SCOTUS: ‘No’ to AbilityOne

Allows top priority for veterans to continue at VA

      The Supreme Court turned down a request to hear a case to reestablish AbilityOne contracting preferences at the Veterans Affairs Dept. AbilityOne nonprofits employ blind and severely disabled people and have been mandatory sources in government contracting for decades under a 1939 law.

      However, a federal appeals court ruled last year that contracting preferences for veterans at the VA under a 2006 law override AbilityOne laws.

      AbilityOne contractors asked the Supreme Court to review the situation, but the court declined. As a result, the VA’s veteran-owned preferences remain top priority at the VA.

      The ruling “effectively cements the supremacy of the Rule of Two over the AbilityOne program when the VA is purchasing goods and services,” Matthew Moriarity, partner, Koprince Law, wrote in a blog.

      Meanwhile, the House recently passed HR4920 to restore some AbilityOne preferences at the VA. The Senate has not considered the bill yet.

More information:
Koprince blog post: https://bit.ly/2uwk8Tu

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SCOTUS: ‘No’ to AbilityOne

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Correction