[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3658-3659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1794]


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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List Additions

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

ACTION: Additions to the Procurement List.

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SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List commodities to be 
furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have 
other severe disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 24, 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 August 30, 1996, the Committee for 
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published 
notices (61 F.R. 45935) of proposed additions to the Procurement List. 
Comments were received from the current contractor for the coat. The 
contractor noted that its Government sales of the coat had been reduced 
by the entry of Federal Prison Industries (FPI) into the market, which 
caused layoffs and lower levels of plant operation. The contractor 
indicated that its sales of the coat make up over half its sales, and 
claimed that any further reduction in Government orders will cause a 
plant closure and jeopardize the company's ability to meet future 
Government surge requirements.
    The Committee is only proposing to add a limited portion of the

[[Page 3659]]

Government's requirements for the coat to the Procurement List. This 
portion is less than a tenth of the value of the contractor's estimate 
of its sales of this coat, and an even smaller percentage of the 
contractor's total sales. Consequently, the Committee does not believe 
that this addition to the Procurement List will have a severe adverse 
impact on the contractor. With respect to FPI's re-entry into the 
market, the Committee noted that the layoffs and lower levels of plant 
operation cited by the current contractor appeared to have occurred 
prior to FPI's involvement. At most, FPI's participation will prevent 
the current contractor from regaining some of the coat sales it had 
prior to the advent of reduced requirements several years ago. The 
Committee also noted that, within the past year, the current contractor 
has taken steps to diversify its product line, which enhances its long-
term economic prospects.
    After consideration of the material presented to it concerning 
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the commodities 
and impact of the addition on the current or most recent contractors, 
the Committee has determined that the commodities 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 commodities to the 
Government.
    2. The action does not appear to have a severe economic impact on 
current contractors for the commodities.
    3. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish 
the commodities 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 commodities proposed for addition to 
the Procurement List.
    Accordingly, the following commodities are hereby added to the 
Procurement List:

Coat, Combat, Woodland Camouflage

8415-01-390-8537
8415-01-390-8538
8415-01-390-8539
8415-01-390-8540
8415-01-390-8541
8415-01-390-8542
8415-01-390-8543
8415-01-390-8544
8415-01-390-8545
8415-01-390-8546
8415-01-390-8547
8415-01-390-8548
8415-01-390-8549
8415-01-390-8551
8415-01-390-8552
8415-01-390-8553
8415-01-390-8555
8415-01-390-8557
8415-01-390-9641
8415-01-390-9646
8415-01-390-9648
8415-01-390-8550
(100,000 units annually)

    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. 97-1794 Filed 1-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P