Government Shopping List Adds Items to Boost Jobs for Blind and Disabled
Published Date: 12/29/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting January 29, 2026, some products and services will be added to or removed from the government’s special shopping list that supports nonprofit groups employing people who are blind or severely disabled. This means federal agencies must buy the new items from these nonprofits, helping them keep jobs while some old items get dropped. No big money or paperwork changes for most small businesses, just a smooth switch to support a great cause!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New items required to be bought from nonprofits
Starting January 29, 2026, certain products are added to the federal Procurement List and federal agencies must buy those listed items from nonprofit agencies that employ people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The notice names specific products (for example, NSN 6510-01-598-8418—Bandage, Compression, I) and a Department of Defense mandatory assignment for those items.
Many items and services removed from AbilityOne list
Also effective January 29, 2026, the Committee removed many products and services from the Procurement List that had been furnished by nonprofit agencies employing people who are blind or severely disabled. The deletions include named items such as Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer (NSN 8520-00-NIB-0134), USB portable hard drives (NSN 7045-01-568-9695), multiple meal and beverage NSNs, hearing protection (NSN 4240-01-469-8738), and numerous garments and services.
VA laundry service moved to AbilityOne immediately
The Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 7 Laundry and Linen Service (multiple locations in Georgia and South Carolina) is being added so the VA's work is furnished by Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Inc., with a start date effective January 12, 2026 to avoid service disruption. This makes the service a mandatory AbilityOne purchase for those VA locations.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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