Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Training: Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program: Client Assistance Program (CAP) CFDA Number 84.263D | ED GRANTS 080620 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 080620 002

This opportunity is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education under OSERS, specifically the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), through the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program. The competition described here is tied to the Client Assistance Program (CAP) focus area under CFDA 84.263D, and it sits alongside two related FY 2020 focus areas under the same umbrella (84.263E and 84.263F). The overall intent is to fund time-limited training projects that strengthen how vocational rehabilitation (VR) and CAP personnel are trained so they can better support people with disabilities and help State VR agencies carry out the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Department emphasizes that the short summary provided is only a synopsis, and applicants are expected to rely on the official Federal Register notice for the full requirements, priorities, performance measures, and submission rules, as well as the Department-wide common application instructions.

For CFDA 84.263D specifically, the training emphasis is on improving CAP capacity to assist and support individuals with disabilities who are pursuing self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting. In practical terms, the funded work is meant to build or improve training approaches that help CAP staff effectively advise, advocate, and problem-solve with and for VR consumers who want to work through nontraditional or flexible employment pathways. This focus reflects how the labor market has been changing and how self-directed work arrangements can be especially relevant for some individuals with disabilities when paired with appropriate VR services, accommodations, benefits planning, and informed choice. Projects are expected not just to deliver training, but to develop, refine, implement, evaluate, and disseminate innovative methods, meaning the work should produce learning models or tools that can be tested for effectiveness and then shared so others can replicate or adapt them.

The broader Innovative Rehabilitation Training program has three connected goals. First, it supports the development of new types of training programs for rehabilitation personnel and requires demonstration of effectiveness in improving service delivery for individuals with disabilities. Second, it aims to produce new and improved training methods that lead to more effective rehabilitation services delivered by designated State VR agencies, designated State rehabilitation units, and other public or nonprofit rehabilitation service organizations. Third, it prioritizes innovation that helps VR professionals and paraprofessionals build a "21st-century" understanding of an evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities, so they can respond more effectively to real-world employment conditions, including emerging work models, technology-enabled work, and changing employer expectations. Across all of these goals, projects must be operated in a way that is consistent with constitutional and federal civil rights nondiscrimination requirements.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of public and nonprofit entities and higher education institutions. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category as listed). The notice also indicates there may be additional eligibility details in the official notice, so applicants would need to confirm any clarifications or limitations there.

Key logistics for the FY 2020 competition include an application availability date of August 6, 2020, with a deadline for transmittal of applications of September 3, 2020. The award ceiling is $450,000, and the Department anticipated making about three awards. OSERS also planned applicant support through a pre-application process: RSA posted general and competition-specific PowerPoint materials online, conducted a pre-application meeting by conference call to address questions, and invited prospective applicants to email questions in advance. After the call, OSERS would post the teleconference information and a Q&A summary on the same RSA grant information website within six days, creating a public record of clarifications useful to all applicants.

For official guidance on how to obtain and submit applications, the notice points applicants to the Department of Education's Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, in the Federal Register). For program questions, the listed federal contact for this competition is Cassandra P. Shoffler at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC, reachable by phone at (202) 245-7827 or by email at 84.263DEF@ed.gov. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 080620 002, and it is categorized as an education-related discretionary grant.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Training: Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program: Client Assistance Program (CAP) CFDA Number 84.263D" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.263.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 03, 2020 Applications Available August 6, 2020. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications September 3, 2020. Date of Pre-Application Meeting The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post a PowerPoint presentation that provides general information related to RSA#8217s discretionary grant competitions and a PowerPoint presentation specifically related to this Innovative Rehabilitation Training program competition at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx. OSERS will conduct a pre-application meeting specific to this competition via conference call to respond to questions. Information about the pre-application meeting will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx prior to the date of the call. OSERS invites you to send questions to 84.263DEF@ed.gov in advance of the pre-application meeting. The teleconference information, including the 84.263D/E/F pre-application meeting summary of the questions and answers, will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx within six days after the pre-application meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Cassandra P. Shoffler, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5065A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone (202) 245-7827. Email 84.263DEF@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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