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October 8, 2003
PROCUREMENT MEMORANDUM 2003-08
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR: Heads of Contracting Offices
FROM: Michael S. Sade (Signed)
Director for Office of Acquisition Management and Procurement Executive
SUBJECT: JAVITS-WAGNER-O'DAY PROGRAM and National Disability Employment
Awareness Month
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program provides employment opportunities
for nearly 40,000 Americans who are blind or who have other severe
disabilities. In 1938, the Wagner-O'Day Act was passed under President
Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to provide employment opportunities
for people who are blind by allowing them to manufacture mops and
brooms to sell to the Federal Government. In 1971, under the leadership
of Senator Jacob Javits, Congress amended this Act to include people
with severe disabilities and allow the Program to also provide services
to the Federal Government. Over sixty years later, as a result of
this extraordinary socioeconomic program, Federal customers are
provided with a wide array of quality products and services, while
allowing thousands of people with severe disabilities to lead more
productive and independent lives, pay taxes, help support families,
and join in the American work experience.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The
purchase of JWOD products and services by Federal customers helps
battle the 70 percent unemployment rate faced by this untapped labor
source. The Department of Commerce has a long tradition of supporting
the JWOD Program. The JWOD Program uses the purchasing power of
the federal government to buy products and services from participating
state and private nonprofit agencies dedicated to training and employing
individuals with disabilities. Let us celebrate by continuing our
support of the JWOD Program through its contracts.
JWOD Program is a statutorily mandated source. We must ensure that
we properly procure mandatory items from JWOD in accordance with
Federal Acquisition Regulation 8.7, and that we fully capitalize
on opportunities to utilize JWOD. As the presidentially appointed
DoC representative to the Committee for Purchase from People who
are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Federal Activity that administers
the JWOD Program, I encourage you to support the JWOD Program through
your organization's contracts.
For more information, updates and answers to frequently asked questions
regarding the JWOD Program, visit internet site www .jwod.gov .Should
you have any questions, please feel free to contact me on (202)
482-4248.
cc: T.J. Garcia
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