[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15424]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 24, 1994]


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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED
 

Procurement List Addition

agency: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled.

action: Addition to the Procurement List.

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summary: This action adds to the Procurement List a looseleaf binder 
index sheet set to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons 
who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

effective date: July 25, 1994.

addresses: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403, 1735 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-3461.

for further information contact: Beverly Milkman (703) 603-7740.

supplementary information: On March 18, 1994, the Committee for 
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published 
notice (59 FR 12895) of proposed addition to the Procurement List. 
Comments were received from the current contractor for this index sheet 
set, in response to both the notice of proposed rulemaking for this 
addition to the Procurement List and earlier Committee inquiries for 
sales data from this contractor. The contractor indicated that addition 
of the set to the Procurement List would cause it to lose a sizable 
part of its sales. The contractor also claimed that the Committee's 
action would be likely to cause the contractor to lay off the employees 
producing the set and would cause sufficient operating losses to 
require default on certain financial obligations and possible 
liquidation of the business. The contractor also indicated that it has 
held the Government contract for the set since 1972, except for one 
contract.
    It was because of concern over possible severe adverse impact on 
this contractor, as manifested in its responses to earlier Committee 
inquiries, that the Committee decided to add only the requirements of 
two supply depots to the Procurement List rather than the entire 
Government requirement for this index sheet set. In addition, to 
further moderate the impact on this contractor, the Committee has 
decided to permit the contractor to continue competing for one of the 
two depots for an additional year. This approach will permit the 
contractor more time to adjust to the loss of the opportunity to 
compete for both depots. Even after the nonprofit agency assumes supply 
responsibility for the two depots, the contractor will continue to have 
access to approximately 60% of the Government requirement for the set.
    Under these circumstances, the Committee does not believe its 
action will have a severe adverse impact on the contractor, so the 
harmful effects the contractor has predicted should not occur. In 
addition, the Committee believes that the creation of jobs for people 
with severe disabilities outweighs any possible loss of employment for 
the contractor's employees, as the unemployment rate for people with 
severe disabilities exceeds 65%, far above the rates for other groups.
    After consideration of the material presented to it concerning 
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the commodity, 
fair market price, and impact of the addition on the current or most 
recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the commodity 
listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal Government 
under 41 U.S.C. 46-48c and 41 CFR 51-2.4.
    I certify that the following action will not have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors 
considered for this certification were:
    1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, 
recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other 
than the small organizations that will furnish the commodity to the 
Government.
    2. The action does not appear to have a severe economic impact on 
current contractors for the commodity.
    3. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish 
the commodity to the Government
    4. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would 
accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46-
48c) in connection with the commodity proposed for addition to the 
Procurement List.
    Accordingly, the following commodity is hereby added to the 
Procurement List:

Index Sheet Set, Looseleaf Binder
    7530-00-160-8477

(Requirements for the Palmetto, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas 
Depots)

    This action does not affect current contracts awarded prior to the 
effective date of this addition or options exercised under those 
contracts.
Beverly L. Milkman,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 94-15424 Filed 6-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-33-M