NISH

Established in 1974, NISH is one of two national, nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled [a federal government agency] to support nonprofit agencies (NPAs) participating in the AbilityOne Program which provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by procuring Federal contracts for goods and services.

Headquartered in Vienna, Va., NISH supports a network of more than 1,300 NPAs as well as Federal customers by providing the legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology support, engineering and technical assistance, and extensive professional training needed for successful contract management.

Congratulations to our 2009 National Award Winners!

Thank you for your 2009 nominations. Winners were notified by mail in early January. National winners will receive their awards at our National Conference in Anaheim, California, May 24-26, 2010. We hope you will join us to celebrate the AbilityOne Program successes.

To view the winners, CLICK HERE

Winners are also posted at www.nish.org/awards

NISH Highlights AbilityOne Economic Benefits in Letters to CRPs and Congress

Economic Benefits Study brochures outlining the facts about how the program supports several lines of business are now available. Studies were conducted recently that focused on Administrative Services, Food Services, Grounds Maintenance Services and Public Buildings Service Custodial Services. Brochures can be found online via the links below.

Letter to CRP Executives

Letter to Members of Congress

Economic Benefits Study for Food Services

Economic Benefits Study for Administrative Services

Economic Benefits Study for Custodial Services

Economic Benefits Study for Grounds Maintenance Services

AbilityOne Program Employees Share Their Stories through Speakers Bureau

AbilityOne Program employees are spreading the word about the AbilityOne Program through NISH's new AbilityOne Speakers Bureau. Through this program, NISH staff members assist participants with writing and practicing their speeches, as well as with securing speaking opportunities. Participants then share their stories with federal customers, potential federal customers and others. Their message is loud and clear: "Think AbilityOne first." Those speakers who are featured include: Nathan Short of PCSI in Austin, Texas; Frederick Williams of TRDI in Killeen, Texas; Mark Gilmore of Challenge Enterprises in Green Cove Springs, Florida; Belinda Porras of VA Medical Center Employment Source in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Todd Walker of Didlake in Manassas, Virginia; and Brenda Sheaffer of Melwood in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Click the link below to learn their stories.

Click Here to Read Full Article

DVDs of Iraq Veterans Nathan Short and Frederick Williams Available Here

AbilityOne Program's Speakers Bureau

Department of Defense Releases Memo Regarding AbilityOne Program

Shay Assad, Director of Defense Procurement, Acquisition Policy and Strategic Sourcing for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), issued a memorandum entitled "Increasing Contracting Opportunities with the AbilityOne Program" on August 27th. In the memorandum, Director Assad urged DoD contracting officials to keep the AbilityOne Program in mind when making procurement decisions. Click the link below to read the full memorandum.

DoD Memorandum

NISH Sponsor

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