Commission COVID-19 Communications

• August 3, 2022: Chairperson Koses Memo to Nonprofit Agencies Extends Deadline to August 31, 2022, for Requests for Exceptions to Overall Direct Labor Hour Ratio Requirement for FY 2022 – AbilityOne Flexibilities Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency and Recovery for the Duration of Fiscal Year 2022 (PDF)

• April 6, 2022: Chairperson Koses Memo to Nonprofit Agencies – AbilityOne Flexibilities Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency and Recovery for the Duration of Fiscal Year 2022 (PDF)

• October 1, 2020: Chairperson Robinson Memo to Nonprofit Agencies – AbilityOne Flexibilities Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency and Recovery for the Duration of Fiscal Year 2021

• July 9, 2020: AbilityOne Response to COVID-19 Crisis

• April 9, 2020: Procurement List Change -- Scope Expanded for Make-To-Order Kits, and Manufacturing and Development Assistance – Available to All Contracting Activities During National Emergency

• April 1, 2020: Chairperson Robinson Memo to Nonprofit Agencies – AbilityOne Flexibilities Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency and Recovery for the Duration of Fiscal Year 2020

• April 1, 2020: Chairperson Robinson Memo to Senior Procurement Executives – AbilityOne Contingency Support Operations and Communications (CSOC) Team and COVID-19 National Emergency Guidance. Attachment on AbilityOne Program Capabilities to Supply or Support Critical Essential Requirements

• March 30, 2020: U.S. AbilityOne Commission in Telework Status

• March 23, 2020: Chairperson Robinson Letter to Board Chairs of National Industries for the Blind and SourceAmerica.

AbilityOne COVID-19 News Coverage

• Keeping up the PACE

PACE Enterprises, Morgantown, W. Va.

June 19, 2020




• How blind and visually impaired people in Lancaster County are making a difference during the pandemic

VisionCorps, Lancaster, Pa.

June 18, 2020




• Delivering the mail and connecting Americans during COVID 19

MDI, Minneapolis

June 17, 2020




• IFB Solutions Produces Masks for U.S. Air Force, VA Hospitals, and Public to Help Fight COVID 19

IFB Solutions, Winston-Salem, N.C.

June 17, 2020




• Maintaining Essential Services in the Big Apple

Fedcap Rehabilitation, New York City

June 10, 2020




• Serving with PRIDE

PRIDE Industries, Roseville, Calif.

June 3, 2020




• Working Together Through COVID 19

Palmetto Goodwill Services, Charleston, S.C.

May 29, 2020




• Blind, and visually impaired helping local veterans with handmade face masks

IFB Solutions, Little Rock, Ark.

May 26, 2020




• Beyond Vision Adopts Innovative Safety Measures to Continue Critical Services

Beyond Vision, Milwaukee

May 19, 2020




• Triad nonprofit wins $3 million contract to make masks for U.S. Army

Industries of the Blind, Greensboro, N.C.

May 18, 2020




• Challenge Accepted

Challenge Unlimited, Alton, Ill

May 14, 2020




• Austin Lighthouse Supplies Hand Sanitizers and Soaps in Battle Against COVID-19

Austin Lighthouse, Texas

May 13, 2020




• Austin Lighthouse for the Blind ships 3 millionth bottle of Purell; surprises staff with celebration

Austin Lighthouse, Texas

May 12, 2020




• Bosma Expands Medical Glove Production to Help Fight COVID-19

Bosma Enterprises, Indianapolis

May 6, 2020




• Durham’s LCI delivering up to 576,000 face masks to the US Air Force

LCI, in Durham, NC, and other nonprofits around the country

May 6, 2020




• People with disabilities keep critical military operations running, get attention of NFL legend

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago

April 30, 2020




• Pandemic Presents Extra Perils for People with Disabilities

Nonprofits around the country

April 29, 2020




• AIDB President stays in touch with community, through spoken word and American Sign Language

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), Talladega

April 27, 2020




• Westmoreland County Blind Association provides inside look at mask-making process

Westmoreland County Blind Association, Greensburg, Pa.

April 27, 2020




• Blind workers pivot to help produce hand sanitizer and other products to help fight coronavirus

Austin Lighthouse, Texas

April 26, 2020




• Industries of the Blind is producing face masks for the Army

Industries of the Blind, Greensboro, N.C.

April 26, 2020




• Essential employees help America operate during the pandemic

TRDI, San Antonio

April 24, 2020




• Answering the Call to Service During COVID-19

Austin Lighthouse, Texas

April 24, 2020




• Coronavirus pandemic brings additional challenges to blind community

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind

April 23, 2020




• People with disabilities, the Washington Monument, and a helping hand

PORTCO, Washington, D.C.

April 17, 2020




• People with disabilities on the front lines of COVID-19 efforts

Nonprofits around the country

April 17, 2020




• Goodwill providing essential needs during pandemic

ABVI-Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Rochester, N.Y.

April 17, 2020




• Community Impact Heroes: How this CEO is tripling his visually-impaired workforce to help the unemployed

Lighthouse Central Florida, Orlando

April 16, 2020




• North Texas Companies Make Masks Their Mission to Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic

Envision Dallas

April 16, 2020




• Excela retiree answers the call for personal protective equipment

Westmoreland County Blind Association, Greensburg, Pa.

April 16, 2020




• Workers in other states are receiving unemployment payments. But in Florida, it’s largely still a waiting game

Lighthouse Central Florida, Orlando

April 15, 2020




• IFB Solutions uses mobile clinic to help visually impaired kids in High Point

IFB Solutions, Winston-Salem, N.C.

April 15, 2020




• Local workers with visual impairments go extra mile during pandemic

Alphapointe, Kansas City, Mo.

April 14, 2020




• ECK Plastic Arts is making face shields

Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc., Binghamton, N.Y.

April 13, 2020




• Two Binghamton businesses unite to make face shields

Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc., Binghamton, N.Y.

April 11, 2020




• Central Florida nonprofit to hire 60 people thanks to new contract

Lighthouse Central Florida, Orlando

April 8, 2020




• Omaha company helps fill toilet paper shortage

Outlook Nebraska, Omaha

April 8, 2020




• SourceAmerica Member Stories: TradeWinds changes direction with COVID-19 response

Merrillville, Ind.

April 7, 2020




• Largest employer for blind changing gears on manufacturing products

NewView Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

April 7, 2020




• SA company shifting gears from leather goods to face masks

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind

April 3, 2020




• Indy veteran supplies VA with surgical gloves and supplies amid pandemic

Bosma Enterprises, Indianapolis

April 2, 2020




• People with disabilities support the USNS Comfort

VersAbility Resources, Hampton, Va.

March 30, 2020




• Kits made by local workers with disabilities being used by U.S. Army to make temporary COVID-19 treatment facilities

IBVI, Milwaukee

March 27, 2020




• Crisis line calls soar as coronavirus spreads

ABVI-Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Rochester, N.Y.

March 26, 2020




• For the visually and hearing impaired trying to get accurate covid-19 info can be difficult

Alphapointe, Kansas City, Mo.

March 24, 2020




• Omaha non-profit helping out with toilet paper shortage

Outlook Nebraska, Omaha

March 19, 2020




• Outlook Nebraska toilet paper available for ordering during virus outbreak

Outlook Nebraska, Omaha

March 18, 2020




• We found toilet paper in Omaha!

Outlook Nebraska, Omaha

March 18, 2020