Base Supply Center Initiative
In the wake of realignment throughout the Services, many military
installations found themselves without an on-site office supply
center. Seeing an opportunity to create retail jobs for people who
are blind or have other severe disabilities in stores stocked with
quality AbilityOne products, the AbilityOne Program stepped in.
Base Supply Centers (BSCs) are retail stores, predominantly on
military installations, but occasionally within Federal office buildings,
that are operated by AbilityOne Program-associated nonprofit agencies.
Each BSC is added to the Committee's Procurement List as a AbilityOne
"service" project, in accordance with 41 CFR, Chapter 51, which
ensures that the establishment of a BSC helps accomplish the AbilityOne
Program's employment mission.
Although the ability to operate a BSC may be added to the Procurement
List for a specific location, the BSC does not become a required
or mandatory source of supply by virtue of this action. Any BSC
location that is a required source of supply for base personnel
has been designated as such by the Base Commander, not by the Committee
or by the Procurement List.
It is important to note that AbilityOne Program products are required
for purchase, if they meet the Government customer's needs. BSCs
are one of several authorized distribution sources for AbilityOne products.
Commercial (non-AbilityOne) products are also available at the BSCs. A
part of the value-added for the Government customers is the one-stop
shopping that is afforded to by the availability of appropriate
commercial convenience items. In fact, the Government customers
expect to have such access to additional commercial business supplies,
both on-site and through catalogs where applicable.
The Committee supports the BSC concept in terms of its two fundamental
values to the AbilityOne Program: first, as an employment opportunity
for people who are blind or severely disabled with increased emphasis
on retail job opportunities; and second, as a distribution channel
for AbilityOne products. It does not allow for the sale of products in
BSCs to Government customers for personal use.
Host installations and government agencies have the primary responsibility
for oversight of BSC contracted services. Oversight should be provided
in the same manner as it is for other contracts - including other
contracted services provided under the AbilityOne Program. For example,
contracting officer representatives should be assigned to BSC contracts,
periodic surveys of BSC pricing should be completed, and customer
satisfaction surveys should be completed.
Click here for a list of AbilityOne-operated
Base Supply and Office Supply Centers.
|
