United States Department of Agriculture
Research, Education and Economics

ARS * CSREES * ERS * NASS

Bulletin

 

 

Title: Increasing Achievement in the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act Program 
Number: 03-200
Date: August 1, 2003 
Originating Office: Procurement and Property Division, (Policy Branch), AFM/ARS
Distribution: All REE Employees
Expires: August 1, 2004   

 

This Bulletin provides information for increasing achievement in the JWOD Program for purchasing office supplies, furniture, technology items, and announces the JWOD Coordinators for each REE mission agency and ARS Area.

 

 

 

Secretary’s Memorandum 4000-002, dated May 16, 2002, outlined USDA’s goals for participation in the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (JWOD) Program.  The JWOD Program creates jobs for persons with disabilities who otherwise cannot keep or achieve employment.  The JWOD Program relies heavily on the purchasing power of the Federal Government. Each Under and Assistant Secretary was directed by the Secretary to take action to increase USDA’s participation on the JWOD Program, to increase its JWOD acquisitions by at least one half percent annually, and to identify and empower one or more staff members as JWOD liaisons to lead this effort. 

REE adopted the USDA Strategic Plan for the JWOD Program and submitted a performance plan outlining REE’s efforts to enable USDA to reach the JWOD goal.  The USDA Strategic Plan for the JWOD Program included three goals:

  1. Increase USDA’s participation in the JWOD Program by increasing the dollars spent under the JWOD Program as a percentage of total dollars spent by USDA.
  1. Increase USDA’s participation in the JWOD Program by adding new products and services to the JWOD Procurement List thereby increasing the number of full-time jobs for people with disabilities.
  1. Promote USDA’s successes as participation in the JWOD Program increases. 

REE is committed to an annual increase in JWOD acquisitions of one half percent annually.  This increase will be accomplished by reviewing existing and new requirements, in order to identify projects or services that are suitable for JWOD participation and utilizing the USDA National Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to Boise Office Solutions (JWOD Products).  Based upon last year’s JWOD purchases and the total procurement expenditures, REE needs to purchase $2,722,529 this fiscal year.  Next year, the figure will approach $2,780,247. 

Leading this effort in REE are a JWOD Liaison and 11 JWOD Coordinators.  A representative from each REE agency and ARS Area has been empowered to commit REE acquisition needs to the JWOD Program.  For your information, the JWOD Liaison and Coordinators are as follows:

JWOD Leader/Title

Agency

Area

Linda Wilson, JWOD Liaison

ARS

REE

Betty Lou Gilliland, JWOD Coordinator

CSREES

  

Leslee Lowstuter, JWOD Coordinator

ERS

  

Greg Bussler, JWOD Coordinator

NASS

  

Michael Wyckoff, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Beltsville Area

Terry Krutz, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Mid South Area

Georgetta Stonewall, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Midwest Area

Eileen LeGates, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

North Atlantic Area

Richard Jansen, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Northern Plains Area

Jack Nelson, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Pacific West Area

Elaine Wood, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

South Atlantic Area

Michael Downing, JWOD Coordinator

ARS

Southern Plains Area

Use of the USDA National BPA for all office products and supplies is mandatory for REE cardholders, after checking agency inventories, excess from other agencies, and UNICOR.  Further information about this BPA is available by accessing USDA’s Acquisition Toolkit at http://www.usda.gov/procurement/toolkit.  You can also refer to REE Bulletin 02-200, dated August 8, 2002, USDA National Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to Boise Office Solutions (JWOD Products) at http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/ppweb/02-200.htm.

Actions required to increase achievement in the JWOD Program are as follows:

Responsible Individuals Required Action

Cardholders

REE cardholders are to register with Boise by August 27, 2003.  REE Bulletin 02-200, dated August 8, 2002, provides instructions to assist cardholders with registration. 

LAPC’s and AAPC’s

Ensure existing cardholders have registered with Boise Office Solutions.  Monitor purchase card activity to ensure that cardholders are using the USDA National BPA to purchase available products.  For future cardholders, include registration to Boise as part of training.

Fund Holders and Program Managers

Make a commitment to the Program and place increased emphasis on obtaining products from the USDA National BPA and services from a JWOD participating nonprofit agency. 

Contracting Officers and Purchasing Agents

To the maximum extent practicable, promote and enhance the agency’s acquisition program by obtaining supplies and services directly from a JWOD participating nonprofit agency.

JWOD Coordinators

Increase awareness of the JWOD Program in your respective Agency/Area.  Review annual procurement forecasts and Annual Resource Management Plans to direct appropriate procurement actions to JWOD sources.

 

Point of Contacts

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the specific designated individuals listed below:

Cardholders
Fundholders and Program Managers
JWOD Coordinators
LAPC for your Location
JWOD Coordinator for your Agency/Area
REE JWOD Liaison

 

                        

                                       

LARRY R. CULLUMBER
Director
Procurement and Property Division