RESPECT of Florida

What RESPECT of Florida does

RESPECT of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1974 by the Florida Legislature under Sections 413.032–413.037, Florida Statutes, and designated by the Florida Department of Management Services to administer Florida's State Use program. The organization exists to create employment opportunities for Floridians who are blind or have other disabilities, channeling government procurement toward a network of nonprofit Employment Centers that produce commodities and deliver services. It is headquartered in Tallahassee at 1113 East Tennessee St., Suite 100, with 11-50 employees, and operates exclusively within Florida.

Under the State Use program, RESPECT sells two product categories to Florida state and local government entities: (1) Commodities including drug testing supplies, first-aid and safety products, flags (POW/MIA, Florida, USA), janitorial supplies, medical testing supplies, COVID-related supplies, and custom apparel/commemorative items; and (2) Services including janitorial, groundskeeping/landscaping, call center operations, fleet detailing, asset maintenance, managed print, and office support. The technology foundation is a standard e-commerce platform with a customer login, procurement catalog, and P-Card/Purchase Order checkout flow, supplemented by a direct sales channel through Contract Managers who develop customized scopes of service.

Revenue is generated through fixed per-unit commodity pricing (e.g., $12.50 for AAA batteries, $35-$57 per case of trash liners) and unit-priced services such as janitorial ($0.68-$4.90/sq ft), groundskeeping ($18.14-$38.96/man hour; $21.98-$87.92/acre for roadway mowing), and asset maintenance ($12.74-$21.94/man hour), typically structured as multi-year contracts. The organization is exempt from the standard competitive bid process per Chapter 413, F.S., enabling procurement in days rather than weeks or months. Delivery is fulfilled through a network of 15+ Employment Center partners across Florida, including Arc affiliates, Goodwill branches, Lighthouse Works, Pine Castle, MacDonald Training Center, Brevard Achievement Center, and Parc Center for Disabilities. RESPECT holds anchor contracts with FDOT (25+ years of janitorial and grounds maintenance at Rest Areas, Welcome Centers, Weigh-in-Motion Stations, and Scale Facilities) and other Florida state agencies (30+ years).

Name

RESPECT of Florida

Legal name

RESPECT of Florida

Website

https://www.respectofflorida.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RESPECT of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1974 that administers Florida's State Use program, selling commodities (flags, janitorial supplies, drug testing products) and services (janitorial, groundskeeping, call center, fleet detailing) to Florida government entities through a network of Employment Center partners serving individuals with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Commodity Sales: RESPECT produces and sells commodities (drug testing supplies, janitorial supplies, first-aid products, PPE, apparel, custom signs, batteries, flags, etc.) to governmental entities through the State Use program.
2. Contract Services: Provides contractual services including janitorial, groundskeeping, fleet detailing, call center, office support, asset maintenance, and managed print services to governmental agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RESPECT of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by the Florida Legislature that administers Florida's State Use program. The organization produces and sells commodities (drug testing, janitorial, first-aid, PPE, flags, custom apparel, batteries) and provides contract services (janitorial, groundskeeping, call center, fleet detailing, asset maintenance, managed print, office support, local government services) to Florida governmental entities at fair market value prices approved by the Florida Department of Management Services.

Product overview

RESPECT of Florida operates as an e-commerce platform administering Florida's State Use program, offering two main categories: (1) Commodities including drug testing products, first-aid and safety supplies, flags, janitorial supplies, medical testing supplies, COVID-related supplies, and custom apparel/commodities with products like PURELL hand sanitizer, batteries, and trash can liners; and (2) Services including janitorial, groundskeeping/landscaping, call center operations, fleet detailing, asset maintenance, managed print services, office support, and local government services. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1974 to create employment for Floridians with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drug Testing Products Drug testing supplies including breath testing, presumptive testing, saliva testing, and urine testing products sold to Florida governmental entities for workplace and clinical use.
• First-Aid & Safety Supplies Safety and first-aid supplies including alcohol pads, ear plugs, first aid kits, gloves, safety glasses, and skin health/hygiene products sold to government agencies.
• Flags American-made flags including POW/MIA flags, State of Florida flags, and USA flags with kits and accessories.
• Janitorial Supplies Janitorial and cleaning supplies including gloves, hand sanitizers, soaps, dispensers, mops, and trash can liners for government facilities.
• Medical Testing & Supplies Medical and dental supplies including alcohol pads, barrier isolation gowns, hemoglobin test supplies, and incontinence supplies for governmental use.
• COVID-19 Related Supplies Pandemic-related supplies including gloves, hand sanitizers, masks, face shields, disinfectant sprays and wipes, and thermometers.
• Custom Apparel & Commodities Customizable apparel and branded merchandise including award plaques, custom signs, embroidered items, screen printed products, direct-to-garment, and logo commodities.
• Janitorial Services Professional janitorial cleaning services for offices, restrooms, kitchens, and healthcare facilities with unit pricing from $0.68 to $4.90 per square foot.
• Groundskeeping & Landscaping Services Grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, blowing, litter removal, and landscaping services with pricing from $18.14 to $87.92 per unit.
• Call Center Services Call center operations with quality assurance and monitoring including inbound/outbound calls, multilingual support, and automated calling capabilities.
• Fleet Detailing Services Vehicle fleet cleaning and minor maintenance including interior/exterior cleaning, vacuuming, and basic vehicle inspection services.
• Asset Maintenance Services Asset maintenance for rest areas, welcome centers, and weigh-in-motion stations including janitorial and groundskeeping with pricing from $12.74 to $21.94 per man hour.
• Managed Print Services Managed print services including toner replacement, preventative maintenance, parts lifecycle management, and remote monitoring.
• Office Support Services Office support including assembly, packaging, bulk mail processing, records destruction, courier services, shredding, and word processing.
• Local Government Services Municipal services including coin collection, sign maintenance, and refuse pickup for local government entities in Florida.

Quantifiable outcome

• Procurement takes days rather than weeks or months due to bid exemption
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Florida Department of Management ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRESPECT is designated by the Florida Department of Management Services to administer Florida's State Use program, which creates employment for individuals with disabilities through government procurement.
• MacDonald Training Center (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner where Laura Bravo works packaging SunPass transponders for Florida Turnpike Enterprise. MTC is piloting a new logistics-based internship program for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
• Challenge EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner where Robert Sykes performs custodial duties at the APD Tacachale facility in Gainesville.
• Lighthouse WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner where Evelyna Seabolt works as a Call Center Agent assisting Floridians with unemployment claims. Also employs Nick Belanger and Bevan Weekes.
• Pine CastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner where Keya Grant works on drug kit assembly. Also employs Gail Bates and Eric Webster.
• Gadsden ARCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner where Hillip Battles works at the Leon Rest Area and DOT/Midway Buildings performing janitorial tasks.
• The Arc of the Emerald CoastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Karl Aune and Anton Cornelius as outstanding employees.
• Goodwill Industries of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Noemi Castro, Louvency Evariste, and Heath Gilliam as outstanding employees.
• Goodwill Industries Big Bend ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Heath Gilliam and Ira Jones as outstanding employees.
• The Arc of the Big BendcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Julia Boone as an outstanding employee.
• The Arc NassaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Gregory Carter, Alan Chaves, Patrice Jordan, Carolyn Masters, Diane Masters, Ryyen Topps as outstanding employees.
• The Arc of Palm Beach CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Irlande Edouard, Xavier Harvey, and Brian Robinson as outstanding employees.
• Global Connections to EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Kenyarda Greene as an outstanding employee.
• Brevard Achievement Center (BAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Desmond Henry and Alexander (AJ) Jilek as outstanding employees.
• Jackson County ArccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Demond Jennings and Kevin Just as outstanding employees.
• Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind (LVIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Marlys Newhouse, Scott Wilson, and Walter Wright as outstanding employees.
• Parc Center for DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Center partner employing Dianne Williams-Brown, Darryl Witherspoon, and Kandice Yogman as outstanding employees.
• Florida ARFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization hosting RESPECT employee photos and annual awards information.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that administers the AbilityOne Program, creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities through government procurement — the closest national analog to RESPECT of Florida's state-level State Use administrator role.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National nonprofit that supplies products and services to the federal government through a network of associated nonprofit agencies serving people who are blind — same mission of disability employment via government channels as RESPECT.
• Bosma Enterprises: Indiana-based nonprofit that provides employment and training for people who are blind or visually impaired, operating a state use-style program selling products and services to government — directly comparable state-level model to RESPECT.
• Alphapointe: Kansas City-based nonprofit serving people with vision loss that manufactures products and provides services for government and commercial customers — analogous to RESPECT's commodity-plus-services state use model.
• Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: San Francisco-based nonprofit employing people who are blind or have low vision to produce products and deliver services for government and commercial buyers — comparable state-level mission and operating model to RESPECT of Florida.
• NewView Oklahoma: Oklahoma-based nonprofit providing employment for people who are blind or visually impaired through manufacturing, call center, and government contract services — directly comparable state use-style operating model.
• Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Wisconsin-based nonprofit operating manufacturing and service lines that employ people who are blind or visually impaired, supplying government and commercial customers — comparable to RESPECT's product and service catalog approach.

Broad incumbents

• AbilityOne Commission: Federal commission that oversees the AbilityOne Program, the larger umbrella framework under which state use-style programs operate. Comparable in mission but operates at the federal level with broader scope than RESPECT's Florida state-level designation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/respect_fl
• Facebookfacebook.com/RespectofFL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respect-of-florida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RESPECT of Florida