Development of the next generation procurement list information management system 2.0

Challenge: The AbilityOne Program creates employment opportunities for more than 36,000 individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities. Through the program, nearly $4 billion in products and services made by Americans with disabilities is provided to the federal government annually, including office supplies, personal protective equipment, and administrative services. The Commission’s Procurement List Information Management System (PLIMS) connects federal agencies with verified nonprofit agencies that employ people who are blind or have significant disabilities, monitors pricing of these products and services, and is central to overseeing the AbilityOne Program. This system is outdated and difficult to use, has duplicate data and significant security risks, and lacks manufacturer support.

Approach: With TMF support, the Commission is modernizing its PLIMS in a cloud-based Software as a Service environment to:

• Connect federal customers with program partners and improve system accessibility
• Create a more secure technical system with access control and disaster recovery capability
• Better serve federal customers who depend on AbilityOne products and services