Rule2025-11103
National Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 17, 2025
Effective
July 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) announces a priority, requirements, and definitions under the Rehabilitation Training program, Assistance Listing Number 84.264L. The Department may use the priority, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2025 and later years. We will use the priority, requirements, and definitions to award a cooperative agreement for a national vocational rehabilitation technical assistance center (NVRTAC) to provide training and technical assistance to personnel of State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies and their partners to upgrade and increase their competencies, skills, and knowledge in providing quality services and effective management of the VR program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 115 (Tuesday, June 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 17, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25486-25493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11103]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2025-OSERS-0003]
National Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
(OSERS), Department of Education.
ACTION: Final priority, requirements, and definitions.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) announces a priority,
requirements, and definitions under the Rehabilitation Training
program, Assistance Listing Number 84.264L. The Department may use the
priority, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year
(FY) 2025 and later years. We will use the priority, requirements, and
definitions to award a cooperative agreement for a national vocational
rehabilitation technical assistance center (NVRTAC) to provide training
and technical assistance to personnel of State vocational
rehabilitation (VR) agencies and their partners to upgrade and increase
their competencies, skills, and knowledge in providing quality services
and effective management of the VR program.
DATES: The priority, requirements and definitions are effective July
17, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roslyn Thomas, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Lyndon Baines Johnson Building, Room
4A10, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 987-0105. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#536b677d6165671f1336377d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e363a203c383a424e6b6a20696178">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
[[Page 25487]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide
competitive grants, including cooperative agreements, to, or enter into
contracts with, eligible entities to expand and improve the provision
of VR and other services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (Rehabilitation Act) or to further the purposes and policies in
sections 2(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act by supporting
activities that increase the provision, extent, availability, scope,
and quality of rehabilitation services under the Act. Under the
Rehabilitation Act, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Commissioner is authorized to make grants to, and enter into contracts
with States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations
(including institutions of higher education (IHEs)) to support projects
that assist state and other agencies in providing VR and other services
to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment,
independence, and integration into the community and the competitive
labor market, and provide training and technical assistance designed to
assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of,
qualified personnel (especially rehabilitation counselors) who are
trained in providing VR services as well as other services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.264L.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772(a)(1).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 385.
We published a notice of proposed priority, requirements, and
definitions (NPP) for this program in the Federal Register on January
17, 2025 (90 FR 5778). That notice contained background information and
our reasons for proposing the priority, requirements, and definitions.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priority, requirements, and definitions, five parties
submitted comments addressing multiple topic areas on the proposed
priority, requirements, and definitions.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes or
suggested changes the law does not authorize us to make under the
applicable statutory authority. In addition, we do not address general
comments that raised concerns not directly related to the proposed
priority, requirements, or definitions.
Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and
of any changes in the priority, requirements, and definitions since
publication of the notice of proposed priority, requirements, and
definitions follows.
Comment: None.
Discussion: All individuals with disabilities should be treated
equally as required by Federal civil rights law. As such, we have
reviewed the proposed priority and have removed examples that single
out subgroups of individuals with disabilities from the priority,
project requirements, and application requirements.
Changes: We have removed ``traditionally underserved populations''
from section (h) of the priority, from section (g)(11) and (g)(14) of
the project requirements, and section (a)(1)(i) of the application
requirements.
Comments: All commenters expressed general support for the NVRTAC
and its objectives. One commenter specifically stated support for
combining support into a single center.
Discussion: The Department appreciates the comments and agrees that
State VR agencies will receive more efficient and effective support
from a single provider.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the Department ensure the
appropriate balance between NVRTAC activities that support program and
financial compliance and those that provide technical assistance around
innovation for high-quality VR services.
Discussion: The Department agrees with a goal of achieving both
fiscal and program success along with innovation. In addition to the
specific language in the priority and requirements that promote quality
VR services and improvements to service delivery, RSA also will seek
ways to balance the focus on both fiscal and program success as part of
the cooperative agreement for this grant, once awarded.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter recommended specifying the following topic
areas under intensive training and technical assistance: Individualized
Plan for Employment (IPE) development, career planning, assistive
technology and artificial intelligence, self-employment, and business
engagement. The commenter also recommended a requirement for technical
assistance to State VR agencies on the Randolph-Sheppard Vending
Facility Program and for the onboarding and training of counselors,
including those with a bachelor's degree and with master's degrees from
other counseling fields.
Discussion: With the exception of career planning, all topics
proposed by the commenter were included in the broad topics of training
and technical assistance required under the priority in section (k), or
in requirement (g) related to required topics for targeted and
universal training and technical assistance. While the Department
agrees that these may be relevant topics of intensive technical
assistance and clarifies that they remain allowable topic areas under
the priority, we do not believe it is appropriate to require that each
agreement for intensive training and technical assistance include these
topics, as those agreements are intended to be tailored to the needs of
each participating VR state agency. However, the Department agrees that
requirement (e) can be updated to clarify that these topics of training
and technical assistance are allowable. Regarding the commenter's
recommendation about the requirements, the Department notes that these
topics are included in requirements (g) and (b) and appreciates the
support for their inclusion. They remain included in the final
requirements. The Department also agrees with the commenter that career
planning should also be included under the broad training and technical
assistance areas outlined in the priority.
Changes: Project requirement (e)(2) has been revised to clarify
that intensive training and technical assistance topics may include
those referenced in the priority's broad program management,
performance, or resource management areas as well as those listed under
targeted and universal training and technical assistance, consistent
with the applicable intensive training and technical assistance
agreements. The final priority has been revised to add career planning
in program management and performance area section (k).
Comment: One commenter recommended that the NFP authorize the
NVRTAC to provide intensive training and technical assistance to
community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) to enhance their ability to
provide referred services to VR participants and to designated State
agencies (DSAs) on the non-delegable duties outlined in 34 CFR
361.13(b)(1).
Discussion: As part of engaging in technical assistance, State VR
agencies may involve CRPs and DSAs. This may build on the existing
priority (j) and project requirement (g)(11) that references CRPs.
Additionally, if a State VR agency identifies a CRP- or DSA-related
issue, the agency may propose addressing the issue within an intensive
training and technical assistance agreement and, if appropriate, invite
those entities to participate in related activities. The Department
also
[[Page 25488]]
welcomes applicants to address these concerns within their proposals
related to the training and technical assistance plan, landscape
analysis, intensive training and technical assistance agreements, and
resolving corrective actions. However, the Department believes that the
grantee will work most efficiently by engaging state VR agencies
directly and primarily.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter recommended that the nationwide training and
technical assistance needs assessment in project requirement (c)(2)
encompass input from workforce development partners including CRPs.
Discussion: The Department agrees that workforce development
partners, including CRPs, can contribute valuable insights to the
nationwide training and technical assistance needs assessment in
project requirement (c).
Changes: Project requirement (c)(2) has been revised to add a
reference to input from workforce development partners, including CRPs,
in the nationwide training and technical assistance needs assessment.
Comment: One commenter recommended expanding the NVRTAC advisory
committee's membership requirements in project requirement (a) to
reflect the ``dual customer'' relationship between State VR and
potential employers.
Discussion: The Department agrees that expanding the advisory
committee's required membership to reflect the relationship between
State VR and the business community would be consistent with the
priority and the Rehabilitation Act.
Changes: Project requirement (a) has been revised to add ``business
specialist'' and ``business representative'' to the advisory committee
membership.
Comment: One commenter emphasized the need for timely communication
between the Department, the NVRTAC, and State VR agencies on policy
issues pertinent to the provision of intensive training and technical
assistance. Specifically, the commenter suggests that the Department
give the grantee maximum flexibility to respond directly to the VR
agencies receiving intensive training and technical assistance.
Discussion: The Department agrees with the importance of timely
communication between RSA, the NVRTAC, and State VR agencies on policy
issues related to the provision of intensive training and technical
assistance. RSA will address this issue collaboratively in the
cooperative agreement between the Department and the eventual grantee,
consistent with this priority.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter responded to the NPP's specific request for
comment on the best way to prioritize among State VR agencies needing
intensive training and technical assistance. The commenter suggested a
formal assessment of the prospective VR agency's needs prior to the
provision of intensive training and technical assistance.
Discussion: The Department appreciates the commenters suggestion
regarding prioritizing intensive training and technical assistance to
State VR agencies. The Department will consider including a formal
assessment methodology in its cooperative agreement for the NVRTAC.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters advised against adopting the unrestricted
indirect cost established for the Department's Independent Living for
Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center and
advocated for maintaining the indirect cost rates that apply to the
current vocational rehabilitation technical assistance centers.
Discussion: Indirect cost requirements are set forth in program
statute and will be addressed in the Notice Inviting Applications. As
such, this comment is outside the scope of this Notice.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the NVRTAC consider recent
national VR program and fiscal improvements between Program Years 2023
and 2024 in its provision of training and technical assistance
activities.
Discussion: Under project requirement (c)(3), an applicant must
conduct a nationwide training and technical assistance needs
assessment, including ``information regarding the latest national
trends, barriers, challenges, and opportunities.'' As such, the
Department believes the requirement captures this recommendation as
written.
Changes: None.
Final Priority
National Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center
The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to
establish a National Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance
Center (NVRTAC).
The NVRTAC will provide intensive training and technical
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal
training and technical assistance to State VR agencies that will enable
VR agencies to improve VR program management and performance and, most
importantly, to improve employment outcomes achieved by individuals
with disabilities.
Regarding program management and performance, the NVRTAC's training
and technical assistance will support the assessment, development, and
enhancement of VR State agency leaders and staff knowledge, skills, and
abilities to improve service delivery and employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities and to perform the following functions:
(a) Implementing State VR agency-level best practices and policies
for maximizing engagement and achieving Competitive Integrated
Employment (CIE) for individuals with disabilities. The center will
provide VR agency personnel with technical assistance on evaluating
whether the management strategies they adopt have been shown to
increase the percentage of participants who achieve an MSG/credential
and exit the program with an employment outcome and modifying those
strategies, if necessary, to achieve continuous program improvement.
The NVRTAC will provide intensive training and technical assistance,
targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and
technical assistance to State VR agencies to improve or develop a broad
range of management policies and practices, both programmatic and
fiscal, to address needs common to many agencies;
(b) Disseminating clear, consistent messages on RSA priorities for
the development and implementation of sound management and financial
systems and strong internal controls;
(c) Identifying strengths and weaknesses in the agency's capacity
to understand factors affecting program effectiveness and timeliness
(such as the ability to analyze case service data to identify trends
and disparities in employment outcomes achieved by various groups of
individuals with disabilities) and designing management strategies to
address these deficits;
(d) Analyzing the VR agency's human resource management for
inclusion of best practice for recruitment, retention, and onboarding
strategies including orientation training for new VR agency directors;
(e) Understanding statutory and regulatory requirements related to
performance management, including calculations for the common
performance measures required under the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA);
[[Page 25489]]
(f) Monitoring and improving financial and program data reporting
and accuracy;
(g) Conducting performance evaluation and quality assurance
improvement activities, including the use of data for performance
management systems and the implementation of the common performance
measures required by WIOA;
(h) Conducting strategic planning and implementing the strategies
to address aspects of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats (SWOT) assessment that pose challenges and barriers to
improving service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, including those with significant and the most significant
disabilities, and students and youth with disabilities;
(i) Developing and implementing effective and efficient program and
fiscal policies for delivering pre-employment transition services under
section 113, VR services under section 103(a), and supported employment
services under title VI of the Rehabilitation Act;
(j) Implementing proactive strategies for the State VR agency to
collaborate and engage with educational agencies, Centers for
Independent Living, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation agencies,
and community rehabilitation programs;
(k) Implementing strategies to maximize timely and meaningful
engagement of VR clients during application and eligibility
determination, career planning, development of the Individualized Plan
for Employment (IPE), and service delivery;
(l) Accurately addressing the required descriptions in the VR
services portion of the WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan,
particularly in setting goals and strategies that can improve
performance;
(m) Coordinating efforts with the State Rehabilitation Council;
(n) Developing relationships with public policymakers and
optimizing the VR agency's presence and visibility by marketing the
program in accordance with the requirements in the Guidance for Federal
Financial Assistance at 2 CFR 200.467 and RSA guidance;
(o) Understanding the key resource management elements, including
but not limited to financial management, human resources management,
and program management and their relevance to important VR program
outcomes and various cost containment measures, such as implementing an
order of selection giving priority for services to individuals with the
most significant disabilities, assessing the need for and impact of
implementing a financial needs test and cost participation in services,
and implementing the requirement to seek comparable services and
benefits for certain services, among others; and
(p) Resolving corrective action plans and strategies to increase
compliance and reduce future noncompliance.
Regarding effective resource management, the NVRTAC will support
the assessment, development, and enhancement of staff knowledge,
skills, and abilities to ensure that--
(a) Resources, including program funds and personnel, are being
used for allowable purposes, are appropriately allocated, and support
innovation in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements;
(b) Internal controls and reporting systems upon which State VR
agencies base fiscal and programmatic forecasting and decision-making
are improved and reliable to support attainment of program goals and
objectives; and
(c) Resources, including program funds and personnel, are fully
used in ways that meet existing program needs, priorities, and expected
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
The following are TA project activities the NVRTAC will undertake
to address weaknesses in resource management:
(a) Assess performance of grantees' financial management processes
used to support attainment of fiscal and programmatic outcomes (for
example, whether an agency's fiscal processes support the accurate
tracking and reporting of non-Federal funds to maximize the drawdown of
Federal award funds to support attainment of employment outcomes); and
use the assessment to identify areas for improvement in fiscal
processes that will assist the agency in meeting program goals.
(b) Assess personnel training and technical assistance needs to
identify gaps in fiscal knowledge, skills, and abilities that prevent
the agency from the effective and efficient use of resources necessary
to achieve employment outcomes.
(c) Provide intensive training and technical assistance on
financial planning, to maximize program resources and attainment of
program goals and objectives, maximize opportunities for non-Federal
sources of match, avoid potential maintenance of effort deficits and
match penalties, and meet the reservation of funds requirement for pre-
employment transition services.
(d) Provide technical assistance on implementing Federal, State,
and program fiscal requirements, including internal controls, in an
efficient and effective manner to reduce unnecessary burden and to
focus efforts on program outcomes.
(e) Provide technical assistance on the identification, collection,
and analysis of program and fiscal data necessary for program
management and maximizing available resources to plan and support
consumer services.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Final Project Requirements
The Department establishes the following project requirements for
this program. We may apply one or more of these requirements, including
one or more of the activities listed under these requirements, in any
year in which this program is in effect.
To meet the requirements of this priority, the NVRTAC must, at a
minimum, conduct the following activities through innovative
approaches:
(a) Establish an advisory committee for the NVRTAC. The committee
members must include individuals with disabilities, representatives
from State VR agencies, including business specialists, individuals
with VR subject matter expertise, business representatives, community
rehabilitation providers, individuals with subject matter expertise in
assistive technology and advance technology for
[[Page 25490]]
individuals with disabilities, and individuals with subject matter
expertise in financial management and resources management for VR
programs. The committee members will provide input and recommendations
pertaining to the project design, project implementation, and the
project evaluation. At a minimum, the committee should meet semi-
annually.
(b) Establish a state-of-the-art NVRTAC website with information
technology platform for communicating with State VR agencies and
providing training and TA to state VR agencies' personnel. NVRTAC must
ensure that all products produced by the NVRTAC and posted on the
website have been developed in collaboration with RSA and meet
government and industry-recognized standards for accessibility and
security.
The website will serve as a key training and technical assistance
delivery vehicle; peer-to-peer communication hub; stakeholder convening
platform; and the central repository of information about technical
assistance and training materials and resources developed and provided
by the NVRTAC, including training modules for State VR agency
leadership and VR counseling professionals, as well as for new
employees onboarding resources. In addition, the system must have the
capacity to track training completion or related records, as
applicable.
(c) Conduct nationwide technical assistance and training needs
assessment of State VR agencies' personnel during the first six months
of the project. The needs assessment must include the areas of VR
program management, financial and resource management, service
delivery, and employment outcomes and should be informed by the
following--
(1) Input from RSA staff, RSA monitoring reports, and State VR
agency corrective action plans;
(2) Input from State VR agencies and workforce development
partners, including community rehabilitation programs, about their
needs, priorities, and innovative approaches to program and resource
management that lead to improved service delivery;
(3) Information regarding the latest National trends, barriers,
challenges, and opportunities; and
(4) Information regarding effective and efficient program and
resource management strategies, techniques, and practices that may be
applicable to State VR agencies.
(d) Develop a training and technical assistance plan. Based on the
results of the needs assessment, develop an overarching training and
technical assistance plan that must include, at a minimum--
(1) Management strategies and practices that result in improved
service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, including the rationale for their selection;
(2) Conceptual framework for the selected strategies and practices,
including key assumptions, expectations, and presumed relationships or
linkages among strategies and practices;
(3) Nature and scope of the intensive training and technical
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal
training and technical assistance to be provided in support of the
selected strategies and practices;
(4) Protocols and timelines for requesting, obtaining, and
completing training and technical assistance; and
(5) Protocols and timelines for transitioning the State VR agency's
technical assistance, upon completion of the technical assistance
agreement, to the designated RSA State Liaison, when appropriate.
(e) Provide intensive training and technical assistance to State VR
agencies consistent with the technical assistance plan based on a
review of a wide variety of information sources, including, but not
limited to, RSA's monitoring reports and corresponding State VR agency
corrective action plans; State audit reports; WIOA State plans,
particularly the VR portion of these State plans; RSA staff feedback;
and the results of comprehensive statewide needs assessments. Intensive
training and technical assistance may be provided on-site, over a
specified time period, under the terms of signed intensive training and
technical assistance agreements between the NVRTAC and the
participating State VR agencies. Numerical targets for the number of
intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be included
in the cooperative agreement between RSA and the NVRTAC.
The intensive training and technical assistance agreements between
the NVRTAC and the requesting State VR agencies must include the
following components:
(1) Management strategies and practices to be implemented by the
State VR agency that are designed to improve service delivery and
maximize quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
(2) Nature and scope of the training and technical assistance to be
provided by the NVRTAC. Topic areas addressed within the intensive
training and technical assistance agreements may include the priority's
broad management, performance, or resource management areas or the
targeted and universal training and technical assistance topics in
paragraph (g), below.
(3) Roles and responsibilities of the NVRTAC, State VR agency, RSA,
and other workforce development partners, including the commitment of
resources.
(4) Logic model (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1) that is specific to the
intensive need being addressed and that includes performance outcomes,
targets, and baselines; project activities, inputs, and outputs; and
data collection and analysis commitments.
(f) Implement a plan for project evaluation, which includes a
timeline for the evaluation and measurement benchmarks, that will
evaluate the impact of the center's training and technical assistance
on the performance of the VR agencies that received the center's
services. As part of the evaluation plan, there must be a logic model
that includes data elements, inputs, activities, outputs, and short-
term and long-term performance indicators regarding--
(1) Quantitative outcomes resulting from the program management and
employment strategies and practices, including--
(i) Timeliness of the VR processes and services;
(ii) Number of employment outcomes;
(iii) VR participants' employment or career-readiness;
(iv) Cost-effectiveness; and
(v) Sustainability;
(2) Quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's training
and technical assistance activities;
(3) Quantitative or qualitative insights about the relationship
between strategies, practices, and training and technical assistance
activities on critical outcomes for VR personnel, VR clients, and key
partners, including through--
(i) Pre- and post-training assessments;
(ii) Focus groups; and
(iii) Success stories.
(g) Develop and implement models and materials for targeted and
universal training and technical assistance for VR agency personnel, on
state VR program and fiscal management, and employment strategies for
individuals with disabilities, which must include the following--
(1) Integration of assistive technology and artificial intelligence
tools to fuel CIE in the 21st century for individuals with
disabilities;
(2) Career pathways education, internships, apprenticeships,
training, and supports in high-demand
[[Page 25491]]
occupations, including those in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) fields, advanced technology;
(3) Registered and industry-recognized apprenticeships, pre-
apprenticeships, and on-the-job training;
(4) Supported employment and customized employment;
(5) Customized training and credential programs to meet employers'
demand;
(6) Self-employment and entrepreneurship, including services
available under the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program;
(7) Business engagement and employer supports including dual
customer models such as Progressive Employment;
(8) Practices to enhance the employment capacity of individuals
with the most significant disabilities receiving supported employment
services, such as the Individual Placement and Support model;
(9) Pre-employment transition services that prepare students with
disabilities and transition services that prepare youth with
disabilities to identify career interests through work-based learning
and early career exploration opportunities, including career pathways,
internships, and job shadowing, with a focus on high-demand and STEM
careers;
(10) Career counseling techniques and resources, including labor
market information tools such as Career Index Plus;
(11) Collaboration with workforce development partners, community
rehabilitation programs, and other community-based organizations to
provide the comprehensive support services that individuals with
significant and the most significant disabilities, and students and
youth with disabilities, need to succeed, such as the Integrated
Resource Teams model;
(12) Approaches that encourage VR clients to consider jobs in the
advanced technology fields that respond to expected labor market needs;
(13) Approaches that encourage VR clients to enter and remain
engaged in the VR process, such as rapid engagement, motivational
interviewing, benefits counseling, and financial empowerment training,
and vehicles such as the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) tax-
free accounts for individuals with disabilities and flexibilities
associated with Social Security Income; and
(14) Community outreach strategies to expand the pool of potential
VR applicants and referral sources.
Final Application Requirements
The Department establishes the following application requirements
for the purpose of this priority. We may apply one or more of these
requirements, including one or more of the activities listed under
these requirements, in any year in which this program is in effect.
Applicants must--
(a) Provide a landscape analysis of current challenges,
opportunities, and initiatives in national VR technical assistance and
training. The landscape analysis must address the following:
(1) Knowledge about--
(i) State VR program challenges in performance, including barriers
and trends regarding program and resource management and employment
outcomes for individuals with disabilities especially those with
significant and the most significant disabilities, and students and
youth with disabilities, particularly as noted in recent RSA monitoring
reports and State VR agency corrective action plans; and
(ii) Federal and State initiatives and best practices to improve
program and resource management and employment outcomes for individuals
with disabilities, particularly in response to requirements under WIOA.
(2) The proposed project's potential to contribute to these Federal
and State initiatives by assisting State VR agencies in equipping
personnel with the necessary skills and training to implement the
substantive provisions of the Rehabilitation Act introduced by WIOA
that are designed to improve the employment outcomes for individuals
with disabilities.
(b) Provide an implementation plan. The implementation plan must
describe the feasibility of the management plan to achieve project
objectives and goals on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks and meeting expected outcomes.
(c) Describe the plans to establish a state-of-the-art NVRTAC
website and information technology platform.
(d) Describe plans for completing the national technical assistance
and training needs assessment.
(e) Specify strategies to maximize coordination between the NVRTAC
and other TA centers and seek opportunities to coordinate with other
training and technical assistance investments, including those funded
by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human
Services, in the provision of training and technical assistance to
State VR agencies.
(f) Describe the proposed evaluation plan and logic model for the
project.
(g) Provide a dissemination plan. The dissemination plan must
describe plans to disseminate its summative findings and results at
national conferences, regional forums, or specialized meetings starting
after the first year of the performance period, including cost-
effective approaches such as virtual convenings, to engage State VR
agencies and other potential Federal, State, local, and nongovernment
partners, including--
(1) Types of events (e.g., conferences, forums, specialized
meetings);
(2) Target audience (e.g., by event type); and
(3) Convening modes (in-person, virtual).
Final Definitions
The Department establishes the following definitions for this
program to ensure that applicants have a clear understanding of how we
are using these terms. We may apply these definitions in any year in
which this program is in effect.
Intensive training and technical assistance means training and
technical assistance provided to State VR agencies and State VR agency
personnel, in consultation with RSA, primarily on-site for a specific
issue and a set period of time negotiated between the State VR agency
and NVRTAC. Intensive training and technical assistance is based on an
ongoing relationship between the training and technical assistance
center staff and State VR agencies and State VR agency personnel under
the terms of a signed intensive training and technical assistance
agreement.
Targeted training and technical assistance means training and
technical assistance based on needs common to one or more State VR
agencies and State VR agency personnel on a time-limited basis and with
limited commitment of training and technical assistance center
resources. Targeted training and technical assistance are delivered
through virtual, or in-person methods tailored to the identified needs
of the participating State VR agencies and State VR agency personnel.
Universal training and technical assistance means training and
technical assistance broadly available to State VR agencies and State
VR agency personnel and other interested parties through their own
initiative, resulting in minimal interaction with training and
technical assistance center staff. Universal training and technical
[[Page 25492]]
assistance include generalized presentations, products, and related
activities available through a website or through brief contacts with
the training and technical assistance center staff.
This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use these priorities, requirements, or definitions,
we invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14192
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, it must be determined whether this
regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to the
requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866
defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely to
result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more,
or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public
health or safety, or State, local, or Tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in
the Executive order.
This regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action
subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866.
Since this regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action
under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, it is not considered an
``Executive Order 14192 regulatory action.''
We have also reviewed this regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits
and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of
cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits;
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated
behavioral changes.''
We are issuing the final priority, requirements, and definitions
only on a reasoned determination that their benefits justify their
costs. In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected
those approaches that maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that
follows, the Department believes that this regulatory action is
consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.
We have also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly
interfere with State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with these Executive orders, the Department has
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
In addition, we have considered the potential benefits of this
regulatory action and have noted these benefits in the background
section of the NPP.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
The final priorities, including requirements, contain information
collection requirements that are approved by OMB under OMB control
number 1820-0028; the final priorities, including requirements, do not
affect the currently approved data collection.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification: The Secretary certifies
that this final regulatory action will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) Size Standards define proprietary
institutions as small businesses if they are independently owned and
operated, are not dominant in their field of operation, and have total
annual revenue below $7,000,000. Nonprofit institutions are defined as
small entities if they are independently owned and operated and not
dominant in their field of operation. Public institutions are defined
as small organizations if they are operated by a government overseeing
a population below 50,000. Participation in this program is voluntary.
For this reason, the proposed priority and requirements would impose no
burden on small entities unless they applied for funding under the
program. We expect that in determining whether to apply for any project
under the Rehabilitation Training (RT) program funds, an eligible
applicant would evaluate the requirements of preparing an application
and any associated costs and weigh them against the benefits likely to
be achieved by receiving a RT grant. Eligible applicants most likely
would apply only if they determine that the likely benefits exceed the
costs of preparing an application. The likely benefits include the
potential receipt of a grant as well as other benefits that may accrue
to an entity through its development of an application.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the
objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental
partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies
on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination
and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3
[[Page 25493]]
file, braille, large print, audiotape, compact disc, or other
accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other Department documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access Department documents published in the Federal
Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Diana Diaz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2025-11103 Filed 6-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.