NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Entrepreneurial Assistance to Persons With Severe Disabilities Served Through the Washington District Office, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
[28 Pa.B. 5808] The Department of Labor and Industry (Department), Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 1986 (P. L. 99-506), announces that competing applications to provide entrepreneurial assistance to persons with severe disabilities served through the Washington District Office, OVR will be accepted. This competition is authorized under section 301 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Funding for these projects is provided under the auspices of the Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which will serve as administrator and fiscal agent for grants awarded under this announced competition.
This competition will provide multi-year funding for up to 2 years. OVR will entertain applications which propose to provide Entrepreneurial Assistance to persons with severe disabilities residing in the counties served by OVR's Washington District Office which include Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties. The assistance will be in the form of comprehensive evaluation, training and technical assistance specific to each person's needs and abilities, enabling qualified persons with severe disabilities to become entrepreneurs, establishing and operating their own businesses.
Application Information
Applications received by close of business 5 p.m., Wednesday, January 20, 1999, which are complete and conform to established specifications will be accepted for review. Applications submitted after that date and time will be ineligible for consideration.
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers convened for that purpose. One grant will be awarded through this competition contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of acceptable applications. Grants will be awarded by April 1, 1999. The final award made through this competition is subject to the approval of the Executive Director, Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit, private business development services or entities, government agencies or postsecondary educational institutions. If the applicant is other than a postsecondary educational institution, it must assure the ongoing presence and participation of a postsecondary educational institution's School of Business, Entrepreneurial Program or Service or other comparable disciplines.
An applicant must demonstrate an understanding of the economy, market characteristics and market potential in the three county target area. While not required, it is preferred the grantee will have the flexibility to situate the desired service in at least two locations within the target area, specifically, in the Monongahela River Valley and northern Washington County.
An applicant must demonstrate a minimum of 3 years experience in entrepreneurial assistance services of the type required.
The original and one copy of the application narrative, along with the original and one copy of the Project Budget contained in a separate, sealed envelope must be received at the following address by the application deadline noted previously: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Infrastructure Services Section, 1320 Labor and Industry Building, Seventh and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Attention: Raymond L. Walker, Supervisor.
No reference may be made to the amount of funds requested, or other budgetary information, in the application narrative.
Four copies of the completed application narrative only must be submitted to the Washington OVR District Office at the following address: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Washington District Office, 201 West Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301, Attention: Donald Angelone, District Administrator, (724) 223-4430 (Voice/TDD).
No budget information may be sent to the Washington District Office.
Service Information
For purposes of this competition, Entrepreneurial Assistance to Persons with Severe Disabilities will encompass services delivered by successful applicant, as follows:
* Evaluate consumers' potential to participate in and benefit from customized entrepreneurial training, technical assistance and follow-up support.
* Instruct consumers in feasibility analysis, market analysis, longitudinal planning, financial planning and business development.
* Provide technical assistance service enabling participating OVR consumers to identify and access needed financial, production and operation resources.
* Develop and implement a long range plan of oversight and support following consumers' progress from the date of business-start forward, for a period of no less than 12 months.
Commitment to Enhance Socially/Economically Restricted Business (SERB)
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly encourages the submission of proposals by SERBs in response to this Request for Proposal.
To achieve the objective of enhancing SERB participation, the Commonwealth has established SERB utilization as a selection criterion in the evaluation process.
The Bureau of Contract Administration and Business Development (BCABD) in the Department of General Services will evaluate the aforementioned criterion and assign a point value to be considered within the overall RFP total point tabulation.
Proposals submitted by individuals claiming SERB status or proposals submitted by individuals reflecting joint venture and subcontracting opportunities with SERBs must submit documentation verifying their claims.
SERBs are businesses whose economic growth and development have been restricted based on social and economic bias. The businesses are BCABD-certified minority- and women-owned businesses and certain restricted businesses whose development has been impeded because their primary or headquarters facilities are physically located in areas designated by the Common-wealth as being in enterprise zones. A business will not be considered socially/economically restricted if one of the following conditions exists:
1. The business has gross revenues exceeding $4 million annually.
2. The concentration of an industry is such that more than 50% of the market is controlled by the same type of SERB (Minority Business Enterprise [MBE] or Women Business Enterprise [WBE]).
Proposers not considered to be socially/economically restricted businesses seeking to identify businesses for joint venture and subcontracting opportunities are encouraged to contact: Department of General Services, Bureau of Contract Administration and Business Development, Room 502, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17125, (717) 787-7380, fax (717) 787-7052.
Application Material/Questions
The complete application package containing a detailed Request for Proposal and Guidelines for application, is available by writing to the following address: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Infrastructure Services Section, 1320 Labor and Industry Building, Seventh and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Attention: Raymond L. Walker, Supervisor.
Applications may also be obtained by contacting Jacqueline Lucas at (717) 787-7016, TDD: (717) 783-8917 or by requesting them by e-mail addressed to jlucas@dli.state.pa.us.
Questions related to this announcement should be directed to Jacqueline Lucas at the above address and telephone number.
Preproposal Conference
A preproposal conference to deal specifically with technical questions regarding the application will be held for prospective applicants on Wednesday, December 2, 1998, beginning at 1 p.m. at: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Washington District Office, 201 West Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301, Attention: Donald Angelone, District Administrator, (724) 223-4430 (Voice/TDD).
Persons expecting to attend should advise Donald Angelone, in advance, of any special considerations/accommodations that may be required for them to fully participate in the preproposal conference. Reserved, handicapped parking is available, but limited. It is imperative that persons needing such parking notify Donald Angelone as soon as possible.
Persons needing directions to the Washington OVR District Office may call the Washington District Office's toll-free telephone number (800) 634-2060 (within PA) TDD: (724) 223-4430.
JOHNNY J. BUTLER,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1913. Filed for public inspection November 20, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
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