[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3508-3509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1663]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED


Procurement List; Additions and Deletions

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

ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from Procurement List.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List a product and 
services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who 
are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the 
Procurement List a product and services previously furnished by such 
agencies.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-3259.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheryl D. Kennerly, (703) 603-7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additions

    On September 13, November 29, and December 6, 2002, the Committee 
for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published 
notice (67 FR 58013, 71133, and 72640) of proposed additions to the 
Procurement List.
    The following comments pertain to the Custodial Service, Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center.
    Comments were received from a small disadvantaged business firm 
which holds a contract for other custodial services at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center under the 8(a) Program. The commenter noted that it had 
been pursuing the custodial service being added to the Procurement List 
for several years, and that a number of its other contracts are 
expiring and not being replaced by new work. Consequently, the 
commenter believes that loss of the opportunity to win the contract for 
the custodial service being added to the Procurement List will 
constitute a severe adverse impact on the firm.
    The Committee does not consider the loss of an opportunity to bid 
for contracts on this service, by itself, to constitute severe adverse 
impact on a firm, as no firm is guaranteed a contract under the 
competitive bidding system. The commenting firm has not held a contract 
for the custodial service being added to the Procurement List, so it 
cannot be said to be dependent on such a contract. The Committee 
originally contemplated adding the entire custodial service at Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center to the Procurement List, but declined to do so 
in order to minimize impact on the commenting firm. The commenter will 
retain its current contract at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and will 
remain eligible to pursue contracting opportunities in the 8(a) 
Program, as well as other competitive opportunities, for the near 
future. At the commenter's request, the Committee has facilitated 
discussions between the commenter and the nonprofit agency which will 
provide the service being added to the Procurement List, with a view 
toward further mitigating impact on the contractor through possible 
subcontracting opportunities. Accordingly, the Committee does not 
believe that addition of this portion of the custodial service at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the Procurement List at this time 
will constitute severe adverse impact on the commenting firm.
    The following material pertains to all of the items being added to 
the Procurement List.
    After consideration of the material presented to it concerning 
capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the product and 
services and impact of the additions on the current or most recent 
contractors, the Committee has determined that the product and services 
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:

[[Page 3509]]

    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 product and services 
to the Government.
    2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish 
the product and services to the Government.
    3. 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 product and services proposed for addition 
to the Procurement List.
    Accordingly, the following product and services are added to the 
Procurement List:

Product

Product/NSN: Marker, Dry Erase, Premium, 7520-00-NIB-1428
NPA: Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Dallas, Texas
Contract Activity: Office Supplies & Paper Product Acquisition 
Center, New York, New York

Services

Service Type/Location: Custodial Service, Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center, Main Section, Washington, DC, Forest Glen Section, 
Montgomery County, MD: Buildings 1, 5, 11, 52, 53, 92, 121, 154, 
156, 163, 169, 178, 500, 501, 508, 511, 512, 601, 602, 604, and 605
NPA: Mt. Vernon-Lee Enterprises, Inc., Springfield, Virginia
Contract Activity: MEDCOM Contracting Center-NA, Washington, DC
Service Type/Location: Medical Transcription, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, VAMC Boise, Idaho
NPA: The Lighthouse of Houston, Houston, Texas
Contract Activity: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, Idaho

Deletions

    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 may not result in any additional reporting, 
recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities.
    2. The action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish 
the product and service to the Government.
    3. 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 product and service deleted from the 
Procurement List.
    After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the committee 
has determined that the product and service listed below are no longer 
suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 46-
48c and 41 CFR 51-2.4.
    Accordingly, the following product and service are deleted from the 
Procurement List:

Product

Product/NSN: Aerosol Paint, Lacquer, 8010-00-958-8147
NPA: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., St Louis, Missouri
Contract Activity: GSA, Hardware & Appliances Center, Kansas City, 
Missouri

Service

Service Type/Location: Base Supply Center, New Orleans Naval Support 
Activity, New Orleans, Louisiana
NPA: Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind, Inc., Raleigh, North 
Carolina
Contract Activity: Department of the Navy, New Orleans, Louisiana

G. John Heyer,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-1663 Filed 1-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P