement ?

- Saves natural resources
- Promotes a healthier world
- Benefits
- Creates markets
- Saves money
- Saves landfill space
- Reduces Pollution
- _It is the law! - Executive Order 13423_

## EO 13423 – Strengthening Federal Environment, Energy, and Transportation Management (2007)

- Each agency shall give preference in their procurement and acquisition programs  to the purchase of:
- Recycled content designated by comprehensive EPA procurement guidelines (CPG’s)
- ENERGY STAR products
- Water-efficient products
- Energy from renewable sources
- Bio-based products
- EPEAT-registered electronic products
- Alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels
- Products with low or no toxic or hazardous constituents
- Non-Ozone depleting products/substances

## Green Products or Services

- Office Products
- Printing Services
- Fleet Maintenance
- Building Construction, renovation, and maintenance (including janitorial & landscape)
- Traffic Control
- Park and Recreation
- Appliances
- Lighting

## What Should You Do?

- Keep the list of CPG items handy – refer to it when making purchases
- Maximize your purchases of recycled-content items
- Search for recycled-content products in catalogs and online sources
- Request recycled-content items from your vendors and supply sources

## 

Questions?

**Questions?**