Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2009

Cooperative Agreements with Private Non-profit Vocational Rehabilitation Service Providers: Attachment 4.8(b)(3)

VESID works continuously with non-profit vocational rehabilitation service providers to increase access to integrated employment opportunities.  VESID’s district offices work with non-profit vocational rehabilitation service providers to target resources to meet the consumer demand for employment outcomes.  These programs assist consumers in achieving community-focused outcomes, such as supported employment, situational assessment, direct placement services and community-based training.

VESID currently manages over 400 Unified Contract Services (UCS) and Supported Employment (SE) contracts with non-profit vocational rehabilitation service providers across the State.  VESID has redesigned the UCS and will be issuing a new request for proposal (RFP) in 2009 for Supported Employment. VESID has initiated the following activities to inform the network of non-profit vocational rehabilitation service providers about these changes to improve the delivery of vocational rehabilitation contractual services to consumers:

• UCS RFP- VESID issued an RFP in May 2008 for organizations and individuals able to provide vocational rehabilitation entry, assessment, assistive technology/rehabilitation technology, work readiness, job placement, driver rehabilitation and related adjunct services for individuals with disabilities throughout New York State.  Current and new providers were invited to apply.
• • Contracts were awarded effective January 1, 2009 and will continue for a five-year period through December 31, 2013 with annual performance reviews.
  • Training was provided to all possible applicants during statewide information meetings and a bidder’s conference.  Training was provided to all approved vendors in Fall 2008.

• Supported Employment- A new five-year Supported Employment RFP is being issued for implementation on October 1, 2009, which will continue the hourly based payment methodology.  VESID has also begun reviewing the concept of a performance based approach to the provision of Supported Employment services in New York State.  This approach will be vetted with VESID providers across the State and incorporated into the SE system sometime during the five-year RFP.  At that point, a new RFP will be issued.