PORTCO / AbilityOne Partnership

In April 2000, PORTCO Inc, separated from the city of Portsmouth and became an independant entity. Since the reorganization, PORTCO has expanded its Federal Government Contract work.

These contracts are with the Department of Defense, GSA and NEXCOM through set-asides serving people with disabilties.  These set-asides, called AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) Contracts, are regulated by the Committee for the Purchase of the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped (CPBOSH).   CPBOSH authorizes NISH, a central non-profit agency, to liason between work centers and the federal government in the procurement of work opportunities for individuals with disabilities.  NISH also provides regulatory assistance to NISH certified work centers.   PORTCO became a NISH certified work center in 1994.