This notice DOES NOT constitute a request for information, quote, or proposal for procurement of products or services. It concerns an action which may affect the current procurement of sand bags of various descriptions by the Federal Government.

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled is an independent agency of the Federal Government. The Committee, under the authority of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act of 1971, provides employment opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities through Federal Government purchases from nonprofit agencies employing such individuals. Those products which are required to be purchased by the Federal Government under the AbilityOne Program are added to the Committee's Procurement List (PL). You can view the PL on our website at www.abilityone.gov. Once a product is added to the PL to be provided by a nonprofit agency, no other product determined to be essentially the same can be sold to the Federal government. However, the new SKILCRAFT branded product can be bid and sold to the Government by any authorized dealer.

The Committee has been asked to consider adding the broad Government requirement for the following product to the PL:

8105-00-NIB-1301 Polypropylene Sand Bag; Digitized Camouflage 17 inches x 27 inches; no seam on both sides, double stitching on bottom of bag; 38 inches PP string attached; fabric
weight is 80 gsm; Structure is 10 x 10 inch and 1,250 Denier

The contracting agency involved is the GSA, New York, NY.

Before adding a product to the PL, the Committee considers the potential impact that removal from commercial channels of this product, as well as similar products, would have on the sales of the firms that are currently providing Sand Bag, Polypropylene, Digitized Camouflage to GSA and the extent to which the potentially affected suppliers are dependent on the income. Similar products are:

8105-01-564-3928 White, 14 x 26", This mildew resistant sand bag is made of plastic,
polypropylene (single wall) with polypropylene twine tie closure
fastening. Bag has a minimum breaking strength of 60 pounds. Style 4
Flat, Single Wall.

8105-00-965-2509 Natural, 14 x 26", Made of cotton osnaburg. Mildew-resistant sand bag is
intended for use in the construction of field fortifications and flood-control
structures. Opens at one end with tie string closure.

8105-0-285-4744 Brown or Green, 14 x 26", Made of jute or kenaf burlap. Mildew-resistant
sand bag is intended for use in the construction of field fortifications and
flood-control structures. Opens at one end with tie string closure.

14 X 26" SAND BAG 26L X 14W (EA), Propex sand bags, a synthetic woven fabric.
These bags are stock items in two sizes. Made from 10x10/850 D
tubular woven polypropylene with a polypropylene tie cord
attached near the top for closing. Color, white approx. 1600 hours
u.v.

27X17" BAG, SAND 27L X 17W (EA), Propex sand bags, a synthetic woven fabric.
These bags are stock items in two sizes. Made from 10x10/850 D
tubular woven polypropylene with a polypropylene tie cord
attached near the top for closing. Color, white approx. 1600 hours
u.v.

SAND BAG-BURLAP 30L X 17W (IN), These are Burlap sand bags in 7OZ with tie
strings

20X36" SANDBAG 36L X 26W (IN), Polypropolene White color sandbags size 20 x 36" with ties at the top of bag.

MUT 14981-10-14 28L X 16W (IN), Circular woven polypropylene sandbags come complete with heavy poly-twine ties. They are available in white (400 hr. UV protection) and bright orange (100 hr. UV protection) for increased visibility. The sandbag weighs 50 pounds when filled.

14981-10-14 15L X 30W (IN), WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE SANDBAG
14X26 WHITE

14981-45-14 15L X 30W (IN), WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE SANDBAG
14X26 ORANGE

In order for the Committee to be able to assess the potential impact on affected companies, it is important that these firms report the following information to the Committee:

1) Total Revenues accrued from all sources for the most recent 12-month time period

2) Revenues accrued by providing a similar Sand Bag as described above to GSA for the same most recent 12-month period

3) The length of time the potentially affected firm has been providing these products to GSA.

The information prescribed above must reach the Committee no later than March 24, 2009 and can be submitted in letter format. If information is not received by the date requested, the Committee could conclude that potentially affected firms have determined that there will be no severe adverse impact should the listed products be added to the PL.

It is only with this information that the Committee can perform an accurate impact analysis. Your letter can be returned either by mail to the address on this notice or by fax to
(703) 603-0655. You may also provide any other information you deem appropriate. If any of the information you provide is proprietary, please advise us in your reply, and we will ensure that it is safeguarded from disclosure.

When assessing impact on a commercial firm, the Committee takes into account the revenues of the parent, subsidiary, and affiliated corporations as well. If a company is a parent, subsidiary, or affiliated corporation to another corporation, please identify the other corporations to which the company is related, the nature of the relationship, and the other corporations total revenue data.

General information concerning the Committee and its authority can be found in Title 41 United States Code, Sections 46-48c, or Title 41 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 51. Both of these references can be found on the Committee's website at www.abilityone.gov. If you have specific questions or require further explanation concerning this letter or the addition of the above-referenced product to the PL, please contact Mike Jurkowski at (703) 603-2117.