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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 9: Contractor Qualifications › Subpart 9.1

FAR 9.107 Surveys of nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program.

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 explains how the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled assesses whether an AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency can furnish supplies or services before it is designated a mandatory source. A contracting office may be asked to help by requesting a capability survey or by confirming the agency is capable and waiving the survey. It matters to contractors because it describes the process behind adding items to the Procurement List, which affects what Federal agencies must buy from AbilityOne sources.

Applies to: Contracting offices asked by the Committee to assess AbilityOne nonprofit agency capabilities

What it requires

  • Upon the Committee's request, request a capability survey from the activity responsible for preaward surveys, or notify the Committee that the agency is capable with supporting rationale and that the survey is waived
  • Use Standard Form 1403 to request a capability survey of organizations employing people who are blind or have other severe disabilities
  • Furnish a copy of the completed survey, or notice that the agency is capable and the survey is waived, to the Executive Director of the Committee

Key terms: AbilityOne Program · Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled · capability survey · Procurement List · Standard Form 1403

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(a) The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), as authorized by 41 U.S.C. chapter 85, determines what supplies and services Federal agencies are required to purchase from AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies serving people who are blind or have other severe disabilities (see Subpart 8.7). The Committee is required to find an AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency capable of furnishing the supplies or services before the nonprofit agency can be designated as a mandatory source under the AbilityOne Program. The Committee may request a contracting office to assist in assessing the capabilities of a nonprofit agency.

(b) The contracting office, upon request from the Committee, shall request a capability survey from the activity responsible for performing preaward surveys, or notify the Committee that the AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency is capable, with supporting rationale, and that the survey is waived. The capability survey will focus on the technical and production capabilities and applicable preaward survey elements to furnish specific supplies or services being considered for addition to the Procurement List.

(c) The contracting office shall use the Standard Form 1403 to request a capability survey of organizations employing people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

(d) The contracting office shall furnish a copy of the completed survey, or notice that the AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency is capable and the survey is waived, to the Executive Director, Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

← 9.106-4 Reports. · 9.108 Prohibition on contracting with inverted domestic corporations. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 9

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 9.107 Surveys of nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program · SpendQuery