OSERS: RSA: Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)--Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities Through the Transformation of Education, Career, and Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Project, ALN 84.421F
Agency: Department of Education
Posted: 2024-04-09 | Closing date: 2024-07-08
Applications Available: April 9, 2024.     Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: April 23, 2024.     Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 8, 2024.     Pre-Application Meeting: The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post a PowerPoint presentation that provides general information about the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s discretionary grants and a PowerPoint presentation specifically about the Disability Innovation Fund: Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities Through the Transformation of Education, Career, and Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Project at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info.  In addition to posting the PowerPoint, 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/grant-info prior to the date of the call.  OSERS invites interested applicants to email questions to 84.421F@ed.gov in advance of the pre-application meeting.  The teleconference information, including a summary of the 84.421F pre-application meeting will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info within 10 business days after the pre-application meeting.Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 6, 2024.     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cassandra P. Shoffler, U.S. Department of Education, Lyndon Baines Johnson Building, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 4A10, Washington, DC 20202.  Telephone: (202) 987-0118.  Email:  84.421F@ed.gov.
Estimated total program funding: 236313221
Expected number of awards: 29
Cost sharing or matching requirement: No

Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022. Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Program, as provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), is to support innovative (as defined in this notice) activities aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) (29 U.S.C. 705(5))[1] for youth and other individuals with disabilities. Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.421F. [1] See 34 CFR 361.5(c)(9) for the regulatory definition of "competitive integrated employment," which further clarifies the definition in the Rehabilitation Act.

Eligibility: 1.  Eligible Applicants: • State agencies or their equivalents under State law: (1) State Educational Agency; (2) State Juvenile Justice agency; (3) State Developmental Disabilities agency; (4) State Department of Health; (5) State Department of Human Services; or (6) Designated State unit for Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  • Public, Private and Nonprofit Entities, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education.Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes.  Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to Institutions of Higher Education only.  Note: The regulation 34 CFR § 75.51 How to prove nonprofit status applies to nonprofits and requires documentation to prove its nonprofit status. (a) Under some programs, an applicant must show that it is a nonprofit organization. (See the definition of nonprofit in 34 CFR 77.1.)  (b) An applicant may show that it is a nonprofit organization by any of the following means: (1) Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) A statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that: (i) The organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State; and (ii) No part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; (4) Any item described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate; or (5) For an entity that holds a sincerely held religious belief that it cannot apply for a determination as an entity that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, evidence sufficient to establish that the entity would otherwise qualify as a nonprofit organization under paragraphs (b)(1) through (4) of this section.