[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 236 (Friday, December 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64664-64665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31096]


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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 commodity to be 
furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have 
other severe disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 6, 1997.

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 September 20, 1996, the Committee for 
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published 
notice (61 F.R. 49435) of proposed addition to the Procurement List.
    Comments were received from the current contractor for the dustpan. 
The contractor, a small company, noted that it has frequently had a 
Government contract for the dustpan over the past twenty years and has 
made this dustpan for over fifty years. The contractor questioned 
whether an organization which had not made the dustpan previously could 
furnish it to the Government at anywhere near the current price. The 
contractor proposed that, if the dustpan is to be taken out of 
competitive procurement, that it be directed to two ``self-help'' 
enterprises with which the contractor has worked. The contractor also 
objected to having the jobs this dustpan represents transferred out of 
its firm and locality to another area.
    The impact of this addition on the contractor is not at the level 
which the Committee considers to be severe, even when the contractor's 
record as a long-time supplier is taken into account. The nonprofit 
agency has been found to be capable of producing the dustpan by the

[[Page 64665]]

Government agency which buys it, as well as by the Committee. The price 
the Government will pay, as the Committee's statute requires, reflects 
the market for this item, so a substantial price increase will not 
occur.
    The contractor did not indicate how many jobs would actually be 
lost because of the Committee's action. The two organizations the 
contractor named do not participate in the Committee's program. 
However, several organizations in that area do participate in the 
program. While they will not be making the dustpan, they do generate 
employment for people with severe disabilities living in the 
contractor's area.
    After consideration of the material presented to it concerning 
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the commodity and 
impact of the addition on the current or most recent contractors, the 
Committee has determined that the commodity listed below is 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 organization 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 a small entity 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:

Dustpan
    7290-00-224-8308

    This action does not affect current contracts awarded prior to the 
effective date of this addition or options that may be exercised under 
those contracts.
Beverly L. Milkman,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 96-31096 Filed 12-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P