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September 25, 2003
To: All Employees
From: James R. Little, Administrator
Subject: The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the
perfect time to celebrate the JWOD Program. Created in 1938, this
unique federal procurement program employs nearly 40,000 Americans
who are blind or have other severe disabilities, enabling them to
lead more productive and independent lives. The program gets its
name from its enabling legislation, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act
of 1971, 41 U.S.C. 46-48c. The Act calls on government agencies,
including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), to purchase certain products
and services from qualified not- for-profit businesses that principally
employ the blind or severely disabled. When these businesses can
meet delivery and quality requirements at competitive prices, they
are, by law, mandatory sources.
The JWOD Program is administered by an independent federal agency,
the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled. Two national nonprofit agencies have been established
to help the JWOD Committee administer the Act -NIB (National Industries
for the Blind) and NISH which focuses on creating employment opportunities
for people with severe disabilities. NIB and NISH assist over 600
community-based agencies nationwide in their efforts to employ people
with severe disabilities by securing federal contracts under the
JWOD Program.
Historically, FSA has been a very strong supporter of the program
and a major customer for JWOD supplies and services. Currently,
FSA contracts with JWOD-participating agencies for a variety of
commodity items, including vegetable oil, bakery mix, and instant
nonfat dry milk. FSA also contracts with JWOD distributors and vendors
for many non-commodity items and services, among these, office supplies
and accessories, compact disks, toner cartridges, temporary help
services, and mailroom support services. The JWOD Program also has
the capability to provide a variety of services, such as administrative,
food service, grounds maintenance, janitorial/custodial, mailroom
operation, switchboard operation, and warehousing/distribution.
Products available under the JWOD Program include a wide range
of office supplies, cleaning products, hardware items, medical/surgical
products, and textiles. These items are distributed through online
shopping services from the GSA Advantage! (www.gsaadvantage.gov)
and GSA Global Supply (www.gsaglobalsupply.gov). More information
about the JWOD program can be found at www.jwod.com.
We should all commit ourselves to greater utilization of the JWOD
program, thereby creating new opportunities and employment for persons
with severe disabilities. I encourage all FSA personnel to support
the JWOD Program whenever possible. In particular, Government Purchase
Card users should always buy items furnished by the JWOD Program
before considering other commercial sources.
For additional assistance and information, FSA has two JWOD Liaisons,
Loretta D'Amico at (202) 720-5513 for non-commodity items and services,
or Lisa Brown at (202) 720-0956 for commodity items.
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