This program is designed to support
special projects for training State vocational rehabilitation unit
personnel in program areas essential to the effective management
of the unit's program of vocational rehabilitation services or in
skill areas that enable staff personnel to improve their abilities
to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with
disabilities. Projects are designed to: (1) Address recruitment
and retention of qualified rehabilitation professionals; (2) provide
for successful planning; (3) provide for leadership development
and capacity building; and (4) provide training on the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Training
grants may only be made to agencies designated to administer the
State vocational rehabilitation program.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: State vocational rehabilitation
agencies, including territories/possessions, may apply.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Individuals employed by designated
State rehabilitation agencies will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87
for State and local governments.
Pre-application
Coordination: The standard application forms
as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular
No. A-102 must be used for this program. 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: New applications are made to the
Department of Education, Application Control center, 600 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. 20208-4724. Attention 84.265. This
program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award
Procedure: Grants are awarded by the Rehabilitation
Services Administration through its regional offices. All new
applications are reviewed by a panel of at least three individuals.
Each panel will generally include two or more nonfederal consultants
with experience and training in the proposed area of training.
Deadlines:
Contact the headquarters or regional offices for application deadlines.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 120 to
160 days.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Renewals are available only through the new application process.
Projects with an approved multi-year project period may be continued
based on the availability of adequate funds and an annual review
of accomplishments to determine satisfactory performance.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Grantees are required
to share ten percent of the costs of projects.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Projects may
generally be supported for a maximum of 3 years. Funds are granted
on a 12-month basis. Renewals are subject to the availability
of funds.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Annual financial and progress reports must be submitted as required
by grant award terms and conditions.
Audits:
Audits must be conducted on a continuing basis or at scheduled
intervals, usually once a year, but at least once every 2 years.
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:
Proper records must be maintained for 3 years after project completion
or until all audit questions are resolved.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 91-0301-0-1-506.
Obligations:
(Grants and Contracts) FY 01 $6,000,000; FY 02 est $6,000,000;
and FY 03 est $6,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$7,400 to $240,000. Average: $70,000.
State vocational rehabilitation agencies employ more than 25,000
individuals. It is estimated that more than 13,000 individuals participated
in one or more activities sponsored under the State VR Unit In-Service
Training Program. Agencies reported that special emphasis was given
to training staff on human resource development and on providing
rehabilitation services to under served populations.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Regulations can be found in 34 CFR 385 and 388.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Rehabilitation Services Administration
regional offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses.
Headquarters
Office: Rehabilitation Services Administration,
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department
of Education, Washington, DC 20202-2649. Contact: Timothy Muzzio.
Telephone: (202) 205-8926.
Web
Site Address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Projects were funded for providing in-service training to the staffs
of 80 agencies in fiscal year 1995. Prior to enactment of Public
Law 102-569, institutions of higher education and other private
nonprofit organizations were eligible for funding under this program.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
The relevance of the content of the training to the mission of the
public rehabilitation program is considered. Priorities for certain
projects are stated in the application notice. Criteria for evaluating
applications are published in program regulations 34 CFR 385 and
388.
