OSERS: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Training: Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program: Field-Initiated Projects in an Area Related to Vocational Rehabilitation CFDA Number 84.263F | ED GRANTS 080620 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 080620 004

The OSERS Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program competition for Field-Initiated Projects in an Area Related to Vocational Rehabilitation (CFDA 84.263F) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education designed to strengthen the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system by improving how VR professionals are trained. The central idea is to fund time-limited training projects that do more than deliver routine instruction. Applicants are expected to develop, refine, implement, evaluate, and share innovative training approaches that better prepare VR personnel to serve people with disabilities and to support the work of State VR agencies under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). While the broader FY 2020 notice includes related tracks for Client Assistance Program (CAP) personnel (84.263D) and for training connected to self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting (84.263E), this specific summary focuses on the 84.263F track, which is intended for field-initiated concepts tied to VR.

The purpose of the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program is to push the field toward training methods that are demonstrably better than standard practice and aligned with modern workforce realities. The notice describes three major aims: creating new types of training programs for rehabilitation personnel and demonstrating their effectiveness; developing new and improved training methods that translate into more effective delivery of rehabilitation services through State VR agencies, State rehabilitation units, or other public or nonprofit rehabilitation organizations; and preparing VR professionals and paraprofessionals with a 21st-century understanding of the changing labor force and the evolving needs of individuals with disabilities so that services are more responsive and impactful. In practical terms, a strong project under 84.263F would identify a real training gap in VR, build an innovative training intervention to address it, test whether it works, and then disseminate materials and findings so the broader VR network can adopt or adapt what was learned.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public and nonprofit entities that might reasonably operate training and dissemination efforts connected to vocational rehabilitation. 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; other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and other applicants as clarified in the official notice. This wide eligibility is consistent with the program goal of encouraging field-initiated ideas, meaning proposals can originate from many parts of the VR and disability services ecosystem, including universities, nonprofits, and public agencies with the capacity to design and evaluate training.

Funding details in the provided notice indicate an award ceiling of $450,000, with an expectation of three awards under this opportunity. The opportunity was posted August 6, 2020, with applications available that same day and a deadline for transmittal of applications of September 3, 2020. Because the Department emphasizes that the synopsis is not a substitute for the Federal Register notice, applicants were directed to the official application notice and to the Department’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019) for the authoritative requirements on how to obtain and submit applications, along with other standard federal application rules.

The notice also describes pre-application support intended to help applicants understand expectations and submit stronger proposals. OSERS planned to post PowerPoint presentations with general RSA discretionary grant competition information and competition-specific information on the NCRTM website (https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx). In addition, OSERS planned a pre-application meeting conducted by conference call to answer questions, encouraged prospective applicants to email questions in advance to 84.263DEF@ed.gov, and stated that the teleconference details and a Q and A summary would be posted on the same NCRTM webpage shortly after the call. This kind of pre-application process matters because competitive training grants often hinge on details such as proposed evaluation approaches, dissemination plans, and how closely the proposed training innovation aligns with VR system needs and statutory goals.

Administration and points of contact are clearly identified. The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Education, within OSERS and RSA. The listed program contact for further information is Cassandra P. Shoffler at the Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 5065A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800, phone (202) 245-7827, with the primary competition email box noted as 84.263DEF@ed.gov. The opportunity number associated with the posting is ED GRANTS 080620 004, and the activity category is Education.

Finally, the notice emphasizes compliance expectations that are not optional and shape how projects must be designed and delivered. Projects must be awarded and operated in a manner consistent with nondiscrimination requirements under the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws. In effect, applicants should plan training content, recruitment, accessibility, and delivery methods to ensure equal access and lawful implementation, especially since the intended beneficiaries are professionals serving individuals with disabilities and the work is tied directly to civil rights and workforce participation outcomes. For complete and controlling details on priorities, performance measures, submission instructions, and any additional eligibility clarification, the Federal Register application notice remains the official source.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Training: Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program: Field-Initiated Projects in an Area Related to Vocational Rehabilitation CFDA Number 84.263F" 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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