FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 8: Required Sources of Supplies and Services › Subpart 8.7
FAR 8.701 Definitions.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
This section defines terms used in the FAR subpart governing the AbilityOne Program, which directs certain Government purchases to nonprofit agencies employing people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. It matters to contractors because it explains who the key players are, what the Procurement List is, and which Government activities place orders under the program.
Applies to: Contractors and Government activities involved in the AbilityOne Program
Key terms: Allocation · Central nonprofit agency · Committee · Ordering office · Procurement List
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As used in this subpart—
Allocation, means an action taken by a central nonprofit agency to designate the AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies that will furnish definite quantities of supplies or perform specific services upon receipt of orders from ordering offices.
Central nonprofit agency, means National Industries for the Blind (NIB), which has been designated to represent people who are blind; or NISH, which has been designated to represent AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies serving people with severe disabilities other than blindness.
Committee, means the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.
Government or entity of the Government means any entity of the legislative or judicial branch, any executive agency, military department, Government corporation, or independent establishment, the U.S. Postal Service, or any nonappropriated-fund instrumentality of the Armed Forces.
Ordering office means any activity in an entity of the Government that places orders for the purchase of supplies or services under the AbilityOne Program.
Procurement List, means a list of supplies (including military resale commodities) and services that the Committee has determined are suitable for purchase by the Government under 41 U.S.C. chapter 85.
Nonprofit agency serving people who are blind or nonprofit agency serving people with other severe disabilities (referred to jointly as AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies) means a qualified nonprofit agency employing people who are blind or have other severe disabilities approved by the Committee to furnish a commodity or a service to the Government under 41 U.S.C. chapter 85.
← 8.700 Scope of subpart. · 8.702 General. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 8
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Rerepresentation of Size and Socioeconomic Status ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-04-22 · effective 2024-05-22
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.