There are 630 federal departments, agencies, and commissions.  Approximately 400 have regulatory power. Half could be eliminated and most of the nation wouldn’t notice. The loss of liberty and freedom in the United States is proportional to the size and scope of the federal government. The larger the federal government gets; the fewer the rights the 50 states, and the people, retain.

The U.S. AbilityOne Commission

The AbilityOne Commission creates job opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities in the manufacture and delivery of products and services to the Federal Government.  It’s among the nation’s largest sources of employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The Program is administered by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. It operates through a national network of approximately 450 nonprofit agencies. The procurement of these products and services results in employment of approximately 40,000 individuals.

How do Federal customers order common-use products, such as office supplies, under the AbilityOne Program?

The AbilityOne Program has partnered with the General Services Administration (GSA) to incorporate AbilityOne products into the Federal Supply Schedules requirements for commercial distributors of office supplies, cleaning products and many other commonly used items. Many AbilityOne products are available electronically through catalogs of AbilityOne-authorized Federal commercial distributors. (See GSA Advantage at www.gsaadvantage.gov, GSA Global Supply at www.gsaglobalsupply.gsa.gov,  DODEMALL at https://dod-emaill.dla.mil, and www.abilityone.com )

What are the benefits of contracting under the AbilityOne Program?

Contracts under the AbilityOne Program offer Federal customers high quality products available through a variety of distributors at reasonable prices and delivered when needed. AbilityOne service contracts offer a stable workforce dedicated to quality and customer satisfaction. The provisions of the program enable a long-term supplier relationship, eliminating the need to re-compete the contract. Finally, contracting with the AbilityOne Program allows people who are blind or have other significant disabilities an opportunity to gain meaningful employment, lead more independent lives, reduce dependence on government social programs and become taxpayers.

Is it worth it?  Is it necessary? Is it a function of the federal government?

Providing employment for 40,000 people who are blind or have other significant disabilities sure sounds good. However, the products and services they are producing while employed throughout the AbilityOne network of non-profits makes them competitors of the private sector. It’s hard to compete with the federal government, especially if the private company is trying to sell a product to the federal government that it is essentially manufacturing for itself.

In FY 2021, AbilityOne paid $669 million in wages.  It paid an additional $150 million in health and welfare fringe benefits. Sales of its products and services to federal customers topped $3.9 billion.   

What type of items are in the AbilityOne catalog?

Writing Instruments – pens, markers, erasers, etc.

Office Supplies – calendars, clocks, flash drives, staplers, etc.

Cleaning & Janitorial Supplies – brooms, mops, detergents, toilet paper, etc.

Hardware & Paints – tools, hardware, door devices, batteries, etc.

Medical & Surgical Supplies – catheters, hospital pajamas, latex gloves, ambulance kits

Safety Supplies – first aid kits, lockout / tagout kits, absorbents, safety wear, etc.

Food Service & Operating Supplies – small wares, trays / food containers, etc.

Personal Care – soaps, toothpaste, floss, combs, safety pins, etc.

Bedding & Mattresses – box springs, pillows, pillowcases, sheets, etc.

The majority of these products are manufactured under the brand name Skilcraft. SKILCRAFT, is the registered trade name of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). In 1938, President Roosevelt signed the Wagner-O’Day Act which directed the government to purchase products manufactured by blind Americans.

A commendable achievement, who can argue with creating opportunity for blind and disabled people to participate in the workforce, like every other federal entity, it cannot help but to constantly push to enlarge its size and scope. All of the products and services provided under the AbilityOne Commission umbrella can, and should be delivered free from federal government entanglements. States can address the employment needs of their blind and disabled populations. A product of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s liberal New Deal era, the AbilityOne Commission should be dissolved and Skilcraft privatized.  

Our national debt is $30 trillion. We must cut costs. Unpopular and difficult decisions must be made. (1 of 630 in this series)

Ed Haas

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