Blind, disabled programs ready for warehouse shutdowns

The shutdown of six General Services Administration warehouses will not have as much of an impact on blind and disabled workers as originally thought, since affected groups have had time to adjust and because GSA has been working to minimize adverse effects on such groups, according to stakeholders.

When GSA chief David Barram announced his intent to close all Federal Supply Service warehouses in July 1999, National Industry for the Blind workers, whose products are sold by FSS, were worried. NIB feared a ripple effect of lost business after the shutdowns because GSA had been the primary distributor of products produced by NIB-associated agencies for 50 years. Sixty percent of NIB's distribution was through GSA.

In addition, the federal Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Severely Disabled, which harnesses the government's purchasing power to buy goods produced by blind and severely disabled workers, was concerned about how the warehouse shutdown would affect product orders.

But, since then, GSA reaffirmed its committment to the programs, reduced the number of warehouses to be closed, and stretched the shutdown over a longer time frame. Federal Supply Service chief Frank Pugliese also made a personal commitment to help the committee's Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) preferred purchasing program increase sales through better marketing and new distribution channels.

Lee Wilson, executive director of the committee, said his organization is much better positioned to deal with the warehouse shutdowns then it was eight months ago.

"This latest announcement wasn't a surprise for us. Now that the shoe has dropped, we can press on with future strategies," Wilson said.

Since the original announcement, the committee has been working on maximizing other distribution channels for products made by the blind and disabled. "I believe no matter what GSA decides to do in the long run that we will find a way to make the JWOD program easily accessible to our federal customers," Wilson said.

Jim Gibbons, President of the National Industries for the Blind, echoed Wilson's attitude, saying "I think [Pugliese] truly kept his commitment. We're bringing to life the real operational teams to ensure that as this shift takes place, our customers are still served. We have no choice but to be optimistic as we move forward."

NIB is working closely with the committee on new ways to distribute JWOD products. "We cannot lose our sense of urgency in terms of new channels," Gibbons said.