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August 18, 2005
From: Marc Weisman
Director, Office of Acquisition, Management and Policy
To: Executive Committee for Acquisition
Subject: The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program
The purpose of this memorandum is to update all acquisition personnel
on the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program and to request your active
participation in this unique Federal procurement initiative.
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program gets its name from its enabling
legislation, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act of 1971 (41 U.S.C. 46-48c).
The Act established this Program as a priority source of supply
for all Federal agencies. It calls upon those who buy for the Government
to purchase both products and services from over 600 JWOD-participating
not-for-profit businesses nationwide that employ people who are
blind or who have other severe disabilities. To assure compliance
with Federal acquisition requirements these community-based nonprofit
enterprises associate with one of two national organizations that
provide technical assistance and other support services - National
Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people with a range
of severe disabilities).
A number of JWOD-participating businesses have demonstrated they
can meet our delivery and quality requirements at fair market prices
and are currently supplying products and services to the Department
of Health and Human Services. For example, a JWOD-participating
nonprofit agency performs mailing services for the FDA in Washington,
DC. Another provides custodial services and ground maintenance for
NIOSH in Morgantown, West Virginia. Administrative support services
are also being provided to the National Center for Toxicological
Research in Jefferson, Arkansas.
The JWOD Program also furnishes both common-use and special-purpose
supplies to meet Department requirements. Many JWOD items use the
SKILCRAFT trade name, and the selection ranges from environmentally
friendly office supplies and cleaning products to medical supplies,
clothing and textiles. Please note that the JWOD Program is also
a priority source of supply for all of the Government purchase card
users, and I ask for your assistance in making sure that the Department's
cardholders are aware of their responsibility to check JWOD before
shopping elsewhere. Additionally, certain cardholders with the requisite
authorization may use the purchase card to pay for JWOD service
contracts once they are in place.
To purchase JWOD office products and other common use items electronically,
you may access the Program's electronic catalog at www.jwod.com.
Items may also be purchased through GSA at www.gsaadvantage.gov,
many of the Department's self-service supply stores and a number
of authorized JWOD commercial distributors.
To learn more about the full range of JWOD products and services,
please review the Program's web site at www.jwod.gov. This site
is maintained by the independent Federal agency, which administers
the JWOD Program, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are
Blind or Severely Disabled. The site also links to the web sites
for National Industries for the Blind (www.nib.org) and NISH (www.nish.org).
For contracting personnel interested in exploring the Program's
service capabilities, these sites also provide national and regional
office Contact information.
Ms. Debbie Ridgely, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization, is the HHS liaison with the JWOD Program and
can provide additional information about how the Program works.
She may be contacted at (202) 690-7300 or debbie.ridgely@hhs.gov.
This important socioeconomic procurement initiative provides the
HHS acquisition workforce with a unique opportunity to help reduce
the 70% unemployment rate which exists among Americans with disabilities.
I urge you to learn more about JWOD and to find ways that community
based nonprofit organizations participating in the Program can assist
us in meeting our needs for quality goods and services.
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