2024-2028 Core Rehabilitation Services Limited Rebid Opportunity

The full RFP is posted at https://www.acces.nysed.gov/procurement.

Submit an application online at: RFP GC25-005 CRS Rebid Application.

Reason for Reissuance

This procurement is a reissue of GC#24-003 Core Rehabilitation Services that awarded contracts that commenced on January 1, 2024. ACCES-VR identified service gaps at the following District Offices: Albany, Bronx, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Garden City, Hauppauge, Malone, Manhattan, Mid-Hudson, Queens, Rochester, Syracuse, Southern Tier, Utica, and White Plains. However, this RFP will award contracts only for selected services, populations and geographic areas in New York State. Current CRS2024 contractors that are successful in receiving an award through this RFP will have the award processed as a contract amendment. New contractors will receive a new contract. Current CRS2024 contractors SHOULD NOT apply unless they wish to provide services not awarded in the original procurement.  Contractors that are not able to serve at least one of the fifteen Districts Offices noted above also SHOULD NOT apply.

Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is seeking proposals for the provision of Core Rehabilitation Services (CRS) to individuals with disabilities for specific services in selected areas of New York State where service gaps exist: Albany, Bronx, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Garden City, Hauppauge, Malone, Manhattan, Mid-Hudson, Queens, Rochester, Syracuse, Southern Tier, Utica, and White Plains. Core Rehabilitation Services are purchased from community rehabilitation providers and include Pre-Employment , Entry Services, Assessment, Employment Preparation, Job Placement, Supported Employment, Assistive Technology, Driver Rehabilitation Services and related Adjunct Services. The Core Rehabilitation Services described in this RFP will only be purchased from contracted providers.

ACCES-VR is inviting current and prospective vendors to review the service descriptions outlined in this RFP and submit a proposal that accurately reflects their ability to meet the anticipated needs within one or more of the 15 district offices listed above, regionally or, in certain cases, statewide When awarded, estimated contract values do not guarantee a minimum funding amount and are not a guarantee of a specific number of referrals by ACCES-VR. ACCES-VR may amend the contracts of vendors to increase or decrease estimated contract values as necessary at any time within the contract period.

Vendors are required to have qualified staff in place to provide the services no later than six (6) months after contract execution and before providing services. No services may be provided until qualified staff have been approved by ACCES-VR.

NYSED/ACCES-VR will not contract for services that are funded through other sources or duplicated including but not limited to: employment agencies that obtain fees from the employer; One Stop Career Centers that provide employment assistance services to the public; postsecondary disability services offices, etc. unless the applicant can clearly document value added services.

Vendors are required to ensure that they comply with program accessibility requirements in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act including, but not limited to, the provision of reasonable accommodations as needed by the individual being served.

Vendors are required to ensure that they communicate with customers that they serve in their native language when these customers have limited English proficiency and use appropriate modes of communication to meet the needs of each customer.

Unless a service is indicated as in-person only, a vendor may provide services utilizing live-remote technology (e.g., Zoom, Teams) at the request of the customer.  Vendors must have the capacity to deliver all services in-person, as the customer may request a change in the service delivery modality from live-remote to in-person at any time.  Note: The provision of quality services is expected whether the service is delivered in-person or remotely.  Vendors are expected to ensure that the customer’s disability is taken into consideration and that the appropriate level of support is provided to participate in a virtual service.

Multiple contracts will result from this RFP, which will be for a three (3) year and six (6) month period anticipated to begin July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 for new contractors. Current CRS2024 contractors that receive an award through this RFP will keep the same contract period of January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028 and have the award processed as a contract amendment.

NYSED reserves the option to issue this RFP on an annual basis during the contract period in the event that current providers are unable to meet customers’ needs.

Eligible applicants include new and current CRS2024 vendors, but are not limited to, sole proprietors, tribal nations, not-for-profit organizations, community rehabilitation programs, independent living centers, educational institutions, for-profit organizations, entities providing vocational training services, and those who are interested in providing any or all of the following vocational rehabilitation services: pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS), entry services, assessment services, employment preparation, job placement, supported employment assistive technology, driver rehabilitation and related adjunct services to individuals with disabilities, including students and youth with disabilities, to enable  individuals to obtain, maintain or advance in competitive integrated employment. Applicants must provide a plan on how the selected service(s) will be delivered. Please review the Description of Services section of this RFP for organization capacity requirements and staffing requirements prior to applying. 

A Bidders’ Conference will be held on December 18, 2024, to provide potential applicants with details of the application process and allow an opportunity for questions and clarification on this RFP process. Organizations or individuals planning on participating in this session must pre-register with your name, agency name and location at CRS2024@nysed.gov. Please include in the email if an accommodation is needed to participate.  Participation in the Bidder’s Conference is not mandatory but is highly recommended.

New Prequalification Requirement

The State of New York has implemented a statewide prequalification process (described on the Grants Management website) designed to facilitate prompt contracting for not-for-profit vendors.  All not-for-profit vendors are required to pre-qualify by the grant application deadline. This includes all currently funded not-for-profit institutions that have already received an award and are in the middle of the program cycle. The prequalification must be completed by all not-for-profit institutions by the application deadline in order to receive an award under this RFP. Please review the additional information regarding this requirement in the Prequalification for Individual Applications section below.

Submit an application online at: RFP GC25-005 CRS Rebid Application by the January 31, 2025 deadline.

The full RFP is posted at https://www.acces.nysed.gov/procurement.