DISC 1273 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment

The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) announces a Discretionary Opportunity Announcement for qualified organizations that can conduct a Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) for the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB).

NYSCB provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to about 4,500 participants with blindness and visual impairment through seven district offices located throughout New York State. Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) regulations require that a CSNA be conducted every three years. The results and recommendations from this assessment are incorporated into the annual plan submitted by NYSCB to the RSA.

This advertisement is a public notice that OCFS is seeking to contract with an organization to conduct a CSNA for NYSCB which will involve an evaluation of NYSCB case management data, along with primary data collection through surveys and focus groups.

The awarded contractor will:

Conduct a CSNA for NYSCB to identify areas in need of improvement in services and support, program practices, and policies related to the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services to NYSCB participants, consisting of the following five research studies:

1. The vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals who live with the most significant disabilities, including their need for supported employment services
2. The vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities, who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program
3. The vocational rehabilitation service needs of individuals with disabilities served through other components of the statewide workforce investment system
4. An assessment of the need to establish, develop, or improve community rehabilitation programs within the state
5. An assessment of the vocational rehabilitation service needs of youth and students with disabilities and their need for Pre-employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) or other transition services including the extent to which they are coordinated with transition services provided under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Prior to the commencement of the five research studies, the contractor must provide the following to NYSCB for review and approval:

• Completed confidentiality forms
• Research plan
• Draft of survey instruments

At an appropriate time during and/or upon completion of the five research studies, the contractor will:

• Submit the preliminary analysis of survey results to NYSCB for review.
• Present the final analysis of the surveys, incorporating any feedback provided by NYSCB staff, to NYSCB and any other entities designated by NYSCB.
• Submit the final white paper/policy brief to NYSCB and provide revision support until the end of the contract term.

The contractor will develop one white paper/policy brief summarizing their analysis of the five research studies. A draft version of the briefing is to be submitted to NYSCB by **August 15, 2027**, and the finalized version, incorporating NYSCB requested revisions, must be submitted to NYSCB no later than **October 15, 2027**.

**Submission method:** Responses must be emailed to funding@ocfs.ny.gov and should be received by the due date and time specified on the first page of this announcement.

The subject line of the email submission of your response should include the following information: DISC 1273 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA). Please limit your Letter of Interest to a maximum of 10 page(s), Arial 12-point font, single line spacing and one-inch margins.

Note: the proposed costs for the deliverables cannot exceed **$200,000** for the entire nine-month term of the contract.

Awards will be made to the interested organizations deemed to meet the eligibility requirements and are determined by OCFS to be best suited for the project.

Contract awarded in response to this solicitation are anticipated to be for nine months. The anticipated start date is 3/15/2027, and the anticipated end date is 12/15/2027.

Questions should be submitted via email to funding@ocfs.ny.gov prior to the due date and time specified on the first page of this announcement. OCFS recommends allowing at least five business days.