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Mission-Vision Program History Our Capabilities Committee History Committee Members ( Bios ) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Chairperson (Andrew Houghton) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Vice Chairperson (Jim Omvig) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Commerce (Vacant) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Justice(Paul Laird) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Defense(Tony Poleo) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of the Army (Edward Walters, III) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of the Navy(Vacant) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Education(Perry Anthony) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Agriculture (Vacant) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Labor (Vacant) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: GSA (Vacant) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Robert Henke) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Private Citizen (Robert Kelly, Jr.) Committee Members Sub Menu Link: Private Citizen (Abram Claude, Jr.) Executive Staff Executive Staff Sub Menu Link: Executive Director (Tina Ballard) Executive Staff Sub Menu Link: Monthly message of Executive Director Executive Staff Sub Menu Link: Deputy Director (Kim Zeich) Senior Staff Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: General Counsel (Dennis Lockard) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Director, Program Analysis & Eval. (Lou Bartalot) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Sr. Program Analyst(Barry Lineback) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Resource Mgmt. (Connie Mehr) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Pricing and Information Mgmt. (Patricia Briscoe, Team Leader) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Project Development (Emily Covey) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Compliance (Amy Jensen, Services) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Congressional Liaison (Robert Hartt) Senior Staff Sub Menu Link: Distribution Systems Spec. (Eric Beale, Distributors) CNA (NIB/NISH) Liaisons FAQS
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CNA Fee

CNA Fee FAQs

  1. What is the CNA Fee?

    The purpose of the CNA Fee is to provide funding for the operations of the Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs) - National Industries for the Blind and NISH (serving people with severe disabilities) - designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) in accordance with the provisions of the Javits-Wagner-Day (JWOD) Act. The fee is a percentage of the revenue of each contract on the AbilityOne Program Procurement List. The Committee establishes the Fee Ceiling annually for each CNA.

  2. Who pays the CNA Fee?

    The CNA Fee is paid by AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies to their Central Nonprofit Agency, either National Industries for the Blind or NISH, to fund CNA operations. The CNA Fee is not an add-on to the AbilityOne Fair Market Price, nor is it a pass-through to the government.

  3. When is the updated CNA Fee Ceiling effective, and is this rate permanent?

    The FY 2009 CNA Fee Ceiling is effective on October 1, 2008, for the entire Fiscal Year. Each year, the Committee reviews the CNAs' budgets and planned activities, and determines the fee ceiling for the following year. The Committee's web site will show the CNA Fee Ceiling in effect for the current Fiscal Year on our Web page.

  4. What does the new CNA Fee Ceiling for 2009 mean to federal customers?

    The CNA Fee should be invisible to federal customers. The Committee has clarified that the fee is paid by the nonprofit agencies, and is not added on to the cost of contract performance to achieve a Fair Market Price. The AbilityOne Fair Market Price is to be validated in the commercial marketplace through price analysis. As the price is market-driven, any change in the CNA Fee (a nonprofit agency cost of doing business) does not affect customers' existing prices. Customers will continue to pay the Fair Market Price.

  5. What if the AbilityOne product or service does not have a commercial equivalent, then how is the price validated?

    The Committee recognizes that for truly government-unique requirements, it is necessary to use cost analysis to evaluate pricing proposals. In these cases, the CNA Fee will not be a separate line item, but included in overhead costs. This fee is similar to those paid by commercial firms to belong to trade and industry associations related to their government contracts. Specific disclosure of this cost element is not required of commercial firms, is considered an allowable cost, and is not specifically called out in price negotiations.

  6. What impact will the new CNA Fee level have on existing contract prices?

    Any change in the CNA Fee level does not change or affect existing contract prices. A Fair Market Price on Sept. 30, 2008 remains a Fair Market Price on October 1, 2008.

  7. If the CNA Fee is now the responsibility of the nonprofit agency, not the government, will the government receive a discount or rebate on our contract pricing?

    No, there will be no discounts or rebates to Committee-established Fair Market Prices as a result of the CNA Fee Ceiling change. The CNA Fee has always been sent to NIB or NISH by the nonprofit agency from their contract revenues. The Committee's addition and price change procedures have always required Contracting Officers' concurrence that the proposed Fair Market Price is reasonable. With firm, fixed prices established, the variations in the nonprofit agency's costs are not applicable to the government.

  8. Is the CNA Fee negotiable like other cost elements in order to reach a price agreement?

    No. The CNA Fee will no longer be a stand-alone cost element in AbilityOne pricing proposals. First, AbilityOne pricing proposals will focus on market price indicators, not cost elements, unless there is no equivalent market for the government requirement. In these cases, the CNA Fee will not be a separate line item, but included in overhead costs. As noted above, this fee is similar to those paid by commercial firms to belong to trade and industry associations related to their government contracts. Specific disclosure of this cost element is not required of commercial firms, is considered an allowable cost, and is not specifically called out in price negotiations.

  9. Who may I contact for more information?

    Federal customers may contact the Committee staff at info@abilityone.gov or 703-603-7740 for more information. Nonprofit agencies may contact their Central Nonprofit Agency.

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