862 Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; innovation and expansion grants to provide: Logistical support and coordination services to the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; Innovation and Expansion Grant to Provide Logistical Support and Coordination Services to the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council

[32 Pa.B. 2381]

   The Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1992, announces that competing applications to establish, expand or improve community rehabilitation programs serving persons with the most significant disabilities will be accepted. This competition is authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

   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:

   To provide logistical support and coordination services to the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Advisory Council (PaRC) including:

*  To arrange, coordinate, facilitate and produce minutes for a minimum of four quarterly meetings of the PaRC.

*  To arrange, coordinate, facilitate and produce minutes for PaRC committee meetings. Committee meetings will be conducted via conference calls.

*  To assist PaRC review information, solicit input and provide feedback related to OVR policy, procedures, and the like, as appropriate to its role as advisory to the OVR

*  To assist PaRC prepare and disseminate information, solicit input and comply with reporting requirements as may be imposed upon it by the Federal government and/or the OVR.

*  To coordinate and arrange logistics associated with any PaRC function sanctioned by the Commonwealth, including scheduling of events, lodging arrangements, related travel arrangements, maintenance of travel records, travel reimbursement and reasonable disability-related accommodations for PaRC members or others approved by the Commonwealth.

Service Information

   This competition will result in one award and funding for a 4-year period, beginning October 1, 2002. Activities allowable under this grant competition include those noted in the preceding section.

   The successful applicant will enter a contract with the OVR to serve as the Commonwealth's agent administering logistical and coordinative services as described, including management of a project budget in excess of $250,000 during the first year of the award. PaRC project budgets may vary in subsequent contract years during the life of the award.

   For purposes of this competition, an eligible applicant is a for-profit or nonprofit organization, incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth or government agency or political subdivision experienced in effectively managing the budget and operations for, and facilitating the activities of, advisory boards or other advisory bodies, particularly entities as may be government-appointed and charged with affecting services for persons with significant disabilities.

   An applicant must have experience in activities, as noted, for a minimum of 3 years prior to the date of application to be considered for this competition. In its grant application, a successful applicant must be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of previous experience.

Application Information

   Applications received by 5 p.m. on June 22, 2002, 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, 2002, through September 30, 2003. Final awards made through this competition are subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the OVR.

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

Preproposal Conference

   A preproposal conference to deal specifically with technical questions regarding applications will be held for applicants on Monday, May 20, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. at the OVR Central Office, 1521 North Sixth St., Harrisburg, PA. Copies of the application package will also be available at this conference.

   Persons planning to attend the conference who have special needs that should be considered to participate fully in the conference, should contact Jacqueline B. Lucas at [phone] no later than 1 week in advance of the conference date.

JOHNNY J. BUTLER,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-862. Filed for public inspection May 10, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]