How Nonprofit Agencies Participate in the AbilityOne Program
More
than 600 community-based nonprofit agencies across the country participate
in the AbilityOne Program. The main eligibility criteria are prescribed
by the JWOD Act itself. There is no cost to the nonprofit agency
in order to participate.
The JWOD Act requires that a participating nonprofit agency be
structured in such a way that "precludes the inurement of the net
earnings of the corporation to any individual." Also, at least 75
percent of the nonprofit agency's total direct labor hours must
be performed by persons who are blind or who have other severe disabilities.
The work on Federal contracts may be facility-based, such as manufacturing
or packaging; or community-based, such as administrative services,
food service, janitorial/custodial, or switchboard operations.
To participate in the AbilityOne Program, nonprofit agencies must associate
with either NIB or NISH (serving persons with a wide range of disabilities.)
Again, there is no cost to the nonprofit agency to join. When a
Federal contract is placed in the AbilityOne Program for the agency to
perform, NIB or NISH receives a small portion of the contract sales
to help cover the cost of operations. The Committee includes resources
to cover the NIB/NISH fee in the price established for supplies
and services.
For more information, contact NIB
or your closest NISH
Regional Office.
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