Federal government Solutions

AbilityOne is a federal program, established under 41 U.S.C. Chapter 85 (the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act), that creates employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities by directing federal purchasing toward products they help produce. SKILCRAFT is the brand under which those products are sold. Under FAR 52.208-9, federally funded projects and construction are generally required to source certain hardware, including ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 door hardware, from SKILCRAFT before considering other suppliers. PDQ partners with the AbilityOne program so its Grade 1 components are assembled by blind and visually impaired U.S. citizens under the SKILCRAFT brand for use by federal agencies.

In most cases, yes, if the project is federally funded construction and the hardware is on the AbilityOne procurement list. FAR 52.208-9 and 41 CFR 51-1.2 establish mandatory source priorities, meaning contracting officers and contractors are generally required to purchase covered items from AbilityOne/SKILCRAFT rather than the open commercial market. Waivers exist in limited circumstances, but they require Committee or central nonprofit agency authorization before purchasing elsewhere. Confirm the specific requirement in your solicitation or contract, and consult PDQ's federal procurement team if you're unsure whether it applies.

PDQ's commercial-grade door hardware is designed and assembled in the USA to support Buy American Act (BAA) compliance. Door hardware is generally treated as a COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) product, which is exempt from full U.S.-content rules under BAA unless the item is over 95% iron or steel by cost, in which case the iron or steel itself must be U.S.-sourced. See PDQ's BAA/TAA Statement for current documentation, and confirm project-specific requirements with your contracting officer, since BAA applies primarily to federal construction funding rather than every federal purchase.

The Buy American Act (BAA) applies to most federal construction and allows a COTS exemption for products like door hardware unless they're mostly iron or steel. The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) applies to GSA Schedule contracts and many federal purchases above a certain dollar threshold, and permits sourcing from the U.S. or a TAA-designated country (it excludes countries like China). The Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) is the strictest: it applies to infrastructure projects funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, has no COTS exemption, and generally requires U.S.-origin iron, steel, and manufactured content, which door hardware often cannot fully meet. Which one applies depends entirely on how your specific project is funded, not on the product category alone. See PDQ's full breakdown of BAA, TAA, and BABAA for door hardware for the complete comparison.

PDQ hardware for federal projects is available through the AbilityOne Catalog (for SKILCRAFT mandatory-source items), GSA Advantage (for GSA Schedule purchases), and PDQ's network of authorized distributors. Which channel applies depends on your project's funding source, contract vehicle, and whether the specific item is on the AbilityOne procurement list. Contact PDQ if you're unsure which option fits your solicitation.

Yes. The SKILCRAFT hardware assembled using PDQ components is certified to ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, the highest operational and security grade for mortise and cylindrical locks, and PDQ's lever-handle hardware is designed to meet ADA operable-force and lever-operation requirements, a baseline for federal public buildings.