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 Code of Federal RegulationsWAIS Document Retrieval System [Code of Federal Regulations] PART 51–1—GENERAL – TABLE OF CONTENTS§ 51-1.1 Policy. (a) It is the policy of the Government to increase employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities through the purchase of commodities and services from qualified nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled (hereinafter the Committee) was established by the Javits-Wagner—O'Day Act, Public Law 92–28, 85 Stat. 77 (1971), as amended, 41 U.S.C. 46–48c (hereinafter the JWOD Act). The Committee is responsible for implementation of a comprehensive program designed to enforce this policy. (b) It is the policy of the Committee to encourage all Federal entities and employees to provide the necessary support to ensure that the JWOD Act is implemented in an effective manner. This support includes purchase of products and services published on the Committee's Procurement List through appropriate channels from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities designated by the Committee; recommendations to the Committee of new commodities and services suitable for addition to the Procurement List; and cooperation with the Committee and the central nonprofit agencies in the provision of such data as the Committee may decide is necessary to determine suitability for addition to the Procurement List. [56 FR 48976, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] § 51-1.2 Mandatory source priorities. (a) The JWOD Act mandates that commodities or services on the Procurement List required by Government entities be procured, as prescribed in this regulation, from a nonprofit agency employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, at a price established by the Committee, if that commodity or service is available within the normal period required by that Government entity. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the JWOD Act has priority, under the provisions of 41 U.S.C. 48, over any other supplier of the Government's requirements for commodities and services on the Committee's Procurement List. (b) Federal Prison Industries, Inc. has priority, under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 4124, over nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities in furnishing commodities for sale to the Government. All or a portion of the Government's requirement for a commodity for which Federal Prison Industries, Inc. has exercised its priority may be added to the Procurement List. However, such addition is made with the understanding that procurement under the JWOD Act shall be limited to that portion of the Government's requirement for the commodity which is not available or not required to be procured from Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (c) The JWOD Act requires the Committee to prescribe regulations providing that, in the purchase by the Government of commodities produced and offered for sale by qualified nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind and nonprofit agencies employing persons who have other severe disabilities, priority shall be accorded to commodities produced and offered for sale by qualified nonprofit agencies for the blind. In approving the addition of commodities, to the Procurement List, the Committee accords priority to nonprofit agencies for the blind. Nonprofit agencies for the blind and nonprofit agencies employing persons with severe disabilities have equal priority for services. § 51-1.3 Definitions. As used in this chapter: AbilityOne Program means the program authorized by the JWOD Act to increase employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities through Government purchasing of commodities and services from nonprofit agencies employing these persons. Agency and Federal agency mean Entity of the Government, as defined herein. Blind means an individual or class of individuals whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. Central nonprofit agency means an agency organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of the blind or persons with other severe disabilities, the net income of which does not incur in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual, and designated by the Committee to facilitate the distribution (by direct allocation, subcontract, or any other means) of orders of the Government for commodities and services on the Procurement List among nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, to provide information required by the Committee to implement the JWOD Program, and to otherwise assist the Committee in administering these regulations as set forth herein by the Committee. Committee means the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled. Contracting activity means any element of an entity of the Government that has responsibility for identifying and/or procuring Government requirements for commodities or services. Components of a contracting activity, such as a contracting office and an ordering office, are incorporated in this definition, which includes all offices within the definitions of “contracting activity,” “contracting office,” and “contract administration office” contained in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, 48 CFR 2.101. Direct labor means all work required for preparation, processing, and packing of a commodity or work directly related to the performance of a service, but not supervision, administration, inspection or shipping. Fiscal year means the 12-month period beginning on October 1 of each year. Government and Entity of the Government mean any entity of the legislative branch or the judicial branch, any executive agency, military department, Government corporation, or independent establishment, the U.S. Postal Service, and any nonappropriated fund instrumentality under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces. Interested person means an individual or legal entity affected by a proposed addition of a commodity or service to the Procurement List or a deletion from it. Military resale commodities means commodities on the Procurement List sold for the private, individual use of authorized patrons of Armed Forces commissaries and exchanges, or like activities of other Government departments and agencies. Nonprofit agency (formerly workshop) means a nonprofit agency for the blind or a nonprofit agency employing persons with severe disabilities, as appropriate. Other severely handicapped and severely handicapped individuals (hereinafter persons with severe disabilities) mean a person other than a blind person who has a severe physical or mental impairment (a residual, limiting condition resulting from an injury, disease, or congenital defect) which so limits the person's functional capabilities (mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, work tolerance or work skills) that the individual is unable to engage in normal competitive employment over an extended period of time. (1) Capability for normal competitive employment shall be determined from information developed by an ongoing evaluation program conducted by or for the nonprofit agency and shall include as a minimum, a preadmission evaluation and a reevaluation at least annually of each individual's capability for normal competitive employment. (2) A person with a severe mental or physical impairment who is able to engage in normal competitive employment because the impairment has been overcome or the condition has been substantially corrected is not “other severely handicapped” within the meaning of the definition. Participating nonprofit agency (formerly participating workshop) means any nonprofit agency which has been authorized by the Committee to furnish a commodity or service to the Government under the JWOD Act. Procurement List means a list of commodities (including military resale commodities) and services which the Committee has determined to be suitable to be furnished to the Government by nonprofit agencies for the blind or nonprofit agencies employing persons with severe disabilities pursuant to the JWOD Act and these regulations. Qualified nonprofit agency for other severely handicapped (hereinafter nonprofit agency employing persons with severe disabilities) (formerly workshop for other severely handicapped) means an agency organized under the laws of the United States or any State, operated in the interests of persons with severe disabilities who are not blind, and the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual; which complies with applicable occupational health and safety standards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and which in furnishing commodities and services (whether or not the commodities or services are procured under these regulations) during the fiscal year employs persons with severe disabilities (including blind) for not less than 75 percent of the work-hours of direct labor required to furnish such commodities or services. Qualified nonprofit agency for the blind (hereinafter nonprofit agency for the blind) (formerly workshop for the blind) means an agency organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of blind individuals, and the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual; which complies with applicable occupational health and safety standards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and which in furnishing commodities and services (whether or not the commodities or services are procured under these regulations) during the fiscal year employs blind individuals for not less than 75 percent of the work-hours of direct labor required to furnish such commodities or services. State means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory remaining under the jurisdiction of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. [56 FR 48976, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994; 71 FR 68493, Nov. 27, 2006]
PART 51–2 -- COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED
Section Contents § 51-2.1 Membership. § 51-2.2 Powers and responsibilities. § 51-2.3 Notice of proposed addition or deletion. § 51-2.4 Determination of suitability. § 51-2.5 Committee decision. § 51-2.6 Reconsideration of Committee decision. § 51-2.7 Fair market price. § 51-2.8 Procurement list. § 51-2.9 Oral presentations by interested persons at Committee meetings.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 46–48c. Source: 56 FR 48977, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-2.1 Membership. Under the JWOD Act, the Committee is composed of 15 members appointed by the President. There is one representative from each of the following departments or agencies of the Government: The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the General Services Administration. Four members are private citizens: One who is conversant with the problems incident to the employment of blind individuals; one who is conversant with the problems incident to the employment of persons with other severe disabilities; one who represents blind individuals employed in qualified nonprofit agencies for the blind; and one who represents persons with severe disabilities (other than blindness) employed in qualified nonprofit agencies employing persons with severe disabilities. § 51-2.2 Powers and responsibilities. The Committee is responsible for carrying out the following functions in support of its mission of providing employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities and, whenever possible, preparing those individuals to engage in competitive employment: (a) Establish rules, regulations, and policies to assure effective implementation of the JWOD Act. (b) Determine which commodities and services procured by the Federal Government are suitable to be furnished by qualified nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities and add those items to the Committee's Procurement List. Publish notices of addition to the Procurement List in theFederal Register.Disseminate information on Procurement List items to Federal agencies. Delete items no longer suitable to be furnished by nonprofit agencies. Authorize and deauthorize central nonprofit agencies and nonprofit agencies to accept orders from contracting activities for the furnishing of specific commodities and services on the Procurement List. (c) Determine fair market prices for items added to the Procurement List and revise those prices in accordance with changing market conditions to assure that the prices established are reflective of the market. (d) Monitor nonprofit agency compliance with Committee regulations and procedures. (e) Inform Federal agencies about the AbilityOne Program and the statutory mandate that items on the Procurement List be purchased from qualified nonprofit agencies, and encourage and assist entities of the Federal Government to identify additional commodities and services that can be purchased from qualified nonprofit agencies. To the extent possible, monitor Federal agencies' compliance with JWOD requirements. (f) Designate, set appropriate ceilings on fee paid to these central nonprofit agencies by nonprofit agencies selling items under the AbilityOne Program, and provide guidance to central nonprofit agencies engaged in facilitating the distribution of Government orders and helping State and private nonprofit agencies participate in the AbilityOne Program. (g) Conduct a continuing study and evaluation of its activities under the JWOD Act for the purpose of assuring effective and efficient administration of the JWOD Act. The Committee may study, independently, or in cooperation with other public or nonprofit private agencies, problems relating to: (1) The employment of the blind or individuals with other severe disabilities. (2) The development and adaptation of production methods which would enable a greater utilization of these individuals. (h) Provide technical assistance to the central nonprofit agencies and the nonprofit agencies to contribute to the successful implementation of the JWOD Act. (i) Assure that nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind will have priority over nonprofit agencies employing persons with severe disabilities in furnishing commodities. [56 FR 48977, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59341, Nov. 16, 1994; 71 FR 68493, Nov. 27, 2006] § 51-2.3 Notice of proposed addition or deletion. At least 30 days prior to the Committee's consideration of the addition or deletion of a commodity or service to or from the Procurement List, the Committee publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the proposed addition or deletion and providing interested persons an opportunity to submit written data or comments on the proposal. Interested persons submitting comments in bound form should also submit an unbound copy that is capable of being legibly photocopied. [59 FR 59341, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-2.4 Determination of suitability. (a) For a commodity or service to be suitable for addition to the Procurement List, each of the following criteria must be satisfied: (1) Employment potential. The proposed addition must demonstrate a potential to generate employment for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. (2) Nonprofit agency qualifications. The nonprofit agency (or agencies) proposing to furnish the item must qualify as a nonprofit agency serving persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, as set forth in part 51–4 of this chapter. (3) Capability. The nonprofit agency (or agencies) desiring to furnish a commodity or service under the JWOD Program must satisfy the Committee as to the extent of the labor operations to be performed and that it will have the capability to meet Government quality standards and delivery schedules by the time it assumes responsibility for supplying the Government. (4) Level of impact on the current contractor for the commodity or service. (i) In deciding whether or not a proposed addition to the Procurement List is likely to have a severe adverse impact on the current contractor for the specific commodity or service, the Committee gives particular attention to: (A) The possible impact on the contractor's total sales, including the sales of affiliated companies and parent corporations. In addition, the Committee considers the effects of previous Committee actions. (B) Whether that contractor has been a continuous supplier to the Government of the specific commodity or service proposed for addition and is, therefore, more dependent on the income from such sales to the Government. (ii) If there is not a current contract for the commodity or service being proposed for addition to the Procurement List, the Committee may consider the most recent contractor to furnish the item to the Government as the current contractor for the purpose of determining the level of impact. (b) In determining the suitability of a commodity or service for addition to the Procurement List, the Committee also considers other information it deems pertinent, including comments on a proposal published in the Federal Register to add the commodity or service to the Procurement List and information submitted by Government personnel and interested persons. Because the Committee's authority to establish fair market prices is separate from its authority to determine the suitability of a commodity or service for addition to the Procurement List, the Committee does not consider comments on proposed fair market prices for commodities and services proposed for addition to the Procurement List to be pertinent to a suitability determination. [56 FR 48977, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59341, Nov. 16, 1994; 62 FR 66529, Dec. 19, 1997] § 51-2.5 Committee decision. The Committee considers the particular facts and circumstances in each case in determining if a commodity or service is suitable for addition to the Procurement List. When the Committee determines that a proposed addition is likely to have a severe adverse impact on a current contractor, it takes this fact into consideration in deciding not to add the commodity or service to the Procurement List, or to add only a portion of the Government requirement for the item. If the Committee decides to add a commodity or service in whole or in part to the Procurement List, that decision is announced in the Federal Register with a notice that includes information on the effective date of the addition. [59 FR 59342, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-2.6 Reconsideration of Committee decision. (a) The Committee may reconsider its decision to add items to the Procurement List if it receives pertinent information which was not before it when it initially made the decision. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, requests for reconsideration from interested persons must be received by the Committee within 60 days following the effective date of the addition in question. A request for reconsideration must include the specific facts believed by the interested person to justify a decision by the Committee to modify or reverse its earlier action. (b) In reconsidering its decision, the Committee will balance the harm to the party requesting reconsideration if the item remains on the Procurement List against the harm which the nonprofit agency or its employees who are blind or have other severe disabilities would suffer if the item were deleted from the Procurement List. The Committee may also consider information bringing into question its conclusions on the suitability criteria on which it based its original decision as factors weighing toward a decision to delete the item, and information concerning possible harm to the Government and the JWOD Program as factors weighing toward confirmation of the original decision. [56 FR 48977, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59342, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-2.7 Fair market price. (a) The Committee is responsible for determining fair market prices, and changes thereto, for commodities and services on the Procurement List. The Committee establishes an initial fair market price at the time a commodity or service is added to the Procurement List. This initial price is based on Committee procedures, which permit negotiations between the contracting activity and the nonprofit agency which will produce or provide the commodity or service to the Government, assisted by the appropriate central nonprofit agency. If agreed to by the negotiating parties, the initial price may be developed using other methodologies specified in Committee pricing procedures. (b) Prices are revised in accordance with changing market conditions under Committee procedures, which include negotiations between contracting activities and producing nonprofit agencies, assisted by central nonprofit agencies, or the use of economic indices, changes in nonprofit agency costs, or other methodologies permitted under these procedures. (c) Recommendations for initial fair market prices, or changes thereto, shall be submitted jointly by the contracting activities and nonprofit agencies concerned to the appropriate central nonprofit agency. After review and analysis, the central nonprofit agency shall submit the recommended prices and methods by which prices shall be changed to the Committee, along with the information required by Committee pricing procedures to support each recommendation. The Committee will review the recommendations, revise the recommended prices where appropriate, and establish a fair market price, or change thereto, for each commodity or service which is the subject of a recommendation. [64 FR 55842, Oct. 15, 1999] § 51-2.8 Procurement list. (a) The Committee maintains a Procurement List which includes the commodities and services which shall be procured by Government departments and agencies under the JWOD Act from the nonprofit agency(ies) designated by the Committee. Copies of the Procurement List, together with information on procurement requirements and procedures, are available to contracting activities upon request. (b) For commodities, including military resale commodities, the Procurement List identifies the name and national stock number or item designation for each commodity, and where appropriate, any limitation on the portion of the commodity which must be procured under the JWOD Act. (c) For services, the Procurement List identifies the type of service to be furnished, the Government department or agency responsible for procuring the service, and, where appropriate, the activity or item to be serviced. (d) Additions to and deletions from the Procurement List are published in the Federal Register as they are approved by the Committee. § 51-2.9 Oral presentations by interested persons at Committee meetings. (a) Upon written request from an interested person, that person may, at the discretion of the Committee Chair, be permitted to appear before the Committee to present views orally. Generally, only those persons who have raised significant issues which, if valid, could influence the Committee's decision in the matter under consideration will be permitted to appear. (b) When the Chair has approved the appearance before the Committee of an interested person who has made a written request: (1) The name of the spokesperson and the names of any other persons planning to appear shall be provided to the Committee staff by telephone at least three working days before the meeting. (2) In the absence of prior authorization by the Chair, only one person representing a particular agency or organization will be permitted to speak. (3) Oral statements to the Committee and written material provided in conjunction with the oral statements shall be limited to issues addressed in written comments which have previously been submitted to the Committee as the result of notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register . (4) Written material to be provided in conjunction with the oral presentation and an outline of the presentation shall be submitted to the Committee staff at least three working days before the meeting. (c) The Committee may also invite other interested persons to make oral presentations at Committee meetings when it determines that these persons can provide information which will assist the Committee in making a decision on a proposed addition to the Procurement List. Terms of appearance of such persons shall be determined by the Chair. PART 51–3 — CENTRAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES
Section Contents § 51-3.1 General. § 51-3.2 Responsibilities under the AbilityOne Program. § 51-3.3 Assignment of commodity or service. § 51-3.4 Distribution of orders. § 51-3.5 Fees. § 51-3.6 Reports to central nonprofit agencies.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 46–48c. Source: 56 FR 48979, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-3.1 General. Under the provisions of section 2(c) of the JWOD Act, the following are currently designated central nonprofit agencies: (a) To represent nonprofit agencies for the blind: National Industries for the Blind. (b) To represent nonprofit agencies employing persons with other severe disabilities: NISH. § 51-3.2 Responsibilities under the AbilityOne Program. Each central nonprofit agency shall: (a) Represent its participating nonprofit agencies in dealing with the Committee under the JWOD Act. (b) Evaluate the qualifications and capabilities of its nonprofit agencies and provide the Committee with pertinent data concerning its nonprofit agencies, their status as qualified nonprofit agencies, their manufacturing or service capabilities, and other information concerning them required by the Committee. (c) Obtain from Federal contracting activities such procurement information as is required by the Committee to: (1) Determine the suitability of a commodity or service being recommended to the Committee for addition to the Procurement List; or (2) Establish an initial fair market price for a commodity or service or make changes in the fair market price. (d) Recommend to the Committee, with the supporting information required by Committee procedures, suitable commodities or services for procurement from its nonprofit agencies. (e) Recommend to the Committee, with the supporting information required by Committee procedures, initial fair market prices for commodities or services proposed for addition to the Procurement List. (f) Distribute within the policy guidelines of the Committee (by direct allocation, subcontract, or any other means) orders from Government activities among its nonprofit agencies. (g) Maintain the necessary records and data on its nonprofit agencies to enable it to allocate orders equitably. (h) Oversee and assist its nonprofit agencies to insure contract compliance in furnishing a commodity or a service. (i) As market conditions change, recommend price changes with appropriate justification for assigned commodities or services on the Procurement List. (j) Monitor and assist its nonprofit agencies to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements to fully participate in the program. Conduct assistance visits with its nonprofits as necessary and provide the Committee with the results and recommendations of such visits. (k) When authorized by the Committee, enter into contracts with Federal contracting activities for the furnishing of commodities or services provided by its nonprofit agencies. (l) At the time designated by the Committee, submit a completed, original copy of the appropriate Initial Certification (Committee Form 401 or 402) for the nonprofit agency concerned. This requirement does not apply to a nonprofit agency that is already authorized to furnish a commodity or service under the JWOD Act. (m) Review and forward to the Committee by December 1 of each year a completed original copy of the appropriate Annual Certification (Committee Form 403 or 404) for each of its participating nonprofit agencies covering the fiscal year ending the preceding September 30. (n) Perform other JWOD administrative functions, including activities to increase Government and public awareness of the JWOD Act subject to the oversight of the Committee. [56 FR 48979, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59342, Nov. 16, 1994; 62 FR 32237, June 13, 1997; 68 FR 53684, Sept. 12, 2003; 73 FR 28043, May 15, 2008] § 51-3.3 Assignment of commodity or service. (a) The central nonprofit agencies shall determine by mutual agreement the assignment to one of them of a commodity or service for the purpose of evaluating its potential for possible future addition to the Procurement List, except that the Committee shall initially assign a commodity to National Industries for the Blind when NISH has expressed an interest in the commodity and National Industries for the Blind has exercised the blind priority. (b) NISH shall provide National Industries for the Blind with procurement information necessary for a decision to exercise or waive the blind priority when it requests a decision. National Industries for the Blind shall normally notify NISH of its decision within 30 days, but not later than 60 days after receipt of the procurement information, unless the two central nonprofit agencies agree to an extension of time for the decision. Disagreements on extensions shall be referred to the Committee for resolution. (c) If National Industries for the Blind exercises the blind priority for a commodity, it shall immediately notify the Committee and NISH and shall submit to the Committee a proposal to add the commodity to the Procurement List within nine months of the notification, unless the Committee extends the assignment period because of delays beyond the control of National Industries for the Blind. Upon expiration of the assignment period, the Committee shall reassign the commodity to NISH. (d) The central nonprofit agency assigned a commodity shall obtain a decision from Federal Prison Industries on the exercise or waiver of its priority and shall submit the procurement information required by Federal Prison Industries when it requests the decision. Federal Prison Industries shall normally notify the central nonprofit agency of its decision within 30 days, but not later than 60 days after receipt of the procurement information, unless it agrees with the central nonprofit agency on an extension of time for the decision. The central nonprofit agency shall refer a disagreement over an extension to the Committee for resolution with Federal Prison Industries. (e) The central nonprofit agency shall provide the Committee the decision of Federal Prison Industries on the waiver or exercise of its priority when it requests the addition of the commodity to the Procurement List. NISH shall also provide the decision of National Industries for the Blind waiving its priority. [59 FR 59342, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-3.4 Distribution of orders. Central nonprofit agencies shall distribute orders from the Government only to nonprofit agencies which the Committee has approved to furnish the specific commodity or service. When the Committee has approved two or more nonprofit agencies to furnish a specific commodity or service, the central nonprofit agency shall distribute orders among those nonprofit agencies in a fair and equitable manner. [56 FR 48979, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991] § 51-3.5 Fees. A central nonprofit agency may charge fees to nonprofit agencies for facilitating their participation in the AbilityOne Program. Fees shall be calculated based on nonprofit agency sales to the Government under the AbilityOne Program. Fees shall not exceed the fee limit approved by the Committee. [56 FR 48979, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 71 FR 68494, Nov. 27, 2006] § 51-3.6 Reports to central nonprofit agencies. Any information, other than that contained in the Annual Certification required by §51–4.3(a) of this chapter, which a central nonprofit agency requires its nonprofit agencies to submit on an annual basis, shall be requested separately from the Annual Certification. If the information is being sought in response to a request by the Committee, nonprofit agencies shall be advised of that fact and the central nonprofit agency shall, prior to distribution, provide to the Committee a copy of each form which it plans to use to obtain such information from its nonprofit agencies. PART 51–4 — NONPROFIT AGENCIES
Section Contents § 51-4.1 General. § 51-4.2 Initial qualification. § 51-4.3 Maintaining qualification. § 51-4.4 Subcontracting. § 51-4.5 Violations by nonprofit agencies.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 46–48c. Source: 56 FR 48980, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-4.1 General. To participate in the AbilityOne Program, a nonprofit agency shall be represented by the central nonprofit agency assigned by the Committee on the basis of the nonprofit agency's articles of incorporation and bylaws. [56 FR 48980, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 71 FR 68494, Nov. 27, 2006] § 51-4.2 Initial qualification. (a) To qualify for participation in the JWOD Program: (1) A privately incorporated nonprofit agency shall submit to the Committee through its central nonprofit agency the following documents, transmitted by a letter signed by an officer of the corporation or chief executive: (i) A legible copy (preferably a photocopy) of the articles of incorporation showing the date of filing and the signature of an appropriate State official. (ii) A copy of the bylaws certified by an officer of the corporation. (iii) If the articles of incorporation or bylaws do not include a statement to the effect that no part of the net income of the nonprofit agency may inure to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual, one of the following shall be submitted: (A) A certified true copy of the State statute under which the nonprofit agency was incorporated which includes wording to the effect that no part of the net income of the nonprofit agency may inure to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual. (B) A copy of a resolution approved by the governing body of the corporation, certified by an officer of the corporation, to the effect that no part of the net income of the nonprofit agency may inure to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual. (2) A State-owned or State-operated nonprofit agency, or a nonprofit agency established or authorized by a State statute other than the State corporation laws and not privately incorporated, shall submit to the Committee through its central nonprofit agency the following documents, transmitted by a letter signed by an officer of the wholly-owned State corporation or an official of the agency that directs the operations of the nonprofit agency, as applicable: (i) A certified true copy of the State statute establishing or authorizing the establishment of nonprofit agency(ies) for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. (ii) In the case of a wholly-owned State corporation, a certified true copy of the corporation bylaws; and, in the case of a State or local government agency, a certified true copy of implementing regulations, operating procedures, notice of establishment of the nonprofit agency, or other similar documents. (b) The Committee shall review the documents submitted and, if they are acceptable, notify the nonprofit agency by letter, with a copy to its central nonprofit agency, that the Committee has verified its nonprofit status under the JWOD Act. (c) A nonprofit agency shall submit two completed copies of the appropriate Initial Certification (Committee Form 401 or 402) to its central nonprofit agency at the time designated by the Committee. This requirement does not apply if a nonprofit agency is already authorized to furnish a commodity or service under the JWOD Act. [56 FR 48980, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59342, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-4.3 Maintaining qualification. (a) To maintain its qualification under the JWOD Act, each nonprofit agency authorized to furnish a commodity or a service shall continue to comply with the requirements of a “nonprofit agency for other severely handicapped” or a “nonprofit agency for the blind” as defined in §51–1.3 of this chapter. In addition, each such nonprofit agency must submit to its central nonprofit agency by November 1 of each year, two completed copies of the appropriate Annual Certification (Committee Form 403 or 404) covering the fiscal year ending the preceding September 30. (b) In addition to paragraph (a) of this section, each nonprofit agency participating in the Ability One Program shall: (1) Furnish commodities or services in strict accordance with Government orders. (2) Comply with the applicable compensation, employment, and occupational health and safety standards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, including procedures to encourage filling of vacancies within the nonprofit agency by promotion of qualified employees who are blind or have other severe disabilities. (3) Comply with directives or requests issued by the Committee in furtherance of the objectives of the JWOD Act or its implementing regulations. (4) Make its records available for review at any reasonable time to representatives of the Committee or the central nonprofit agency representing the nonprofit agency. (5) Maintain records of direct labor hours performed in the nonprofit agency by each worker. (6) Maintain a file for each blind individual performing direct labor which contains a written report reflecting visual acuity and field of vision of each eye, with best correction, signed by a person licensed to make such an evaluation, or a certification of blindness by a State or local governmental entity. (7) Maintain in the file for each blind individual performing direct labor annual reviews of ability to engage in normal competitive employment. These reviews must be signed by an individual qualified by training and/or experience to make this determination. (8) Maintain an ongoing placement program operated by or for the nonprofit agency to include liaison with appropriate community services such as the State employment service, employer groups and others. Those individuals determined capable and desirous of normal competitive employment shall be assisted in obtaining such employment. (9) Upon receipt of payment by the Government for commodities or services furnished under the Ability One Program, pay to the central nonprofit agency a fee which meets the requirements of §51–3.5 of this chapter. (c) Each nonprofit agency employing persons with severe disabilities participating in the AbilityOne Program shall, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, maintain in each individual with a severe disability's file: (1) A written report signed by a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or qualified psychologist, reflecting the nature and extent of the disability or disabilities that cause such person to qualify as a person with a severe disability, or a certification of the disability or disabilities by a State or local governmental entity. (2) Reports which state whether that individual is capable of engaging in normal competitive employment. These reports shall be signed by a person or persons qualified by training and experience to evaluate the work potential, interests, aptitudes, and abilities of persons with disabilities and shall normally consist of preadmission evaluations and reevaluations prepared at least annually. The file on individuals who have been in the nonprofit agency for less than two years shall contain the preadmission report and, where appropriate, the next annual reevaluation. The file on individuals who have been in the nonprofit agency for two or more years shall contain, as a minimum, the reports of the two most recent annual reevaluations. (d) The information collection requirements of §51–4.2 and §51–4.3 and the recordkeeping requirements of §51–4.3 have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–511). The information collection requirements have been assigned the following OMB control numbers:
The recordkeeping requirements have been assigned OMB control number 3037–0005. [56 FR 48980, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 62 FR 32237, June 13, 1997; 62 FR 66529, Dec. 19, 1997; 68 FR 53685, Sept. 12, 2003; 71 FR 68494, Nov. 27, 2006; 73 FR 28043, May 15, 2008] § 51-4.4 Subcontracting. (a) Nonprofit agencies shall seek broad competition in the purchase of materials and components used in the commodities and services furnished to the Government under the JWOD Act. Nonprofit agencies shall inform the Committee, through their central nonprofit agency, before entering into multiyear contracts for materials or components used in the commodities and services furnished to the Government under the JWOD Act. (b) Each nonprofit agency shall accomplish the maximum amount of subcontracting with other nonprofit agencies and small business concerns that the nonprofit agency finds to be consistent both with efficient performance in furnishing commodities or services under the JWOD Act and maximizing employment for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. (c) Nonprofit agencies may subcontract a portion of the process for producing a commodity or providing a service on the Procurement List provided that the portion of the process retained by the prime nonprofit agency generates employment for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Subcontracting intended to be a routine part of the production of a commodity or provision of a service shall be identified to the Committee at the time the commodity or service is proposed for addition to the Procurement List and any significant changes in the extent of subcontracting must be approved in advance by the Committee. (d) A nonprofit agency may not subcontract the entire production process for all or a portion of an order without the Committee's prior approval. [56 FR 48980, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 62 FR 66529, Dec. 19, 1997] § 51-4.5 Violations by nonprofit agencies. (a) Any alleged violations of these regulations by a nonprofit agency shall be investigated by the Committee which shall notify the nonprofit agency concerned and afford it an opportunity to submit a statement of facts and evidence. Pending a decision by the Committee, the central nonprofit agency concerned may be directed by the Committee to temporarily suspend allocations to the nonprofit agency. (b) If a nonprofit agency fails to correct its violations of these regulations, the Committee, after affording the nonprofit agency an opportunity to address the Committee on the matter, may terminate the nonprofit agency's eligibility to participate in the JWOD Program. [56 FR 48979, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 73 FR 28043, May 15, 2008] PART 51–5 — CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS
Section Contents § 51-5.1 General. § 51-5.2 Mandatory source requirement. § 51-5.3 Scope of requirement. § 51-5.4 Purchase exceptions. § 51-5.5 Prices. § 51-5.6 Shipping. § 51-5.7 Payments. § 51-5.8 Violations by entities of the Government.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 46–48C. Source: 56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-5.1 General. (a) Contracting activities are encouraged to assist the Committee and the central nonprofit agencies in identifying suitable commodities and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities so that the Committee can attain its objective of increasing employment and training opportunities for individuals who are blind or have other severe disabilities. For items which appear to be suitable to be furnished by nonprofit agencies, the contracting activity should refer the candidate commodities and services to the Committee or a central nonprofit agency. If a contracting activity decides to procure one or more commodities which are similar to a commodity or commodities on the Procurement List, the contracting activity should refer the commodities it intends to procure to the Committee or a central nonprofit agency. (b) Contracting activities shall provide the Committee and designated central nonprofit agencies with information needed to enable the Committee to determine whether a commodity or service is suitable to be furnished by a nonprofit agency. For commodities, information such as the latest solicitation and amendments, bid abstracts, procurement history, estimated annual usage quantities, and anticipated date of next solicitation issuance and opening may be needed. For services, similar information including the statement of work and applicable wage determination may be required. In order to assist in evaluating the suitability of an Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A–76 conversion, contracting activities should provide a copy of the draft statement of work and applicable wage determination to the central nonprofit agency upon its request. § 51-5.2 Mandatory source requirement. (a) Nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee are mandatory sources of supply for all entities of the Government for commodities and services included on the Procurement List, as provided in §51–1.2 of this chapter. (b) Purchases of commodities on the Procurement List by entities of the Government shall be made from sources authorized by the Committee. These sources may include nonprofit agencies, central nonprofit agencies, Government central supply agencies such as the Defense Logistics Agency and the General Services Administration, and certain commercial distributors. Identification of the authorized sources for a particular commodity may be obtained from the central nonprofit agencies at the addresses noted in §51–6.2 of this chapter. (c) Contracting activities shall require other persons providing commodities which are on the Procurement List to entities of the Government by contract to order these commodities from the sources authorized by the Committee. (d) Procedures for obtaining military resale commodities are contained in §51–6.4 of this chapter. (e) Contracting activities procuring services which have included within them services on the Procurement List shall require their contractors for the larger service requirement to procure the included Procurement List services from nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee. [56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 60 FR 54200, Oct. 20, 1995; 63 FR 16439, Apr. 3, 1998] § 51-5.3 Scope of requirement. (a) When a commodity is included on the Procurement List, the mandatory source requirement covers the National Stock Number or item designation listed and commodities that are essentially the same as the listed item. In some instances, only a portion of the Government requirement for a National Stock Number or item designation is specified by the Procurement List. Where geographic areas, quantities, percentages or specific supply locations for a commodity are listed, the mandatory provisions of the JWOD Act apply only to the portion or portions of the commodity indicated by the Procurement List. (b) For services, where an agency and location or geographic area are listed on the Procurement List, only the service for the location or geographic area listed must be procured from the nonprofit agency, except as provided in §51–6.14 of this chapter. Where no location or geographic area is indicated by the Procurement List, it is mandatory that the total Government requirement for that service be procured from a nonprofit agency. (c) When a commodity or service is added to the Procurement List, the addition does not affect contracts for the commodity or service awarded prior to the effective date of the Procurement List addition or options exercised under those contracts. [56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 63 FR 16439, Apr. 3, 1998] § 51-5.4 Purchase exceptions. (a) A central nonprofit agency will normally grant a purchase exception for a contracting activity to procure from commercial sources commodities or services on the Procurement List when both of the following conditions are met: (1) The central nonprofit agency or its nonprofit agency(ies) cannot furnish a commodity or service within the period specified, and (2) The commodity or service is available from commercial sources in the quantities needed and significantly sooner than it will be available from the nonprofit agency(ies). (b) The central nonprofit agency may grant a purchase exception when the quantity involved is not sufficient to be furnished economically by the nonprofit agency(ies). (c) The Committee may also grant a purchase exception for the reasons set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. (d) The central nonprofit agency shall obtain the approval of the Committee before granting a purchase exception when the value of the procurement exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold set forth in the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 or any subsequent amendments thereto. (e) When the central nonprofit agency grants a purchase exception under the above conditions, it shall do so promptly and shall specify the quantities and delivery period covered by the exception. (f) When a purchase exception is granted under paragraph (a) of this section: (1) Contracting activities shall initiate purchase actions within 15 days following the date of the purchase exception. The deadline may be extended by the central nonprofit agency with, in cases of procurements exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the concurrence of the Committee. (2) Contracting activities shall furnish a copy to the solicitation to the appropriate central nonprofit agency at the time it is issued, and a copy of the annotated bid abstract upon awarding of the commercial contract. (g) Any decision by a central nonprofit agency regarding a purchase exception may be appealed to the Committee by the contracting activity. [56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-5.5 Prices. (a) The prices for items on the Procurement List are fair market prices established by the Committee under authority of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 47(b)). (b) Prices for commodities include applicable packaging, packing, and marking. Prices include transportation to point of delivery as specified in §51–5.6. (c) Price changes for commodities and services shall usually apply to orders received by the nonprofit agency on or after the effective date of the change. In special cases, after considering the views of the contracting activity, the Committee may make price changes applicable to orders received by the nonprofit agency prior to the effective date of the change. (d) To assist the Committee in revising the fair market prices for services on the Procurement List, upon request from the central nonprofit agency, the contracting activity should take the following actions: (1) Submit to the Department of Labor in a timely fashion a request for wage determination rate. (2) Provide a copy of the new wage determination rate or the Department of Labor document stating that the wage determination rate is unchanged to the central nonprofit agency at least 60 days before the beginning of the new service period. (3) Provide to the central nonprofit agency at least 90 days before the beginning of the new service period a copy of the statement of work applicable to the new service period. (e) If a contracting activity desires packing, packaging, or marking of products other than the standard pack or as provided in the Procurement List, any difference in cost shall be negotiated with the nonprofit agency. [56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 64 FR 55842, Oct. 15, 1999] § 51-5.6 Shipping. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, commodities are sold to the Government on an “F.O.B. destination” basis, with delivery being accomplished when the shipment reaches the facility designated by the contracting activity. Time of delivery is when the shipment is released by the carrier and accepted by the contracting activity or its agent. In this delivery method, the nonprofit agency will normally use commercial bills of lading and will be responsible for any loss or damage to the goods occurring before the commodities reach the designated delivery point. The nonprofit agency will prepare and distribute commercial bills of lading, furnish delivery schedules, designate the carriers, and pay all shipping charges to specified delivery points. (b) The Committee may determine that certain commodities are to be sold to the Government on an “F.O.B. origin” basis, with delivery being accomplished when a shipment is placed aboard the vehicle of the initial carrier. Time of delivery is when the shipment is released to and accepted by the initial carrier. In this delivery method, the nonprofit agency will normally use Government bills of lading, and responsibility for loss or damage to the goods while in transit passes to the Government at the time the initial carrier accepts a shipment. If the contracting activity fails to furnish a Government bill of lading promptly, such failure shall be considered an excusable delay in delivery. [64 FR 55842, Oct. 15, 1999] § 51-5.7 Payments. Payments for products or services of persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities shall be made within 30 days after shipment or receipt of a proper invoice or voucher. § 51-5.8 Violations by entities of the Government. Any alleged violations of the JWOD Act or these regulations by entities of the Government shall be investigated by the Committee, which shall notify the entity and afford it an opportunity to submit a statement. [56 FR 48981, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994] PART 51–6 — PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES
Section Contents § 51-6.1 Direct order process. § 51-6.2 Allocation process. § 51-6.3 Long-term procurements. § 51-6.4 Military resale commodities. § 51-6.5 Adjustment and cancellation of orders. § 51-6.6 Request for waiver of specification requirement. § 51-6.7 Orders in excess of nonprofit agency capability. § 51-6.8 Deletion of items from the Procurement List. § 51-6.9 Correspondence and inquiries. § 51-6.10 Quality of merchandise. § 51-6.11 Quality complaints. § 51-6.12 Specification changes and similar actions. § 51-6.13 Replacement and similar commodities. § 51-6.14 Replacement services. § 51-6.15 Disputes.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 46–48c. Source: 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-6.1 Direct order process. (a) Once a commodity or service is added to the Procurement List, the central nonprofit agency may authorize the contracting activity to issue orders directly to a nonprofit agency without requesting an allocation for each order. This procedure is known as the direct order process. (b) In these cases, the central nonprofit agency shall specify the normal leadtime required for orders transmitted directly to the nonprofit agencies. This method shall be used whenever possible since it eliminates double handling and decreases the time required for processing orders. (c) An order for commodities or services shall provide leadtime sufficient for purchase of materials, production or preparation, and delivery or completion. (d) The central nonprofit agency shall keep the contracting activity informed of any changes in leadtime experienced by its nonprofit agencies in order to keep to a minimum requests for extensions once an order is placed. Where, due to unusual conditions, an order does not provide sufficient leadtime, the central nonprofit agency or the individual nonprofit agency may request an extension of delivery or completion date which should be granted, if feasible. If extension of delivery or completion date is not feasible, the contracting activity shall: (1) Notify the central nonprofit agency and the individual nonprofit agency(ies) as appropriate. (2) Request the central nonprofit agency to reallocate or to issue a purchase exception authorizing procurement from commercial sources as provided in §51–5.4 of this chapter. (e) The contracting activity shall promptly provide to the central nonprofit agency concerned a copy of all orders issued to nonprofit agencies. (f) The written direct order authorization remains valid until it is revoked by the central nonprofit agency. § 51-6.2 Allocation process. (a) In those cases where a direct order authorization has not been issued as described in §51–6.1, the contracting activity shall submit written requests for allocation to the appropriate central nonprofit agency indicated by the Procurement List at the address listed below:
(b) Requests for allocations shall contain, as a minimum: (1) For commodities. Name, stock number, latest specification, quantity, unit price, and place and time of delivery. (2) For services. Type and location of service required, latest specification, work to be performed, estimated volume, and time for completion. (c) Contracting activities shall request allocations in sufficient time for the central nonprofit agency to reply, for the order(s) to be placed, and for the nonprofit agencies to furnish the commodity or service (see paragraph (i) of this section). (d) When a commodity on the Procurement List also appears on the Federal Prison Industries' “Schedule of Products,” the contracting activity shall obtain clearance from the Federal Prison Industries prior to requesting an allocation or placing an order directly to the nonprofit agency(ies). (e) The central nonprofit agency shall make allocations to the appropriate nonprofit agency(ies) upon receipt of a request from the contracting activity and instruct that the orders be forwarded to the central nonprofit agency or direct to the nonprofit agency(ies) with a copy provided promptly to the central nonprofit agency. (f) Central nonprofit agencies shall reply promptly to requests for allocation. When a request for allocation provides a delivery schedule (based on established lead times and time required for processing the allocation request) which cannot be met, the central nonprofit agency shall request a revision, which the contracting activity shall grant, if feasible, or the central nonprofit agency shall issue a purchase exception authorizing procurement from commercial sources as provided in §51–5.4 of this chapter. (g) An allocation is not an obligation to supply a commodity or service, or an obligation for the contracting activity to issue an order. Nonprofit agencies are not authorized to commence production until receipt of an order. (h) Upon receipt of an allocation, the contracting activity shall promptly submit an order to the appropriate central nonprofit agency or designated nonprofit agency(ies). Where this cannot be done promptly, the contracting activity shall advise the central nonprofit agency and the nonprofit agency(ies) immediately. (i) An order for commodities or services shall provide leadtime sufficient for purchase of materials, production or preparation, and delivery or completion. (j) The Central nonprofit agency shall keep the contracting activity informed of any changes in leadtime experienced by its nonprofit agency(ies) in order to keep to a minimum requests for extensions once an order is placed. Where, due to unusual conditions, an order does not provide sufficient leadtime, the central nonprofit agency or nonprofit agency may request an extension of delivery or completion date which should be granted, if feasible. If extension of delivery or completion date is not feasible, the contracting activity shall: (1) Notify the central nonprofit agency and nonprofit agency(ies) as appropriate. (2) Request the central nonprofit agency to reallocate or to issue a purchase exception authorizing procurement from commercial sources as provided in §51–5.4 of this chapter. (k) In those instances where the central nonprofit agency is the prime contractor rather than the nonprofit agency, the central nonprofit agency will designate the nonprofit agency(ies) authorized by the Committee to furnish definite quantities of commodities or specific services upon receipt of an order from the contracting activity. [56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-6.3 Long-term procurements. (a) Contracting activities are encouraged to investigate long-term ordering agreements for commodities listed on the Procurement List to level off demand, thereby helping ensure stability of employment and development of job skills for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. (b) Contracting activities are encouraged to use the longest contract term available by law to their agencies for contracts for commodities and services under the AbilityOne Program, in order to minimize the time and expense devoted to formation and renewal of these contracts. [56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 62 FR 32237, June 13, 1997; 71 FR 68494, Nov. 27, 2006] § 51-6.4 Military resale commodities. (a) Purchase procedures for ordering military resale commodities are available from the central nonprofit agencies. Authorized resale outlets (military commissary stores, Armed Forces exchanges and like activities of other Government departments and agencies) shall request the central nonprofit agency responsible for the military resale commodity being ordered to designate the nonprofit agency or its agent to which the outlets shall forward orders. (b) Authorized resale outlets shall stock military resale commodities in as broad a range as practicable. Authorized resale outlets may stock commercial items comparable to military resale commodities they stock, except that military commissary stores shall stock military resale commodities in the 300–800–, 900–, 1000–, 1100–, and 10000– (10000–10999) series exclusively, unless an exception has been granted on an individual store basis for the stocking of comparable commercial items for which there is a significant customer demand. (c) The Defense Commissary Agency shall, after consultation with the Committee: (1) Establish mandatory lists of military resale commodities to be stocked in commissary stores. (2) Require the stocking in commissary stores of military resale commodities in the 0– (0–99), 200–, 300–, 400–, 500–, 600–, 700–, 800–, 900–, 1000–, 1100–, 1200– (1200–9999), and 10000– (10000–10999) series in as broad a range as is practicable. (3) Issue guidance requiring commissary store personnel to maximize sales potential of military resale commodities. (4) Establish policies and procedures which reserve to its agency headquarters the authority to grant exceptions to the exclusive stocking of 300–, 800–, 900–, 1000–, 1100–, and 10000– (10000–10999) series military resale commodities. (d) The Defense Commissary Agency shall provide the Committee a copy of each directive which relates to the stocking of military resale commodities in commissary stores, including exceptions authorizing the stocking of commercial items in competition with 300–, 800–, 900–, 1000–, 1100–, and 10000– (10000–10999) series military resale commodities. (e) The prices of military resale commodities include delivery to destination or, in the case of destinations overseas, to designated depots at ports of embarkation. Zone pricing is used for delivery to Alaska and Hawaii. [56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59343, Nov. 16, 1994; 62 FR 32237, June 13, 1997; 71 FR 67312, Nov. 21, 2006] § 51-6.5 Adjustment and cancellation of orders. When the central nonprofit agency or an individual nonprofit agency fails to comply with the terms of a Government order, the contracting activity shall make every effort to negotiate an adjustment before taking action to cancel the order. When a Government order is canceled for failure to comply with its terms, the central nonprofit agency shall be notified, and, if practicable, requested to reallocate the order. The central nonprofit agency shall notify the Committee of any cancellation of an order and the reasons for that cancellation. § 51-6.6 Request for waiver of specification requirement. (a) Nonprofit agencies and central nonprofit agencies are encouraged to recommend changes to specification requirements or request waivers where there are opportunities to provide equal or improved products at a lower cost to the Government. (b) A nonprofit agency shall not request a waiver of a specification requirement except when it is not possible to obtain the material meeting the specification or when other requirements contained in the specification cannot be met. (c) Requests for waiver of specification shall be transmitted by the nonprofit agency to its central nonprofit agency. (d) The central nonprofit agency shall review the request and the specification to determine if the request is valid and shall submit to the contracting activity only those requests which it has determined are necessary to enable the nonprofit agency to furnish the item. (e) The central nonprofit agency request for waiver shall be transmitted in writing to the contracting activity. In addition, a copy of the request shall be transmitted to the Committee, annotated to include a statement concerning the impact on the cost of producing the item if the waiver is approved. § 51-6.7 Orders in excess of nonprofit agency capability. (a) Nonprofit agencies are expected to furnish commodities on the Procurement List within the time frames specified by the Government. The nonprofit agency must have the necessary production facilities to meet normal fluctuations in demand. (b) Nonprofit agencies shall take those actions necessary to ensure that they can ship commodities within the time frames specified by the Government. In instances where the nonprofit agency determines that it cannot ship the commodity in the quantities specified by the required shipping date, it shall notify the central nonprofit agency and the contracting activity. The central nonprofit agency shall request a revision of the shipping schedule which the contracting activity should grant, if feasible, or the central nonprofit agency shall issue a purchase exception authorizing procurement from commercial sources as provided in §51–5.4 of this chapter. § 51-6.8 Deletion of items from the Procurement List. (a) When a central nonprofit agency decides to request that the Committee delete a commodity or service from the Procurement List, it shall notify the Committee staff immediately. Before reaching a decision to request a deletion of an item from the Procurement List, the central nonprofit agency shall determine that none of its nonprofit agencies is capable and desirous of furnishing the commodity or service involved. (b) Except in cases where the Government is no longer procuring the item in question, the Committee shall, prior to deleting an item from the Procurement List, determine that none of the nonprofit agencies of the other central nonprofit agency is desirous and capable of furnishing the commodity or service involved. (c) Nonprofit agencies will normally be required to complete production of any orders for commodities on hand regardless of the decision to delete the item. Nonprofit agencies shall obtain concurrence of the contracting activity and the Committee prior to returning a purchase order to the contracting activity. (d) For services, a nonprofit agency shall notify the contracting activity of its intent to discontinue performance of the service 90 days in advance of the termination date to enable the contracting activity to assure continuity of the service after the nonprofit agency's discontinuance. (e) The Committee may delete an item from the Procurement List without a request from a central nonprofit agency if the Committee determines that none of the nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program are capable and desirous of furnishing the commodity or service to the Government, or if the Committee decides that the commodity or service is no longer suitable for procurement from nonprofit agencies employing people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. In considering such an action, the Committee will consult with the appropriate central nonprofit agency, the nonprofit agency or agencies involved, and the contracting activity. [56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991; 56 FR 64002, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994; 71 FR 68494, Nov. 27, 2006] § 51-6.9 Correspondence and inquiries. Routine contracting activity correspondence or inquiries concerning deliveries of commodities being shipped from or performance of services by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities shall be with the nonprofit agency involved. Major problems shall be referred to the appropriate central nonprofit agency. In those instances where the problem cannot be resolved by the central nonprofit agency and the contracting activity involved, the contracting activity or central nonprofit agency shall notify the Committee of the problem so that action can be taken by the Committee to resolve it. § 51-6.10 Quality of merchandise. (a) Commodities furnished under Government specification by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities shall be manufactured in strict compliance with such specifications. Where no specifications exist, commodities furnished shall be of a quality equal to or higher than similar items available on the commercial market. Commodities shall be inspected utilizing nationally recognized test methods and procedures for sampling and inspection. (b) Services furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities shall be performed in accordance with Government specifications and standards. Where no Government specifications and standards exist, the services shall be performed in accordance with commercial practices. § 51-6.11 Quality complaints. (a) When the quality of a commodity received is not considered satisfactory by the using activity, the activity shall take the following actions as appropriate: (1) For commodities received from Defense Logistics Agency supply centers, General Services Administration supply distribution facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs distribution division or other central stockage depots, or specifically authorized supply source, notify the supplying agency in writing in accordance with that agency's procedures. The supplying agency shall, in turn, provide copies of the notice to the nonprofit agency involved and its central nonprofit agency. (2) For commodities received directly from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, address complaints to the nonprofit agency involved with a copy to the central nonprofit agency with which it is affiliated. (b) When the quality of a service is not considered satisfactory by the contracting activity, it shall address complaints to the nonprofit agency involved with a copy to the central nonprofit agency with which it is affiliated. § 51-6.12 Specification changes and similar actions. (a) Contracting activities shall notify the nonprofit agency or agencies authorized to furnish a commodity on the Procurement List and the central nonprofit agency concerned of any changes to the specification or other description of the commodity. (b) When a Government entity is changing the specification or description of a commodity on the Procurement List, including a change that involves the assignment of a new national stock number or item designation, the office assigned responsibility for the action shall obtain the comments of the Committee and the central nonprofit agency concerned on the proposed change and shall notify the nonprofit agency and the central nonprofit agency concerned at least 90 days prior to placing an order for a commodity covered by the new specification or description. (c) For services on the Procurement List, the contracting activity shall notify the nonprofit agency furnishing the service and the central nonprofit agency concerned at least 90 days prior to the date that any changes in the statement of work or other conditions of performance will be required, including assumption of performance of the service by the contracting activity. (d) If an emergency makes it impossible for a contracting activity to give the 90-day notice required by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the contracting activity shall inform the nonprofit agency and the central nonprofit agency concerned of the reasons it cannot meet the 90-day notice requirement when it places the order or change notice. (e) Nonprofit agencies shall recommend changes in specifications, item descriptions, and statements of work that will improve the commodity or service being provided, reduce costs, or improve overall value to the Government. Contracting activities shall respond promptly to these recommendations and work with the nonprofit agencies to implement them when appropriate. [56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994; 62 FR 66529, Dec. 19, 1998] § 51-6.13 Replacement and similar commodities. (a) When a commodity on the Procurement List is replaced by another commodity which has not been recently procured, and a nonprofit agency can furnish the replacement commodity in accordance with the Government's quality standards and delivery schedules, the replacement commodity is automatically considered to be on the Procurement List and shall be procured from the nonprofit agency designated by the Committee at the fair market price the Committee has set for the replacement commodity. The commodity being replaced shall continue to be included on the Procurement List until there is no longer a Government requirement for that commodity. (b) If contracting activities desire to procure additional sizes, colors, or other variations of a commodity after the commodity is added to the Procurement List, and these similar commodities have not recently been procured, these commodities are also automatically considered to be on the Procurement List. (c) In accordance with §51–5.3 of this chapter, contracting activities are not permitted to purchase commercial items that are essentially the same as commodities on the Procurement List. [59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-6.14 Replacement services. If a service is on the Procurement List to meet the needs of a Government entity at a specific location and the entity moves to another location, the service at the new location is automatically considered to be on the Procurement List if a qualified nonprofit agency is available to provide the service at the new location, unless the service at that location is already being provided by another contractor. If the service at the new location is being provided by another contractor, the service will not be on the Procurement List unless the Committee adds it as prescribed in part 51–2 of this chapter. If another Government entity moves into the old location, the service at that location will remain on the Procurement List to meet the needs of the new Government entity. [63 FR 16439, Apr. 3, 1998] § 51-6.15 Disputes. Disputes between a nonprofit agency and a contracting activity arising out of matters covered by parts 51–5 and 51–6 of this chapter shall be resolved, where possible, by the contracting activity and the nonprofit agency, with assistance from the appropriate central nonprofit agency. Disputes which cannot be resolved by these parties shall be referred to the Committee for resolution. [62 FR 66529, Dec. 19, 1997. Redesignated at 63 FR 16439, Apr. 3, 1998.] PART 51–7 — PROCEDURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Section Contents § 51-7.1 Purpose and scope. § 51-7.2 Early involvement in private, State, and local activities requiring Federal approval. § 51-7.3 Ensuring environmental documents are actually considered in agency determinations. § 51-7.4 Typical classes of action. § 51-7.5 Environmental information.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Source: 56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted. § 51-7.1 Purpose and scope. (a) Purpose. This part implements the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and provides for the implementation of those provisions identified in 40 CFR 1507.3(b) of the regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR parts 1500–1508) published pursuant to NEPA. (b) Scope. This part applies to all actions of the Committee for Purchase from Persons who are Blind or Severely Disabled which may affect environmental quality in the United States. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] § 51-7.2 Early involvement in private, State, and local activities requiring Federal approval. (a) 40 CFR 1501.2(d) requires agencies to provide for early involvement in actions which, while planned by private applicants or other non-Federal entities, require some sort of Federal approval. Pursuant to the JWOD Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c), the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled makes the determination as to which qualified nonprofit agency serving persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities will furnish designated products and services to the Government. (b) To implement the requirements of 40 CFR 1501.2(d) with respect to these actions, the Committee staff shall consult as required with other appropriate parties to initiate and coordinate the necessary environmental analysis. The Executive Director shall determine on the basis of information submitted by private agencies and other non-Federal entities or generated by the Committee whether the proposed action is one that normally does not require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement (EIS) as set forth in §51–7.4, or is one that requires an environmental assessment as set forth in 40 CFR 1501.4. (c) To facilitate compliance with these requirements, private agencies and other non-Federal entities are expected to: (1) Contact the Committee staff as early as possible in the planning process for guidance on the scope and level of environmental information required to be submitted in support of their request; (2) Conduct any studies which are deemed necessary and appropriate by the Committee to determine the impact of the proposed action on the human environment; (3) Consult with appropriate Federal, regional, State and local agencies and other potentially interested parties during preliminary planning stages to ensure that all environmental factors are identified; (4) Submit applications for all Federal, regional, State and local approvals as early as possible in the planning process; (5) Notify the Committee as early as possible of all other Federal, regional, State, local and Indian tribe actions required for project completion so that the Committee may coordinate all Federal environmental reviews; and (6) Notify the Committee of all known parties potentially affected by or interested in the proposed action. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] § 51-7.3 Ensuring environmental documents are actually considered in agency determinations. (a) 40 CFR 1505.1 of the NEPA regulations contains requirements to ensure adequate consideration of environmental documents in agency decision-making. To implement these requirements, the Committee staff shall: (1) Consider all relevant environmental documents in evaluating proposals for agency action; (2) Ensure that all relevant environmental documents, comments and responses accompany the proposal through the agency review processes; (3) Consider only those alternatives discussed in the relevant environmental documents when evaluating proposals for agency action; and (4) Where an EIS has been prepared, consider the specific alternative analysis in the EIS when evaluating the proposal which is the subject of the EIS. (b) For each of the Committee's actions authorized by the JWOD Act, the following list identifies the point at which the NEPA process begins, the point at which it ends, and the key agency official or office required to consider the relevant environmental documents as a part of their decision-making: (1) Action: Request. (2) Start of NEPA process: Upon receipt of request. (3) Completion of NEPA process: When the deciding official reviews the proposal and makes a determination. (4) Key official or office required to consider environmental document: When a positive determination is made under §51–7.2(b), the applicant in conjunction with the Committee staff will prepare the necessary papers. § 51-7.4 Typical classes of action. (a) 40 CFR 1507.3(b)(2) in conjunction with 40 CFR 1508.4 requires agencies to establish three typical classes of action for similar treatment under NEPA. These typical classes of action are set forth below: (1) Actions normally requiring EIS: None. (2) Actions normally requiring assessments but not necessarily EISs: Requests for actions for which determinations under §51–7.2(b) are found to be affirmative. (3) Actions normally not requiring assessments or EISs: Request for actions by nonprofit agencies through the central nonprofit agencies to add a commodity or service to the Committee's Procurement List. (b) The Committee shall independently determine, by referring to 40 CFR 1508.27, whether an EIS or an environmental assessment is required where: (1) A proposal for agency action is not covered by one of the typical classes of action above; or (2) For actions which are covered, but where the presence of extraordinary circumstances indicates that some other level of environmental review may be appropriate. § 51-7.5 Environmental information. Interested parties may contact the Executive Director at (703) 603–7740 for information regarding the Committee's compliance with NEPA. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] PART 51–8 — PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF AGENCY MATERIALS
Section Contents § 51-8.1 Purpose. § 51-8.2 Scope. § 51-8.3 Definitions. § 51-8.4 Availability of materials. § 51-8.5 Requests for records. § 51-8.6 Aggregating requests. § 51-8.7 Committee response to requests for records. § 51-8.8 Business information. § 51-8.9 Records of other agencies. § 51-8.10 Appeals. § 51-8.11 Extensions of time. § 51-8.12 Fee schedule. § 51-8.13 Fees charged by category of requester. § 51-8.14 Fee waivers and reductions. § 51-8.15 Collection of fees and charges. § 51-8.16 Preservation of records.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552. Source: 54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991. § 51-8.1 Purpose. These regulations implement the provisions of the “Freedom of Information Act,” 5 U.S.C. 552. They establish procedures under which the public may inspect and obtain copies of material maintained by the Committee, provide for administrative appeal of initial determinations to deny requests for material, and prescribe fees to be charged by the Committee to recover search, review, and duplication costs. [59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.2 Scope. (a) These regulations shall apply to all final determinations made by the Committee, including all objections; and to any other Committee records reasonably described and requested by a person in accordance with these regulations—except to the extent that such material is exempt in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. Where a request does not reasonably describe the requested information, the requester will be asked to provide more specific information. (b) Requests for inspection and copies shall not be granted with respect to matters that are: (1) Related to records: (i) Specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive Order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy, and (ii) In fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive Order; (2) Related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the Committee; (3) Specifically exempted from disclosure by statute; (4) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential; (5) Inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the Committee; (6) Personnel, medical files and similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (7) Records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information: (i) Could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (ii) Would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (iii) Could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (iv) Could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution, which furnished information on a confidential basis and, in the case of a record or information compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, (v) Would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or (vi) Could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual; (8) Contained in or related to examination, operation, or condition of reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or (9) Geological and geophysical information and data, including maps concerning wells. (c) Whenever a request is made which involves access to records described in paragraph (b)(7)(i) of this section and: (1) The investigation or proceeding involves a possible violation of criminal law; and (2) There is reason to believe that: (i) The subject of the investigation or proceeding is not aware of its pendency, and (ii) Disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, then the agency may, during only such time as that circumstance continues, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section. (d) Whenever informant records maintained by a criminal law enforcement agency under an informant's name or personal identifier are requested by a third party according to the informant's name or personal identifier, the agency may treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section unless the informant's status as an informant has been officially confirmed. (e) Whenever a request is made which involves access to records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism, and the existence of the records is classified information as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Bureau may, as long as the existence of the records remains classified information, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section. § 51-8.3 Definitions. As used in this part: (a) The term Act means the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), as amended. (b) The term Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. (c) The term Executive Director means the Executive Director of the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled. (d) The term exempt materials means those materials described in §51–8.2(b). (e) The term non-exempt materials refers to all materials described in §51–8.2(a), except exempt materials included in §51–8.2(b). (f) The term duplication refers to the process of making a copy of a document necessary to respond to a request. Such copies can take the form of paper copy, audio-visual materials, or machine readable materials (e.g., magnetic tape or disk), among others. (g) The term search includes all time spent looking for material that is responsive to a request, including page-by-page or line-by-line identification of material within documents. (h) The term review refers to the process of examining documents located in response to a request that is for a commercial use to determine whether any portion of any document located is permitted to be withheld. It also includes processing any documents for disclosure, e.g., doing all that is necessary to excise them and otherwise prepare them for release. Review does not include time spent resolving general legal or policy issues regarding the application of exemptions. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.4 Availability of materials. Material described in 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) shall be available for inspection during normal business hours at the Committee's offices, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. An individual who intends to visit the Committee offices to inspect this material shall make an appointment with the Executive Director at least one week in advance, except when the Committee has provided notification to the individual that the material is available for inspection in the Committee offices, in which case an appointment must be made at least 24 hours in advance. [59 FR 59344, Nov. 16, 1994, as amended at 63 FR 16440, Apr. 3, 1998; 65 FR 35287, June 2, 2000] § 51-8.5 Requests for records. (a) Requests to obtain copies of any material maintained by the Committee must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director at the Committee's offices, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. The requester may in his or her petition ask for a fee waiver if there is likely to be a charge for the requested information. All requests for records shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to the FOIA, regardless of whether the Act is specifically mentioned. Failure to submit a request in accordance with these procedures may delay the processing of the request. (b) A request must reasonably describe the records to enable agency personnel to locate them with reasonable effort. Where possible, a requester should supply specific information regarding dates, titles, and other identification which will help to identify the records. (c) If the Committee determines that a request does not reasonably describe the records, it shall inform the requester of this fact and extend to the requester an opportunity to clarify the request or to confer promptly with knowledgeable agency personnel to attempt to identify the records he or she is seeking. The “date of receipt” in such instances shall be the date of receipt of the amended or clarified request. (d) Nothing in this part shall be interpreted to preclude the Committee from honoring an oral request for information, but, if the requester is dissatisfied with the response, the Committee official involved shall advise the requester to submit a written request in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section. The “date of receipt” of such a request shall be the date of receipt of the written request. For recordkeeping purposes, the Committee in responding to an oral request for information may ask the requester to confirm the oral request in writing. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994; 63 FR 16440, Apr. 3, 1998; 65 FR 35287, June 2, 2000] § 51-8.6 Aggregating requests. When the Committee reasonably believes that a requester, or a group of requesters acting in concert, is attempting to break a request down into a series of requests for the purpose of evading the assessment of fees, the Committee may aggregate any such requests and charge accordingly. Elements to be considered in determining whether a belief would be reasonable include the time period in which the requests have occurred and the subject matter involved. § 51-8.7 Committee response to requests for records. (a) An initial determination whether, and to what extent, to grant each request for records or a fee waiver shall be made by the Executive Director within 10 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after receipt of that request. The person making the request shall be notified as soon as the determination is made. (b) In making an initial determination whether and to what extent requested information will be released, the Committee shall first consider whether the material requested is of a type described in §51–8.2(a); if it is, the request shall be granted unless the material is exempted by §51–8.2(b). If the material requested is not a type described in §51–8.2(a), or is the subject of one or more exemptions, the request may be denied. (c) If a determination is made to grant a request, the relevant material shall be furnished as soon as possible following the determination to grant the request, and after payment of the fee specified in §51–8.12 when required, except that copies of less than 10 pages of material requested in person ordinarily will be furnished immediately following the determination to grant the request. (d) Where portions of the requested material are exempt under §51–8.2(b), and are reasonably segregable from the remainder of the material, those portions shall be excised from the materials disclosed. (e) If a determination is made to deny a request, or a portion thereof, the notification shall include a statement of the reasons for such action, shall set forth the name and position of the person responsible for the denial, and shall advise the requester of the right, and the procedures required under §51–8.10 to appeal the denial to the Chairperson. (f) The Committee will require prepayment of fees for search, review, and reproduction which are likely to exceed $250.00. When the anticipated total fee exceeds $250.00, the requester will receive notice to prepay and at the same time will be given an opportunity to modify his or her request to reduce the fee. The Committee will also inform the requester that fees for search time will be charged even if the search proves unsuccessful. The Committee will not start processing a request until payment is received. (g) Whenever duplication fees or search fees are anticipated to exceed $25.00, but not more than $250.00 and the requester has not indicated, in advance, a willingness to pay fees as high as those anticipated, the Committee will notify the requester of the amount of the anticipated fee. Similarly, where an extensive and therefore costly successful search is anticipated, the Committee will notify requesters of the anticipated fees. The Committee will not start processing the request until assurance of payment is received. (h) Photocopies and directives furnished to the public are restricted to one copy of each page. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.8 Business information. (a) When, in responding to an FOIA request, the Committee cannot readily determine whether the information obtained from a person is privileged or confidential business information or when a submitter has labeled information as proprietary at the time of submission, it shall: (1) Obtain and consider the views of the submitter of the information and provide the submitter at least 10 working days to object to any decision to disclose the information and to provide reasons for the objection; (2) Provide business information submitters with notice of any determination to disclose such records, to which the submitter has objected to disclosure, 10 working days prior to the disclosure date, and the reasons for which its disclosure objection is not sustained; (3) Notify business information submitters promptly of all instances in which FOIA requesters are bringing suit seeking to compel disclosure of submitted information. (b) The submitter, in responding to a request under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, must explain fully all grounds upon which disclosure is opposed. For example, if the submitter maintains that disclosure is likely to cause substantial harm to its competitive position, the submitter must explain how disclosure would cause such harm. (c) When a central nonprofit agency has submitted business information on behalf of a workshop, the workshop shall be considered to be the “business information submitter” for the purposes of this section. § 51-8.9 Records of other agencies. (a) When the Committee receives a request to make available current records that are the primary responsibility of another agency, the Committee will refer the request to the agency concerned for appropriate action. (b) The Committee will notify the requestor of the referral in paragraph (a) of this section and include the name and address of the office to which the request was referred. § 51-8.10 Appeals. (a) An appeal to the Chairperson of any denial, in whole or in part, of a request for access to and copies of material may be made by submission of a written request for reconsideration. Such requests shall state the specific reasons for reconsideration that address directly the grounds upon which the denial was based. Requests must be addressed to the Chairperson at the Committee offices and must be received within 30 calendar days of the requester's receipt of the Committee's initial denial. (b) The Chairperson shall make a determination with respect to any appeal within 20 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after receipt of the request for reconsideration. The person making such a request shall immediately be notified by mail of the determination. (c) If the initial denial is reversed by the Chairperson, any material with which the reversal is concerned shall be made available in accordance with §51–8.7(b). (d) If the denial is upheld, in whole or in part, the Chairperson shall include in the notification a statement of the requester's right of judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4), and the name and position of the person responsible for the denial. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.11 Extensions of time. (a) Whenever unusual circumstances exist, such as those set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, the times within which determinations must be made by the Executive Director on requests for access (10 working days), and by the Chairperson on requests for reconsideration (20 working days), may be extended by written notice to the requester for a time not to exceed an aggregate of 30 working days. The notice shall set forth the reasons for such extension, and the date on which a determination is expected to be made. Extensions of time shall be utilized only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular request. (b) As used in this section, “unusual circumstances” may mean: (1) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are the subject of a single request; (2) The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request; or (3) The need to obtain and consider the views of a business information submitter under §51–8.8. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.12 Fee schedule. (a) This schedule sets forth fees to be charged for processing requests for records under the FOIA. No higher fees or charges in addition to those provided for in this schedule may be charged a party requesting records under FOIA. (b) Subject to the criteria set forth in §51–8.13, fees may be assessed under FOIA on all requests involving document search, duplication, and review. Fees may also be charged in situations involving special service to requests, such as certifying that records requested are true copies, or sending records by special methods such as express mail, etc. (c) Instances in which fees may not be charged are as follows: (1) No charge shall be made for the first 100 pages of duplicated information (81/2&inch;×14&inch; or smaller-size paper), or the first two hours of manual search time, or the first two minutes of computer search time, except on requests seeking documents for a commercial use, as specified in §51–8.13; (2) Also, no charge shall be made—even to commercial use requesters—if the cost of collecting a fee would be equal to or greater than the fee itself; (3) In addition, fees shall not be charged for time spent by an agency employee in resolving legal or policy issues, or in monitoring a requester's inspection of agency records; (4) Documents shall also be furnished without charge when members of the public provide their own copying equipment, in which case no copying fee will be charged (although search and review fees may still be assessed). (d) Fees for records and related services are as follows: (1) The fee for photocopies of pages 81/2&inch;×14&inch; or smaller shall be $0.20 for each page; (2) The fee for photocopies larger than 81/2&inch;×14&inch; shall be $0.50 per linear foot of the longest side of the copy; (3) The fee for other forms of duplicated information, such as microfilm, audio-visual materials, or machine-readable documentation ( i.e. , magnetic tape or disk) shall be the actual direct cost of producing the document(s); (4) Manual searches shall be charged at the salary rate of the employee conducting the search, plus 16 percent of the employee's basic pay. (e) Computer searches and services shall be charged at the rate of $22.00 per minute. The $22.00-per-minute rate includes the cost of operating the central processing unit (CPU), and the computer operator's salary. When the services of a computer programmer or a computer program analyst are required in connection with an FOIA request, the fee for those services shall be $16.00 and $20.00 per hour, respectively. (f) Charges for unsuccessful searches, or searches which fail to locate records or which locate records which are exempt from disclosure, shall be assessed at the same fee rate as searches which result in disclosure of records. (g) The fee for providing review services shall be the hourly salary rate ( i.e. , basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee conducting the review to determine whether any information is exempt from mandatory disclosure. § 51-8.13 Fees charged by category of requester. (a) Under the FOIA, as amended, there are four categories of FOIA requesters: Commercial use requesters; educational and non-commercial scientific institutions; representatives of the news media; and all other requesters. The Act prescribes specific levels of fees for each category. (b) Commercial use requesters. For commercial use requesters, the Committee shall assess charges which recover the full direct costs of searching for, reviewing for release, and duplicating the records sought. Commercial use requesters are not entitled to two hours of free search time nor 100 free pages of reproduction of documents referenced in §51–8.12(c)(1). The Committee may charge for the cost of searching for and reviewing records for commercial use requesters even if there is ultimately no disclosure of records. (1) A commercial use requester is defined as one who seeks information for a use or purpose that furthers the commercial, trade, or profit interests of the requester or the person on whose behalf the request is made. (2) In determining whether a requester properly belongs in this category the Committee must determine whether the requester will put the documents to a commercial use. Where the Committee has reasonable cause to doubt the use to which a requester will put the records sought, or where that use is not clear from the request itself, the Committee may seek additional clarification from the requester. (c) Educational and non-commercial scientific institution requesters. Fees for this category of requesters shall be limited to the cost of providing duplication service alone, minus the charge for the first 100 reproduced pages. No charge shall be made for search or review services. To qualify for this category, requesters must show that the request is being made as authorized by and under the auspices of an eligible institution and that the records are not sought for a commercial use, but are sought in furtherance of scholarly research (if the request is from a non-commercial scientific institution). (1) The term “educational institution” refers to a preschool, a public or private elementary or secondary school, an institution of graduate higher education, an institution of undergraduate higher education, an institution of professional education, and an institution of vocational education, which operates a program or programs of scholarly research. (2) The term “non-commercial scientific institution” refers to an institution that is not operated on a “commercial” basis, and which is operated solely for the purpose of conducting scientific research the results of which are not intended to promote any particular product or industry. (d) Requesters who are representatives of the news media—Fees for this category of requesters shall also be limited to the cost of providing duplication service alone, minus the charge for the first 100 reproduced pages. No charge shall be made for providing search for review services. Requests in this category must not be made for a commercial use. (1) The term “representative of the news media” refers to any person actively gathering news for an entity that is organized and operated to publish or broadcast news to the public. (2) The term “news” means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. (3) Examples of news media entities include television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large, and publishers of periodicals which disseminate news and who make their products available for purchase or subscription by the general public. (4) “Freelance” journalists may be regarded as working for a news organization if they can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that organization, even though not actually employed by it. (e) All other requesters. Fees for requesters who do not fit into any of the above categories shall be assessed for the full reasonable direct cost of searching for and duplicating documents that are responsive to a request, except that the first 100 pages of reproduction and the first two hours of search time shall be furnished without charge. § 51-8.14 Fee waivers and reductions. The Committee will waive or reduce fees on requests for information if disclosure of the information is deemed to be in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the Government, and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. (a) In determining when fees shall be waived or reduced, the Committee will consider the following six factors: (1) The subject of the request, i.e. , whether the subject of the requested records concerns “the operations or activities of the Government;” (2) The informative value of the information to be disclosed, i.e. , whether the disclosure is “likely to contribute” to an understanding of Government operations or activities; (3) The contribution to an understanding of the subject by the general public likely to result from disclosure, i.e. , whether disclosure of the requested information will contribute to “public understanding”; (4) The significance of the contribution to public understanding, i.e. , whether the disclosure is likely to contribute “significantly” to public understanding of Government operations or activities; (5) The existence and magnitude of a commercial interest, i.e. , whether the requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure; and, if so, (6) The primary interest in disclosure, i.e. , whether the magnitude of the identified commercial interest of the requester is sufficiently large, in comparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is “primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.” (b) The Committee may waive or reduce fees associated with a request for disclosure regardless of whether a waiver or reduction has been requested if the Committee determines that disclosure will primarily benefit the general public. (c) Fees shall be waived in all circumstances where the amount of the fee is $10 or less as the cost of collection would be greater than the fee. This minimum shall be applied separately to each Committee response when it is necessary for the Committee to make more than one response to a request for records. [54 FR 15189, Apr. 17, 1989. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994] § 51-8.15 Collection of fees and charges. (a) Except when prepayment is required, payments shall be collected to the fullest extent possible at the time the requested materials are furnished. Payments shall be made by requesters within 30 days of the date of the billing. (b) Payments shall be made by check, draft, or money order made payable to the Treasury of the United States. (c) In instances where a requester has previously failed to pay a fee, the Committee may require the requester to pay the full amount owed, plus any applicable interest as provided below, as well as the full estimated fee associated with any new request before it begins to process the new or subsequent request. (d) On requests that result in fees being assessed, interest will be charged on an unpaid bill starting on the 31st day following the day on which the billing was sent. Interest will be at the rate prescribed in section 3717 of Title 31 United States Code, and will accrue from the date of the billing. (e) In attempting to collect fees levied under FOIA, the Committee will abide by the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97–365) in disclosing information to consumer reporting agencies and in the use of collection agencies, where appropriate, to encourage payment. § 51-8.16 Preservation of records. The Committee shall preserve all correspondence relating to the requests it receives under this part, and all records processed pursuant to such requests, until such time as the destruction of such correspondence and records is authorized pursuant to Title 44 United States Code, and to the General Records Schedule. Records shall not be destroyed while they are the subject of a pending request, appeal, or lawsuit under the Act. PART 51–9 — PRIVACY ACT RULES
Section Contents
Subpart 51–9.1—General Policy § 51-9.101 Maintenance of records. § 51-9.101-1 Collection and use. § 51-9.101-2 Standards of accuracy. § 51-9.101-3 Content of systems of records. § 51-9.101-4 Rules of conduct. § 51-9.101-5 Safeguarding systems of records. § 51-9.102 Availability of records. § 51-9.102-1 Specific exemptions.
Subpart 51–9.2—Disclosure of Records § 51-9.201 Conditions of disclosure. § 51-9.202 Accounting of disclosures.
Subpart 51–9.3—Individual Access to Records § 51-9.301 Notification. § 51-9.302 Times, places and requirements for access requests. § 51-9.303 Access procedures. § 51-9.303-1 Form of requests. § 51-9.303-2 Special requirements for medical/psychological records. § 51-9.303-3 Granting access. § 51-9.303-4 Denials of access. § 51-9.304 Fees. § 51-9.304-1 Records available without charge. § 51-9.304-2 Records available at a fee. § 51-9.304-3 Prepayment of fees over $25. § 51-9.304-4 Form of payment. § 51-9.304-5 Reproduction fee schedule.
Subpart 51–9.4—Requests To Amend Records § 51-9.401 Submission of requests to amend records. § 51-9.402 Review of requests to amend records. § 51-9.403 Approval of requests to amend. § 51-9.404 Refusal of request to amend. § 51-9.405 Request of review of refusal to amend a record.
Subpart 51–9.5—Report on New Systems and Alteration of Existing Systems § 51-9.501 Reporting requirement. § 51-9.502 Federal Register notice of establishment of new system or alteration of existing system. § 51-9.503 Effective date of new systems of records or alteration of an existing system of records.
Subpart 51–9.6—Exemptions [Reserved]
Subpart 51–9.7—Rules of Conduct for Disclosure of Information About an Individual § 51-9.701 Committee rules of conduct.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a. Source: 40 FR 51168, Nov. 3, 1975, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991. Subpart 51–9.1—General Policy § 51-9.101 Maintenance of records. § 51-9.101-1 Collection and use. Any information used in whole or in part in making a determination about an individual's rights, benefits, or privileges under the Committee programs, shall, to the extent practicable, be collected directly from the subject individual. At the time information is collected, the individual must be informed of the authority for collecting such information, whether providing the information is mandatory or voluntary, the purposes for which the information will be used, the routine uses as published in theFederal Register,and the effects on the individual, if any, of not providing the information. The information collected shall be used only for the intended purpose or permission for additional use will be obtained from the subject individual. § 51-9.101-2 Standards of accuracy. The Executive Director shall ensure that all records which are used by the agency to make determinations about any individual are maintained with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is reasonably necessary to assure fairness to the individual. Upon petition by an individual, the Executive Director shall provide the individual with the opportunity to review his records, and to request amendment of a portion which the individual believes is not accurate, relevant, timely or complete. Prior to dissemination of records about any individual to any person or to another agency, exclusive of disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Executive Director shall make reasonable effort to ensure that such records are accurate, complete, timely, and relevant. § 51-9.101-3 Content of systems of records. The Executive Director shall maintain in records only such information about an individual as is relevant and necessary to accomplish an agency purpose required by statute or executive order. Such records shall not contain any information describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless specifically authorized by statute, by the subject individual, or is pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity. For these purposes, First Amendment rights include, but are not limited to, religious and political beliefs, freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and freedom to petition. § 51-9.101-4 Rules of conduct. Any employee of the Committee involved in the design, development, operation or maintenance of any system of records, or in maintaining any record, shall review the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a and these regulations, and shall conduct himself accordingly with the rules of conduct concerning the protection of personal information outlined in 41 CFR 51–9.7, Disclosure of Information about an Individual. § 51-9.101-5 Safeguarding systems of records. The Executive Director shall ensure that appropriate administrative, technical and physical safeguards are established to ensure the security and confidentiality of records and to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to their security or integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained. § 51-9.102 Availability of records. Committee records pertaining to an individual shall be made available to the subject individual to the greatest extent possible. Disclosures of records to other than the subject individual will be made only in accordance with subpart 51–9.2 of this part. § 51-9.102-1 Specific exemptions. Systems of records maintained by the Committee which have been exempted from certain requirements of the Privacy Act are designated in subpart 51–9.6 of this part. An individual shall have access to all exempted records containing information about him under procedures outlined in subpart 51–9.3 of this part. Upon request, an individual shall receive an accounting of any disclosure of information about him. Subpart 51–9.2—Disclosure of Records § 51-9.201 Conditions of disclosure. No Committee member or employee of the Committee shall disclose any record to any person or to another agency without the express written consent of the subject individual unless the disclosure is: (a) To Committee members or employees who have a need for the information in the official performance of their duties. (b) Required under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. (c) For a routine use as published in the annual notice in theFederal Register. (d) To the Bureau of Census for uses pursuant to Title 13. (e) To a recipient who has provided the agency with advance adequate written assurance that the record will be used solely as a statistical research or reporting record and the record is to be transferred in a form that is not individually identifiable. The written statement should include as a minimum: (1) A statement of the purpose for requesting the records, and (2) Certification that the records will be used only for statistical purposes. These written statements shall be maintained as records. In addition to stripping, personally identifying information from records released for statistical purpose, the Committee will ensure that the identity of the individual cannot reasonably be deducted by combining various statistical records. (f) To the National Archives of the United States as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, or for evaluation by the Administrator of General Services or his designee to determine whether the record has such value. (g) To another agency or instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law, and if the head of the agency or instrumentality has made a written request to the agency which maintains the record specifying the particular portion desired and the law enforcement activity for which the record is sought. (h) To a person showing compelling circumstances affecting the health and safety of an individual (not necessarily the individual to whom the record pertains). Upon such disclosure, a notification of such shall be sent to the last known address of the individual. (i) To either House of Congress or to a subcommittee or committee (joint or of either House, to the extent that the subject matter falls within their jurisdiction). (j) To the Comptroller General, or any of his authorized representatives in the course of the performance of the duties of the General Accounting Office, or (k) Pursuant to the order of the court of competent jurisdiction. § 51-9.202 Accounting of disclosures. (a) Except for disclosures made pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of §51–9.201 of this part, an accurate accounting of each disclosure will be made and retained for five years after the disclosure or for the life of the record, whichever is longer. The accounting will include the date, nature, and purpose of each disclosure, and the name and address of the person or agency to whom the disclosure is made. (b) The accounting will be recorded and maintained in any manner the Executive Director determines is satisfactory for the purposes of constructing a listing of all disclosures, and for providing a cross reference to the justification or basis upon which the disclosure was made, including written documentation required when records are released for statistical or law enforcement purposes and any written consents provided by the individual. (c) Except for disclosures made to agencies or instrumentalities in law enforcement activities in accordance with §51–9.201(e)(2) or for disclosures made from systems exempted from this requirement of the Act as outlined in subpart 51–9.6 of this part, the accounting of disclosures will be made available to the individual upon request. Procedures for requesting access to the accounting are outlined in subpart 51–9.3 of this part. Subpart 51–9.3—Individual Access to Records § 51-9.301 Notification. Any individual who wishes to determine if a system of records maintained by the Committee contains a record pertaining to him should direct a request to the Executive Director at the address indicated in the public notice describing the system of records which has been published in theFederal Register.The request should display clearly the legend “Privacy Act Request” both on the face of the request letter and on the face of the envelope. The request letter should contain the complete name and identifying number of the system as published in the Federal Register ; the full name, address, and telephone number of the subject individual; a brief description of the nature, time, place and circumstances of the individual's association with the Committee and any other information which the individual believes would facilitate the Executive Director's determination whether the individual's name is included in the system of records. The Executive Director shall answer or acknowledge the request within ten working days. § 51-9.302 Times, places and requirements for access requests. Records will be available for authorized access during normal business hours at the offices where the records are located. A requester should be prepared to identify himself through production of a driver's license, student or employee identification card, or other identification acceptable to the Executive Director. When the disclosure of records to the wrong individual would result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to the subject individual, the Executive Director may require a notarized statement of identity. The Executive Director shall ensure that such times, places, and requirements for identification are not excessive and do not restrict individual access unduly. § 51-9.303 Access procedures. § 51-9.303-1 Form of requests. (a) An individual must request access to his record in writing. The Executive Director shall accept by telephone only general inquiries for information regarding systems of records or procedures. (b) A written request should be directed to the Executive Director as listed in the public notice describing the system of records. The individual should display clearly on the face of the request letter and on the face of the envelope the legend “Privacy Act Request”, and include the complete name and identifying number of the system as published in the Federal Register ; the full name, address, the telephone number of the individual; a brief description of the nature, time, place and circumstances of the individual's association with the Committee; and any other information which the individual believes would facilitate the Executive Director's search for the record. (c) An individual who wishes to have a person of his choosing accompany him in reviewing a record must sign a statement authorizing the disclosure of his record in the presence of another individual, if so requested by the Executive Director. An individual who intends to visit the Committee office in order to review a record should make an appointment with the Executive Director at least one week in advance. § 51-9.303-2 Special requirements for medical/psychological records. (a) The Executive Director may require an individual who requests access to his medical or psychological record to designate a physician of his choice to whom he may disclose the individual's record if in the opinion of the Executive Director, disclosure directly to the individual might be harmful. (b) The Executive Director shall mark records which should not be disclosed directly to the subject individual and shall inform an individual requesting such records of the requirement to designate a physician to whom the records can be disclosed. § 51-9.303-3 Granting access. (a) Upon receipt of a request for access to non-exempt records, the Executive Director shall make such records available to the individual, or shall acknowledge the request within ten working days. The acknowledgment shall indicate when the Executive Director will make the record available. (b) If the Executive Director anticipates more than ten days in making a record available he also shall include in the acknowledgement specific reasons for the delay. (c) If an individual's request for access does not contain sufficient information to permit the Executive Director to locate the record, the Executive Director shall request additional information from the individual and shall have ten working days following receipt of the additional information in which to make the record available, or to acknowledge receipt of the request and indicate when the record will be available. In no case shall more information be requested from the individual than that contained in the pertinent system of records. (d) The Executive Director, at his discretion, either shall permit an individual to examine the original of the record, or shall provide the individual with a copy of the record. Fees shall be charged only for copies requested by the individual and not for copies provided to the individual for convenience of the agency. (e) An individual may request to pick up a record in person or receive it by mail, directed to the name and address provided by the individual in his request. The Executive Director shall not make a record available to a third party for delivery to the subject individual, except in the case of medical records outlined in §51–9.303–2. (f) The Executive Director shall maintain in an individual's record an accounting of disclosures to the individual's documenting compliance with the request. (g) The procedures for access to an accounting of disclosures is identical to the procedure for access to a record as set forth in this section. § 51-9.303-4 Denials of access. (a) The Executive Director may deny any individual access to his record only on the grounds that the Committee has published rules in the Federal Register exempting the pertinent system of records from the access requirement. (b) Upon receipt of a request for access to an exempt system, the Executive Director shall prepare a letter denying access. The letter of denial shall contain a justification for denial of access which includes appropriate citation to the exemption provisions of these rules or other Federal Register notice exempting the system. § 51-9.304 Fees. § 51-9.304-1 Records available without charge. The Executive Director shall make one copy of a record available to an employee without charge, and may waive the fee requirement for any other individual requesting records if the cost of collecting the fee is an unduly large part of, or greater than, the fee, or when furnishing the record without charge conforms to generally established business custom or is in the public interest. § 51-9.304-2 Records available at a fee. The Executive Director shall provide one copy of a record to the individual at a fee prescribed in §51–9.304–5. A reasonable number of additional copies will be provided for the applicable fee where reproduction services are not readily available. § 51-9.304-3 Prepayment of fees over $25. When the Executive Director determines that the anticipated total fee is likely to exceed $25, he shall notify the individual that he must prepay the anticipated fee prior to making the records available. The Committee will remit the excess paid by the individual or bill the individual for an additional amount according to variations between the final fee charged and the amount prepaid. § 51-9.304-4 Form of payment. Payment shall be by check or money order payable to the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled and shall be addressed to the Executive Director. [40 FR 51168, Nov. 3, 1975, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] § 51-9.304-5 Reproduction fee schedule. (a) The fee for reproducing a copy of a record (by routine electrostatic copying) up to and including material 81/2×14 inches shall be $0.10 per page. (b) The fee for reproducing a copy of a record over 81/2×14 inches or whose physical characteristics do not permit reproduction by routine electrostatic copying shall be the direct cost of reproducing the records through Government or commercial sources. Subpart 51–9.4—Requests To Amend Records § 51-9.401 Submission of requests to amend records. (a) An individual who desires to amend any record or information pertaining to him should direct a written request to the Executive Director, Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. (b) A request should bear the legend “Privacy Act—Request to Amend Record” prominently marked on both the face of the request letter and the envelope. (5 U.S.C. 552a) [40 FR 51168, Nov. 3, 1975. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994; 63 FR 16440, Apr. 3, 1998: 65 FR 35287, June 2, 2000] § 51-9.402 Review of requests to amend records. (a) Upon receipt of a request to amend a record, the responsible official, whenever practicable shall complete the review and advise the individual of the results within ten working days. If a determination cannot be made within ten working days, the Executive Director, within ten working days, shall send the individual a written acknowledgment of receipt of the request including a description of the request and the date when the requester may except to be advised of action taken on the request. Except in unusual circumstances, the Executive Director shall complete the review within 30 working days. In unusual circumstances, causing delay beyond the 30 day limit, the Executive Director shall inform the individual in writing of the cause of delay, the actions taken to review the record, and the date the Executive Director anticipates the review to be complete. (b) When reviewing a record in response to a request to amend, the Executive Director shall assess the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness of the record to ensure fairness to the individual in any determination made on the basis of the record. With respect to a request to delete information, the Executive Director also shall review the request and record to determine whether the information is relevant and necessary to accomplish an agency purpose required to be accomplished by law or Executive Order. § 51-9.403 Approval of requests to amend. If the Executive Director agrees to amend a record, he promptly shall make the necessary corrections to the record and shall send a copy of the corrected record to the individual. Where an accounting of disclosure has been maintained, he shall advise all previous recipients of the record of the fact that a correction was made of/and the substance of the correction. Where practicable, the Executive Director shall send a copy of the corrected record to previous recipients. § 51-9.404 Refusal of request to amend. (a) The Executive Director, or any official acting for him, shall have the authority to issue an initial refusal of a request to amend a record within his custody and shall be responsible for the initial adverse agency determination. (b) If the Executive Director, after reviewing the request to amend a record, determines not to amend the record, he promptly shall advise the requester in writing of the determination. The refusal letter (1) shall state the reasons for refusal, (2) shall state the requester's right to seek a review of the initial determination, and (3) shall state the procedures for requesting such review. § 51-9.405 Request of review of refusal to amend a record. (a) An individual who disagrees with the refusal to amend may appeal that refusal with the Committee. An individual should address a request for review of a refusal to amend any record, exclusive of a personnel record of a current Committee employee to the Chairperson, Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. (b) A request to review must be in writing and should include a copy of the initial request and refusal to amend. The request to review should bear the legend “Privacy Act—Request for Review of Refusal to Amend” on both the face of the letter and the envelope. The Chairperson shall complete the review and make a determination no later than 30 working days after receipt of the request for review, unless a determination is made to extend the 30 day period. If a determination is made to extend the 30 day period, the Chairperson shall notify the requester in writing of the reasons for the delay and the date when the review will be completed. (c) Upon receipt of a request to review a refusal to amend, the Chairperson shall undertake an independent review of the request and initial determination. If, after conducting the review, the Chairperson agrees to amend, he shall notify the requester promptly in writing of the determination, amend the record, and notify previous recipients in accordance with §51–9.403. (d) If, after conducting the review, the Chairperson agrees with the refusal to amend the record, he shall notify the requester promptly in writing of the determination. The notification shall include the reasons for the refusal, and shall advise the individual of his right to file a statement of disagreement, and the procedures for doing so. The Chairperson also shall advise the individual that such statement of disagreement will be made available in any subsequent disclosures of the record together with a concise statement summarizing reasons for refusal where the responsible official deems it appropriate. The Chairperson also will advise the individual of his right to bring civil action against the agency in a district court of the United States. (5 U.S.C. 552a) [40 FR 51168, Nov. 3, 1975, Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994; 59 FR 59345, Nov. 16, 1994; 63 FR 16440, Apr. 3, 1998; 65 FR 35287, June 2, 2000] Subpart 51–9.5—Report on New Systems and Alteration of Existing Systems § 51-9.501 Reporting requirement. (a) No later than 30 days prior to the establishment of a new systems of records, the Executive Director shall submit a copy of the proposal to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for their evaluation of the probable or potential effect of such proposal on the privacy and other personal or property rights of individuals of the disclosure of information relating to such individuals. (b) No later than 30 days prior to the alteration of a system of records, the Executive Director for the maintenance of that system of records shall submit a copy of the proposal to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for their evaluation of the probable or potential effect of such proposal on the privacy and other personal or property rights of individuals of the disclosure of information relating to such individuals. § 51-9.502 Federal Register notice of establishment of new system or alteration of existing system. (a) When the Executive Director receives notice that the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Office of Management and Budget do not object to the establishment of a new system of records, or the alteration of an existing system of records, or (b) When no fewer than 30 days elapse from the submission of the proposal to the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Office of Management and Budget, without receipt by the Executive Director of an objection to the proposal, then a notice shall be published in the Federal Register of the proposed establishment or alteration of a system of records. The notice shall include all of the information required to be provided by the Privacy Act of 1974, and such other information as deemed necessary. § 51-9.503 Effective date of new systems of records or alteration of an existing system of records. Systems of records proposed to be established or altered in accordance with the provision of the subpart shall be effective no sooner than 30 days from the publication of notice required by §51–9.502. Subpart 51–9.6—Exemptions [Reserved] Subpart 51–9.7—Rules of Conduct for Disclosure of Information About an Individual § 51-9.701 Committee rules of conduct. (a) Every Committee member and employee who is involved in the design, development, operation, or maintenance of a system of records, or who has access to a system of records, shall familiarize himself with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Committee regulations and orders issued thereunder and apply these requirements to all systems of records. (b) No Committee member or employee shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of the individual to whom the record pertains, unless the disclosure would be to a recipient specified in paragraph (c) of this section. The term “record” means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph. The term “system of records” means a group of any records under the control of the Committee from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual. The term “routine use” means, with respect to the disclosure of a record, the use of such record for a purpose which is compatible with the purpose for which it was collected. The term “individual” means a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The term “agency” is defined in 5 U.S.C. 552(e). (c) An employee may disclose any record which is contained in a system of records, without a written request by and without the prior written consent of the individual to whom the record pertains, if the disclosure would be: (1) To those Committee members and employees of the agency which maintains the record who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties; (2) Required under section 552 of Title 5 U.S.C.; (3) For a routine use as described in paragraph (b) of this section; (4) To the Bureau of the Census for purposes of planning or carrying out a census or survey or related activity pursuant to the provisions of Title 13 U.S.C.; (5) To a recipient who has provided the agency with advance adequate written assurance that the record will be used solely as a statistical research or reporting record, and the record is to be transferred in a form that is not individually identifiable; (6) To the National Archives of the United States as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, or for evaluation by the Administrator of General Services or his designee to determine whether the record has such value; (7) To another agency or to an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law, and if the head of the agency or instrumentality has made a written request to the agency which maintains the record specifying the particular portion desired and the law enforcement activity for which the record is sought; (8) To a person pursuant to a showing of compelling circumstances affecting the health or safety of an individual if upon such disclosure notification is transmitted to the last known address of such individual; (9) To either House of Congress, or, to the extent of matter within its jurisdiction, any committee or subcommittee thereof, any joint committee of Congress or subcommittee of any such joint committee; (10) To the Comptroller General, or any of his authorized representatives, in the course of the performance of the duties of the General Accounting Office; or (11) Pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. (d) No Committee member or employee shall maintain a record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity. (e) No Committee member or employee shall sell or rent an individual's name and address unless such action is specifically authorized by law. (f) A Committee member or employee, who by virtue of his employment or official position, has possession of, or access to, agency records which contain individually identifiable information the disclosure of which is prohibited by paragraph a of this section or by any other rules or regulations established under the Privacy Act of 1974, and who (1) knowing that disclosure of the specific material is so prohibited, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person or agency not entitled to receive it, or (2) willfully maintains a system of records without meeting the notice requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, or (3) knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record concerning an individual from any agency under false pretenses, is subject to criminal penalties and administrative sanctions. Any Committee member or employee who (i) makes a determination not to amend an individual's record in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, or (ii) refuses to comply with an individual's request to gain access to review, and obtain a copy of any information pertaining to him, or (iii) fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure fairness in any determination relating to the qualifications, character, rights, or opportunities or of benefits to the individual that may be made on the basis of such record, and consequently a determination is made which is adverse to the individual, or (iv) fails to comply with any provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 or any Committee regulation implementing it, subjects the Committee to civil penalties and himself to administrative sanctions. PART 51–10 — ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED
Section Contents § 51-10.101 Purpose. § 51-10.102 Application. § 51-10.103 Definitions. §§ 51-10.104--51-10.109 [Reserved] § 51-10.110 Self-evaluation. § 51-10.111 Notice. §§ 51-10.112--51-10.129 [Reserved] § 51-10.130 General prohibitions against discrimination. §§ 51-10.131--51-10.139 [Reserved] § 51-10.140 Employment. §§ 51-10.141--51-10.148 [Reserved] § 51-10.149 Program accessibility: Discrimination prohibited. § 51-10.150 Program accessibility: Existing facilities. § 51-10.151 Program accessibility: New construction and alterations. §§ 51-10.152--51-10.159 [Reserved] § 51-10.160 Communications. §§ 51-10.161--51-10.169 [Reserved] § 51-10.170 Compliance procedures. §§ 51-10.171--51-10.999 [Reserved]
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 794. Source: 50 FR 22894, June 23, 1986, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991. § 51-10.101 Purpose. This part effectuates section 119 of the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, which amended section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs or activities conducted by Executive agencies or the United States Postal Service. § 51-10.102 Application. This part applies to all programs or activities conducted by the agency. § 51-10.103 Definitions. For purposes of this part, the term— Asssistant Attorney General means the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice. Auxiliary aids means services or devices that enable persons with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills to have an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs or activities conducted by the agency. For example, auxiliary aids useful for persons with impaired vision include readers, brailled materials, audio recordings, telecommunications devices and other similar services and devices. Auxiliary aids useful for persons with impaired hearing include telephone handset amplifiers, telephones compatible with hearing aids, telecommunication devices for deaf persons (TDD's), interpreters, notetakers, written materials, and other similar services and devices. Complete complaint means a written statement that contains the complainant's name and address and describes the agency's alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the agency of the nature and date of the alleged violation of section 504. It shall be signed by the complainant or by someone authorized to do so on his or her behalf. Complaints filed on behalf of classes or third parties shall describe or identify (by name, if possible) the alleged victims of discrimination. Facility means all or any portion of buildings, structures, equipment, roads, walks, parking lots, rolling stock or other conveyances, or other real or personal property. Handicapped person means any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. As used in this definition, the phrase: (1) Physical or mental impairment includes— (i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: Neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or (ii) Any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. The term “physical or mental impairment” includes, but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, and drug addiction and alocoholism. (2) Major life activities includes functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. (3) Has a record of such an impairment means has a history of, or has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (4) Is regarded as having an impairment means— (i) Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but is treated by the agency as constituting such a limitation; (ii) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or (iii) Has none of the impairments defined in subparagraph (1) of this definition but is treated by the agency as having such an impairment. Historic preservation programs means programs conducted by the agency that have preservation of historic properties as a primary purpose. Historic properties means those properties that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or properties designated as historic under a statute of the appropriate State or local government body. Qualified handicapped person means— (1) With respect to preschool, elementary, or secondary education services provided by the agency, a handicapped person who is a member of a class of persons otherwise entitled by statute, regulation, or agency policy to receive education services from the agency. (2) With respect to any other agency program or activity under which a person is required to perform services or to achieve a level of accomplishment, a handicapped person who meets the essential eligibility requirements and who can acheive the purpose of the program or activity without modifications in the program or activity that the agency can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in its nature; (3) With respect to any other program or activity, a handicapped person who meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in, or receipt of benefits from, that program or activity; and (4) Qualified handicapped person is defined for purposes of employment in 29 CFR 1613.702(f), which is made applicable to this part by §51–10.140. Section 504 means section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93–112, 87 Stat. 394 (29 U.S.C. 794)), as amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (Pub. L. 93–516, 88 Stat. 1617), and the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–602, 92 Stat. 2955). As used in this part, section 504 applies only to programs or activities conducted by Executive agencies and not to federally assisted programs. Substantial impairment means a significant loss of the integrity of finished materials, design quality, or special character resulting from a permanent alteration. §§ 51-10.104--51-10.109 [Reserved] § 51-10.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The agency shall, by August 24, 1987, evaluate its current policies and practices, and the effects thereof, that do not or may not meet the requirements of this part, and, to the extent modification of any such policies and practices is required, the agency shall proceed to make the necessary modifications. (b) The agency shall provide an opportunity to interested persons, including handicapped persons or organizations representing handicapped persons, to participate in the self-evaluation process by submitting comments (both oral and written). (c) The agency shall, until three years following the completion of the self-evaluation, maintain on file and make available for public inspection: (1) a description of areas examined and any problems identified, and (2) a description of any modifications made. § 51-10.111 Notice. The agency shall make available to employees, applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons such information regarding the provisions of this part and its applicability to the programs or activities conducted by the agency, and make such information available to them in such manner as the head of the agency finds necessary to apprise such persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by section 504 and this regulation. §§ 51-10.112--51-10.129 [Reserved] § 51-10.130 General prohibitions against discrimination. (a) No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by the agency. (b)(1) The agency, in providing any aid, benefit, or service, may not, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, on the basis of handicap— (i) Deny a qualified handicapped person the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service; (ii) Afford a qualified handicapped person an opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service that is not equal to that afforded others; (iii) Provide a qualified handicapped person with an aid, benefit, or service that is not as effective in affording equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement as that provided to others; (iv) Provide different or separate aid, benefits, or services to handicapped persons or to any class of handicapped persons than is provided to others unless such action is necessary to provide qualified handicapped persons with aid, benefits, or services that are as effective as those provided to others; (v) Deny a qualified handicapped person the opportunity to participate as a member of planning or advisory boards; or (vi) Otherwise limit a qualified handicapped person in the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by others receiving the aid, benefit, or service. (2) The agency may not deny a qualified handicapped person the opportunity to participate in programs or activities that are not separate or different, despite the existence of permissibly separate or different programs or activities. (3) The agency may not, directly or through contractual or other arrangments, utilize criteria or methods of administration the purpose or effect of which would— (i) Subject qualified handicapped persons to discrimination on the basis of handicap; or (ii) Defeat or substantially impair accomplishment of the objectives of a program activity with respect to handicapped persons. (4) The agency may not, in determining the site or location of a facility, make selections the purpose or effect of which would— (i) Exclude handicapped persons from, deny them the benefits of, or otherwise subject them to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by the agency; or (ii) Defeat or substantially impair the accomplishment of the objectives of a program or activity with respect to handicapped persons. (5) The agency, in the selection of procurement contractors, may not use criteria that subject qualified handicapped persons to discrimination on the basis of handicap. (6) The agency may not administer a licensing or certification program in a manner that subjects qualified handicapped persons to discrimination on the basis of handicap, nor may the agency establish requirements for the programs or activities of licensees or certified entities that subject qualified handicapped persons to discrimination on the basis of handicap. However, the programs or activities of entities that are licensed or certified by the agency are not, themselves, covered by this part. (c) The exclusion of nonhandicapped persons from the benefits of a program limited by Federal statute or Executive order to handicapped persons or the exclusion of a specific class of handicapped persons from a program limited by Federal statute or Executive order to a different class of handicapped persons is not prohibited by this part. (d) The agency shall administer programs and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified handicapped persons. §§ 51-10.131--51-10.139 [Reserved] § 51-10.140 Employment. No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be subjected to discrimination in employment under any program or activity conducted by the agency. The definitions, requirements, and procedures of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791), as established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 29 CFR part 1613, shall apply to employment in federally conducted programs or activities. §§ 51-10.141--51-10.148 [Reserved] § 51-10.149 Program accessibility: Discrimination prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in §51–10.150, no qualified handicapped person shall, because the agency's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by handicapped persons, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by the agency. § 51-10.150 Program accessibility: Existing facilities. (a) General. The agency shall operate each program or activity so that the program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, is readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. This paragraph does not— (1) Necessarily require the agency to make each of its existing facilities accessible to and usable by handicapped persons; (2) In the case of historic preservation programs, require the agency to take any action that would result in a substantial impairment of significant historic features of an historic property; or (3) Require the agency to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a program or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens. In those circumstances where agency personnel believe that the proposed action would fundamentally alter the program or activity or would result in undue financial and administrative burdens, the agency has the burden of proving that compliance with §51–10.150(a) would result in such alteration or burdens. The decision that compliance would result in such alteration or burdens must be made by the agency head or his or her designee after considering all agency resources available for use in the funding and operation of the conducted program or activity, and must be accompanied by a written statement of the reasons for reaching that conclusion. If an action would result in such an alteration or such burdens, the agency shall take any other action that would not result in such an alteration or such burdens but would nevertheless ensure that handicapped persons receive the benefits and services of the program or activity. (b) Methods —(1) General. The agency may comply with the requirements of this section through such means as redesign of equipment, reassignment of the services to accessible buildings, assignment of aides to beneficiaries, home visits, delivery of services at alternate accessible sites, alteration of existing facilities and construction of new facilities, use of accessible rolling stock, or any other methods that result in making its programs or activities readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. The agency is not required to make structural changes in existing facilities where other methods are effective in achieving compliance with this section. The agency, in making alterations to existing buildings, shall meet accessibility requirements to the extent compelled by the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4151–4157), and any regulations implementing it. In choosing among available methods for meeting the requirements of this section, the agency shall give priority to those methods that offer programs and activities to qualified handicapped persons in the most integrated setting appropriate. (2) Historic preservation programs. In meeting the requirements of §51–10.150(a) in historic preservation programs, the agency shall give priority to methods that provide physical access to handicapped persons. In cases where a physical alteration to an historic property is not required because of §51–10.150(a)(2) or (a)(3), alternative methods of achieving program accessibility include— (i) Using audio-visual materials and devices to depict those portions of an historic property that cannot otherwise be made accessible; (ii) Assigning persons to guide handicapped persons into or through portions of historic properties that cannot otherwise be made accessible; or (iii) Adopting other innovative methods. (c) Time period for compliance. The agency shall comply with the obligations established under this section by October 21, 1986, except that where structural changes in facilities are undertaken, such changes shall be made by August 22, 1989, but in any event as expeditiously as possible. (d) Transition plan. In the event that structural changes to facilities will be undertaken to achieve program accessibility, the agency shall develop, by February 23, 1987 months after the effective date], a transition plan setting forth the steps necessary to complete such changes. The agency shall provide an opportunity to interested persons, including handicapped persons or organizations representing handicapped persons, to participate in the development of the transition plan by submitting comments (both oral and written). A copy of the transition plan shall be made available for public inspection. The plan shall, at a minimum— (1) Identify physical obstacles in the agency's facilities that limit the accessibility of its programs or activities to handicapped persons; (2) Describe in detail the methods that will be used to make the facilities accessible; (3) Specify the schedule for taking the steps necessary to achieve compliance with this section and, if the time period of the transition plan is longer than one year, identify steps that will be taken during each year of the transition period; and (4) Indicate the official responsible for implementation of the plan. § 51-10.151 Program accessibility: New construction and alterations. Each building or part of a building that is constructed or altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of the agency shall be designed, constructed, or altered so as to be readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. The definitions, requirements, and standards of the Architectural Barriers Act (42 U.S.C. 4151–4157), as established in 41 CFR 101–19.600 to 101–19.607, apply to buildings covered by this section. §§ 51-10.152--51-10.159 [Reserved] § 51-10.160 Communications. (a) The agency shall take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with applicants, participants, personnel of other Federal entities, and members of the public. (1) The agency shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids where necessary to afford a handicapped person an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a program or activity conducted by the agency. (i) In determining what type of auxiliary aid is necessary, the agency shall give primary consideration to the requests of the handicapped person. (ii) The agency need not provide individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices of a personal nature. (2) Where the agency communicates with applicants and beneficiaries by telephone, telecommunication devices for deaf person (TDD's) or equally effective telecommunication systems shall be used. (b) The agency shall ensure that interested persons, including persons with impaired vision or hearing, can obtain information as to the existence and location of accessible services, activities, and facilities. (c) The agency shall provide signage at a primary entrance to each of its inaccessible facilities, directing users to a location at which they can obtain information about accessible facilities. The international symbol for accessibility shall be used at each primary entrance of an accessible facility. (d) This section does not require the agency to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a program or activity or in undue financial and adminstrative burdens. In those circumstances where agency personnel believe that the proposed action would fundamentally alter the program or activity or would result in undue financial and administrative burdens, the agency has the burden of proving that compliance with §51–10.160 would result in such alteration or burdens. The decision that compliance would result in such alteration or burdens must be made by the agency head or his or her designee after considering all agency resources available for use in the funding and operation of the conducted program or activity, and must be accompanied by a written statement of the reasons for reaching that conclusion. If an action required to comply with this section would result in such an alteration or such burdens, the agency shall take any other action that would not result in such an alteration or such burdens but would nevertheless ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, handicapped persons receive the benefits and services of the program or activity. §§ 51-10.161--51-10.169 [Reserved] § 51-10.170 Compliance procedures. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this section applies to all allegations of discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs or activities conducted by the agency. (b) The agency shall process complaints alleging violations of section 504 with respect to employment according to the procedures established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 29 CFR part 1613 pursuant to section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791). (c) The Executive Director shall be responsible for coordinating the implementation of this section. Complaints may be sent to the Executive Director, Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. (d) The agency shall accept and investigate all complete complaints for which it has jurisdiction. All complete complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination. The agency may extend this time period for good cause. (e) If the agency receives a complaint over which it does not have jurisdiction, it shall promptly notify the complainant and shall make reasonable efforts to refer the complaint to the appropriate government entity. (f) The agency shall notify the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board upon receipt of any complaint alleging that a building or facility that is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4151–4157), or section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 792), is not readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. (g) Within 180 days of the receipt of a complete complaint for which it has jurisdiction, the agency shall notify the complainant of the results of the investigation in a letter containing— (1) Findings of fact and conclusions of law; (2) A description of a remedy for each violation found; and (3) A notice of the right to appeal. (h) Appeals of the findings of fact and conclusions of law or remedies must be filed by the complainant within 90 days of receipt from the agency of the letter required by §51–10.170(g). The agency may extend this time for good cause. (i) Timely appeals shall be accepted and processed by the head of the agency. (j) The head of the agency shall notify the complainant of the results of the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If the head of the agency determines that additional information is needed from the complainant, he or she shall have 60 days from the date of receipt of the additional information to make his or her determination on the appeal. (k) The time limits cited in paragraphs (g) and (j) of this section may be extended with the permission of the Assistant Attorney General. (l) The agency may delegate its authority for conducting complaint investigations to other Federal agencies, except that the authority for making the final determination may not be delegated to another agency. [50 FR 22894, June 23, 1986. Redesignated at 56 FR 48983, Sept. 26, 1991, and amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994; 63 FR 16440, Apr. 3, 1998; 65 FR 35287, June 2, 2000] §§ 51-10.171--51-10.999 [Reserved] |
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