576 Innovation and expansion grant to plan, coordinate and implement a Statewide independent living training program; OVR RFP 2004-2

Innovation and Expansion Grant to Plan, Coordinate and Implement a Statewide Independent Living Training Program; OVR RFP 2004-2

[34 Pa.B. 1861]

   The Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, announces that competing applications to improve community rehabilitation programs serving persons with the most significant disabilities will be accepted.

   Funding for this competition is under the auspice of the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation and the OVR, which will serve as administrator and fiscal agent for the grant awarded under this competition. Applications will be written to accomplish the following area of emphasis.

   Seventeen centers for independent living (CIL) currently operate in this Commonwealth with Federal or State funds. The successful applicant will provide a minimum of two annual training sessions on topics responsive to the needs of the 17 CILs. Participants in training services provided through this award are CIL personnel and other parties relevant to the effective provision of independent living (IL) services, through IL centers in this Commonwealth (that is, IL customers, OVR personnel, and the like).

   An operating fund of $50,000 will be used by the grantee for the purpose of financing expenses directly related to the provision of training services as specified. Examples of expenses include: the costs of training sites; instruction/instructor/instructional material expenses; fees of approved consultants; and staff/instructor/trainee travel reimbursement consistent with Commonwealth travel regulations and determined allowable by the OVR. The grantee will submit proposed training budgets to the OVR for approval before completing arrangements for grant-sponsored training programs.

   The specific objectives of this grant competition are:

   1.  Conduct training needs assessment of all the CILs in this Commonwealth within the first 3 months of the grant year.

   2.  In conjunction with the CILs and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), and based upon the findings of the CIL training needs assessment, develop a training plan for presentation to the OVR and the SILC for review/approval. The plan will be presented for review no later than the end of the fourth month of the project year.

   3.  Provide or arrange for the provision of a minimum of two training sessions per year on topics responsive to the assessed training needs of the targeted audiences, as previously noted. Training, as provided, must be consistent with the training plan approved by the OVR and the SILC.

   4.  Training sessions provided through this award will be geographically situated as to be easily accessible to the CILs and their employees, and the like. The physical locations for any training provided through this award must be fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

   5.  Provide quarterly and final program and fiscal reports to the OVR. The final annual report for the project year must include an objective evaluation of the training services. Evaluation must clearly reflect the input of persons who have received training through the grant.

Service Information

   This competition will result in one award and funding for a 3-year period, beginning October 1, 2004. Activities allowable under this grant competition include those noted in the previous section.

   The successful applicant will enter a contract with the OVR to serve as the Commonwealth's agent administering services as described.

   For purposes of this competition, an eligible applicant is an individual, a for-profit or nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth, a government agency or a political subdivision experienced in effectively providing training services and with demonstrable knowledge of the special needs of persons with disabilities.

   A successful applicant must be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of previous experience in its grant application.

Application Information

   Applications received by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2004, which are complete and conform to established specifications, will be accepted for review. Applications submitted after this date and time will be ineligible for consideration.

   Applications will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers convened for that purpose.

   The effective dates for the contract will be October 1, 2004, through September 30, 2005. Final awards made through this competition are subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the OVR.

   A complete OVR RFP 2004-2 application package, which includes more detailed information, is available by contacting Jacqueline B. Lucas, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Contracts and Grants Management Section, 1521 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102-2913, [phone], fax: [phone], TDD: [phone].

Pre-Proposal Conference

   A pre-proposal conference to deal specifically with technical questions regarding applications will be held for applicants on Thursday, April 15, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. at the OVR Central Office, 1521 North Sixth St., Harrisburg, PA. Copies of the application package will also be available at this pre-proposal conference.

   Persons planning to attend the pre-proposal conference who have special needs that should be considered to participate fully should contact Jacqueline B. Lucas at the previous telephone number at least 1 week before the pre-proposal conference.

STEPHEN M. SCHMERIN,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-576. Filed for public inspection April 2, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]