NIB Glossary & Acronyms Guide

B List

Commodity products with demand across many federal agencies but less than universal (Broad Government Requirement - BGR); distributor support (stocking and selling) is market-driven by sales potential, delivery timeframes and comparable product offerings. Distributions must sell B-List items if they offer the comparable commercial product families. GSA sponsors and sells these products through channels with AbilityOne purchase preference. Federal distributors do not have to support these items, but they cannot sell the commercial ETS equivalent on any GSA schedules. ETS blocking allowed on a product-specific basis.

BA

Bid Abstract

Base Date

The month and year the NPA and the Contracting Activity reach agreement on the initial or subsequent base price, as approved by the Commission.

Base Price

The price established by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission for a product or service, excluding any inflation factors.

Base Year

Each time the U.S. AbilityOne Commission makes a Fair Market Price determination for a project, a base price is established. Normally, contracts are awarded with a base price/base year and four (4) follow-on years.

BCA

Business Case Analysis; document prepared by the nonprofit producing agency in conjunction with the product manager; becomes a part of addition package.

BDLH

Blind Direct Labor Hours; the total number of direct labor hours worked by employees who are blind on AbilityOne Program contracts, counting toward the statutory 75% direct labor requirement under the JWOD Act and AbilityOne Commission policy.

Beneficiaries

People with disabilities served by the AbilityOne Program (also called consumers).

Berry Amendment

Act that requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to give preference in procurement to domestically produced, manufactured, or home-grown products, notably food, clothing, fabrics, and specialty metals.

BGR

Broad Government Requirement (See B List)

BIA

Bindery Industry Association

Bid Sample

Required by the invitation for bid (IFB) to show the characteristics of the product offered in a bid.

Bidders Mailing List

A list maintained by federal procurement offices of organizations capable of supplying products and services purchased by that office.

Bill of Lading (BOL)

The written acknowledgment of the receipt of goods for movement by the carrier and the contract for the movement.

Bill of Materials

A listing of all materials, components, packaging, and usage that goes into the manufacture of an item.

Biobased

These SKILCRAFT® products are made using renewable domestic agricultural materials.

Biodegradable

This symbol represents products that are designed to compost quickly, completely, and safely, without leaving any residues.

BOA

Basic Ordering Agreement or Blanket Ordering Agreement; a purchasing contract that is issued by a single agency for the purchase of specified products at specified terms; used by many agencies to purchase commodity and niche products.

BOND

Benefit Offset National Demonstration

BPA

Blanket Purchasing or Purchase Agreement

BRAC

Base Realignment and Closure; federal legislation that specifies the closing of selected military bases

Brand Name (or Equal)

A commercial product described by brand name, make, or model. A contractor may bid on the item described, or may offer another product equal or better in all characteristics.

BSC

Base Supply Center; These are retail stores operated by NPAs that provide government customers convenient access to thousands of high quality, competitively priced SKILCRAFT and other name brand products as well as Hazardous Materials

BSI

British Standards Institute or Institution; British standards-writing organization

BSM

Business Systems Modernization

Buy American Act

Law that imposes restrictions on the procurement of foreign supplies and construction materials.

BVA

Blinded Veterans Association

BWY

Blind Work Year; measurement of direct labor provided by visually impaired employees in the production of goods or services; one (1) BWY equals 2000 direct labor hours.

BX

Military Base Exchange; usually Army or Air Force