Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled the Federal agency that oversees the Ability One Program, is seeking a U. S. commercial manufacturer of a military all purpose durable soft or semi-rigid sewn protective eyewear case

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), the Federal agency that oversees the Javits-Wagner-.O’Day (Ability One) Program, is seeking a U.S. commercial manufacturer of a military all purpose durable soft or semi-rigid sewn protective eyewear case. The case should provide protection to the specific style frames as well as interchangeable replacement lenses currently available to US service members. The case should close by use of a zipper, hook/loop or drawstring and should be equipped for mounting to the belt, gear loop, individual soldiers equipment. To be considered for this commercial partner opportunity, the following criteria, at a minimum, must also be met: 1) Possession of a nationally-known brand name that can be demonstrated to have had significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales and market share. 2) The company must have had 3 years participation with Federal and State commodity exchange programs proving acceptability of brand, package, and or proof of successful performance. 3) Willingness to enter into a multi-year agreement, which includes on-going technical and production assistance while enabling the selected nonprofit agencies to meet the suitability criteria of the Ability One Program in the production process and instructing the non-profit agencies in proper techniques to complete the manufacturing and subsequent packaging of the products, thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. 4) The chosen commercial manufacturer must be willing to set a high priority for delivering the bulk materials to the nonprofit agency in order to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to the end-use customers. 5) Commitment to working cooperatively with Ability One personnel to market the products to Government customers under the Ability One Program. 6) Willingness to work with the selected nonprofit agencies, specifically NIB or NISH and the Committee to ensure that the products’ price to end-users is considered fair and reasonable. 7) All products must be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose. 8) Manufacturers’ submissions must demonstrate that the specific products meet the various criteria, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency’s employees would perform. Submission should recommend ways to maximize the employment for people who are blind or severely disabled in the fulfillment of the products. The deadline for response is July 3, 2008.