Newcomers’ SessionTuesday, May 24, 2011

Micky Gazaway, Executive Director, NISH South RegionVic Dennis, Assistant Vice President Regulatory Assistance, NISH National Nicole Hansma, Senior Program Manager CRP Support, NISH National

Why Are You Here?

• To discover what AbilityOne can do for you

• Tips on how to navigate through the conference to get the most out of your experience

• Learn some basic Program information that you need to know to get started

• To network and meet the people who can support you on your journey to obtaining an AbilityOne contract

Before We Begin

• Terms to know– CRP/NPA: Community Rehabilitation

Program/Nonprofit Agency

– CNA: Central Nonprofit Agency

– Committee: Committee For Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

– PA: Procurement Activity

A Little History

• AbilityOne Program– Formally known as “Javits-Wagner-O’Day”

Program

• 1938– Creation of the Wagner-O’Day Act: Provided

work opportunities for persons who were blind to assemble brooms and mops for the Federal Government

A Little History

• 1971– Senator Jacob Javits lead an effort to amend

the original Act to include opportunities for people with severe disabilities

• 1974– NISH was created at the suggestion of

Congress to provide assistance to CRPs in obtaining and maintaining Federal contracts through the AbilityOne Program

How does the Program work?

Program Organizational Structure

DoD DADoN DAFUSDA DOCDOJ DOLDE DVAGSA4 Private Citizens

“Committee for Purchase”

President of the U.S.

National Industries for the Blind (NIB)

NPAs Employing PersonsWho are Blind

NPAs Employing Personswith Significant Disabilities

nish

Congress

LegalAuthority

Committee Staff

NISH: A National Footprint

What Is NISH’s Role?

• Work with Federal customers and CRPs to find and develop projects under the AbilityOne Program

• Provide ongoing support to Federal customers and CRPs to ensure quality products and services at competitive prices – Represent over 1,300 CRPs nationwide– Over $2.0B in Federal government sales– Provides training, quality, business development

resources, and contract administration support to CRP community

NISH Services

Traditional Services– Custodial Services– Grounds Maintenance– Food Service

Innovative Services– Fleet Management– Secure Document Destruction– Contact Center Services– Laundry Services– Total Facilities Management– Hospitality Services– Supply Chain Management– Secure Mail/Digital Document

Services

NISH Products

• Apparel and Equipage

• Medical Supplies and Equipment

• Food Processing and Packaging

• Hardware and Equipment

• Office Supplies and Equipment

What Is The Role Of The Committee for Purchase?

• Oversee the AbilityOne Program

• Oversee Central Nonprofit Agencies (NIB and NISH)

• Qualifies Nonprofit Agencies (NPAs) for Program participation

• Sets the “Fair Market Price” for goods and services procured under the Program

• Maintains the “Procurement List”

What Does AbilityOne Offer You?

• Training and development opportunities

• Long term contract awards

• Regulatory compliance guidance

• Business development assistance

• Contract management support

What Does AbilityOne Offer To The Government?

• A Win-Win Procurement Solution– Benefits people with significant disabilities, the taxpayer and the Federal

government customer

• Streamlined acquisition strategy– Authorized Sole Source Program with negotiated prices– No re-solicitation costs

• Quality products and services at competitive prices

• Flexible– Responsive to changing budgets and service needs

• Partnering Environment– Partner in establishing requirements

• Becoming a taxpayer• Reduced dependence on

government entitlement programs

• Mobility• Financial independence• Pride in supporting one’s

self, family, and US Government

What Does AbilityOne Offer To Persons With Significant Disabilities?

CRPs

• Two categories of CRPs – Producing (currently have a AbilityOne contract)– Affiliated (associated with AbilityOne)

• Currently there are over 550 CRPs with Federal Contracts under the AbilityOne Program

Compliance Requirements

Presented by:Vic Dennis, Assistant Vice President

Regulatory AssistanceNISH National Office

vdennis@nish.org 571-226-4543

AbilityOne Governing Regulations

• CFR 41 – Code of Federal RegulationsPublic Contracts Property Management

• Chapter 51 - Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

• 41 CFR 51-1.3 Definitions

• 41 CFR 51-4 Nonprofit Agencies

• 51-4.3 Maintaining Qualifications

Committee Website: www.abilityone.gov

To participate:

• Be verified as a privately incorporated nonprofit agency or State-owned or State operated nonprofit agency

• Have a mission to employ people with disabilities

AbilityOne Program

Regulatory Compliance Training

1. Attend AbilityOne Academy Executive Management and/or Upper Management;

Or

2. Attend a Federal Compliance SymposiumExecutive Management and HR;

Or

3. Attend an On-site Compliance TrainingExecutive Management, HR and Rehabilitation Staff

Before an agency can be verified to produce, NPA staff must attend:

"SEVERE DISABILITY“

A severe physical or mental impairmentwhich so limits the person's functional

capabilities that the individual is unable toengage in normal competitive

employment (41 CFR 51-1.3)

AbilityOne Program

Documentation Requirements:

• Maintain a file on each individual with a disability containing:

– Signed documentation of disability– Initial competitive employment evaluation– Annual competitive employment evaluation

AbilityOne Program

Ongoing Placement Program

AbilityOne Program

Direct Labor Ratio Requirements:

• Agency – 75%

• AbilityOne – maintain the project ratio established at PL addition

AbilityOne Program

If ratio requirements cannot be met at contract start-up:

• Start-up Schedule

• Phase-in Plan

AbilityOne Program

Direct Labor Reporting Requirements:

• Committee Form 402 (initial certification)

• Project Tracking (new project, phase-ins)

• Quarterly Employment Report

• Committee Form 404 (annual certification)

AbilityOne Program

Additional Applicable Laws

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – all work 14c Certificate to pay commensurate wages

• Service Contract Act (SCA) – Federal Service Contracts only– Payment of wages, health and welfare benefits, holidays and

vacation benefits to service employees

• OSHA– Have a Safety Committee– Develop a Blood Borne Pathogens Program– Keep MSDS Sheets– Fill out an OSHA 300 Form – workplace accidents

• Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

– Affirmative Action Policy• Federal contracts of > $10,000

– Affirmative Action Program • Employers with > 50 or more employees and a Federal contract valued at

$50,000 or more is required to have a program in place within 120 days from signing contract. (referred to as the 50/50 rule)

– Complete EEO-1 Form • Applies if agency meets the 50/50 rule

– Complete Vets-100 Form • A federal contract of > $100,000

Additional Applicable Laws

• Homeland Security I-9 Requirement– Anyone employed after November 26, 1986 is required to complete

I-9 form, including client/employees

• Drug Free Workplace Act – Drug Free Policy good to have; required for agencies with federal

contracts over $100,000

• Family Medical Leave Act– Employers with 50 or more employees

Department of Labor Web site: www.dol.gov

Additional Applicable Laws

Steps To Success

NPA Affiliation

• Make sure you are up-to-date with your NISH Annual Registration! Annual affiliation is required– Takes place annually from October 1 through

December 31st

– Must be current to pursue contracts– www.nish.org click on the Affiliation tab

• Obtain a username and password to access the NISH extranet– Contact your Regional POC

Regional Points of Contact

• East Region– Leia Roach – lroach@nish.org

• North Central Region– Frank Gidcumb– fgidcumb@nish.org

• Northwest Region– April Murray– amurray@nish.org

• Pacific West Region– Alicia Pagan– apagan@nish.org

• South Region – Helena Prindle– hprindle@nish.org

• South Central Region– Tonya Stewart– tstewart@nish.org

Become Familiar With The Customer Portal

What is the Customer Portal?

The Customer Portal is a web-based application accessible from the NISH Extranet that improves the way CRPs

complete and submit Agency and AbilityOne information

Accessing the Customer Portal

• CRP staff will request username and password to access Portal through their Regional NISH office

• Agencies can contact customerportalhelp@nish.org with any issues they encounter while logging into the system

• Log on to the NISH Training page to learn about training opportunities of this new system

Getting Started

Other Things You Should Know: B1

B1 Transparency Process-AbilityOne projectallocation process

• How does it work?– Makes project distribution process visible to all program

participants– Erases regional boundaries– All opportunities are posted for the entire NISH network

of CRPs to view

Other Things You Should Know: B1

• Opportunities are posted on the NISH extranet

• Postings are called “Sources Sought” notices– Contain valuable information about the contract and any

details available to potential awardees

• Interested CRPs complete a Source Sought Response form and submit to NISH

• Subscribe to the sources sought subscription services– Contact your Region for assistance

• Become familiar with the NISH website– Updates on current Program initiatives– NISH marketing resources– NPA Procurement Opportunities– AbilityOne Opportunities – Link to the Committee for Purchase website– NISH Publications– Links to additional resources– NISH training courses

Other Things You Should Know

Other Things You Should Know

• Navigating the Conference– Notice the color of people’s badges– Attend your Regional lunch or breakfast– Attend a variety of sessions to get a big picture view of

the Program– Network with NISH Staff, Committee Staff and other

CRP’s

Enjoy Yourself!!!

Questions??? Comments???

Session Evaluation Information

SESSION TITLE: Newcomer

SESSION CODE: A1-T-700