FEDERAL AGENCY:

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VI, Part A, 29 U.S.C. 795g.

To create and expand job and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market by partnering with private industry to provide job training and placement, and career advancement services.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Applicant Eligibility: Projects with Industry grants are awarded to employers, labor unions, profit making and nonprofit organizations, institutions, and State vocational rehabilitation agencies. Grants cannot be made directly to individuals. Only applicants that propose to serve a geographic area that is currently unserved or underserved by the PWI program can receive new awards under this program.

Beneficiary Eligibility: An individual is eligible for services under this program if the individual to be served is an individual with a disability or an individual with a severe disability, as defined in Sections 7(A)(B) and 7(20)(A), respectively, of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. In making this determination, the State vocational rehabilitation unit shall rely on the determination made by the recipient of the grant under which the services are provided, to the extent that the determination is appropriate, available, and consistent with the requirements of the Act.

Credentials/Documentation: Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

Pre-application Coordination: This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure: Applications should be submitted to the Department of Education, Application Control Center, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. The standard application kit as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. Department of Education No. 80-0013 must also be submitted.

Award Procedure: Awards are made on approval of the Commissioner, RSA, and the Assistant Secretary, OSERS, for new projects, and the Commissioner, RSA, for continuation projects.

Deadlines: Contact the program manager at the headquarters office for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: The range is approximately 150 to 180 days.

Appeals: None.

Renewals: Projects with multi-year project periods may be continued based on annual review of accomplishments, compliance indicators and availability of adequate funds. Renewals are available only through the continuation application process.

Formula and Matching Requirements: The Federal share may not exceed 80 percent of total project cost.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Project support may be available up to 60 months.

Reports: As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (34 CFR 76). Annual financial reports, compliance indicator data and reports of progress must be submitted as required by the grant award terms and conditions.

Audits: Audits must be conducted on a continuing basis or at scheduled intervals. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records: As required by EDGAR for direct grant programs (34 CFR 75). Generally, records related to grant fund, compliance, and performance must be maintained for a period of five years after completion.

Account Identification: 91-0301-0-1-506.

Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $22,071,000; FY 02 est $22,071,000; and FY 03 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: In 2001, the average continuation award was $215,000; the average new award was $188,000.

In fiscal year 2001, 101 PWI projects were funded.

Regulations: (A) Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86; and (B) the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 369 and 379 apply.

Regional or Local Office: State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies or the RSA Regional Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of RSA Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office: Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Sonja Turner and Kerrie Brown. Telephone: (202) 205-9396.

Web Site Address:  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/PGMS/pwi.html.

Projects funded in the past include: projects focusing on the training and placement of older individuals with disabilities; projects to train and place individuals with disabilities in specific industries (e.g., the electronics industry); projects serving federally designated empowerment zones and enterprise communities; and projects to promote the school-to-work transition of youth with disabilities.

Funding priorities are announced in the Federal Register. Applications for discretionary grants are subject to peer review procedures leading to recommendations for approval or disapproval by Federal and nonfederal experts. Criteria for evaluating applications are published in program and Department regulations 34 CFR 369 and 379.