REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TO MIGRANT SEASONAL FARMWORKERS RFI

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TO MIGRANT SEASONAL FARMWORKERS RFI 2013-43 325 West Gaines

1 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TO MIGRANT SEASONAL FARMWORKERS RFI West Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL Please submissions to: Attn: Christina Davis Page 1 of 5

2 Purpose and Scope Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation Services to Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers I. INTRODUCTION The State of Florida, Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, hereinafter referred to as DOE/DVR, is requesting information regarding the availability of providers to conduct outreach, identify and refer Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs) with disabilities and/or their family members to the DOE/DVR. The Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) Program is established in accordance with the DOE/DVR Federal/State Plan and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Section 101(a) (15) (D) (ii). The purpose of this program is to improve and expand vocational rehabilitation services to MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members who have been underserved or unserved in the State of Florida. All counties within the state of Florida are inclusive to this Project. II. PROGRAM BACKGROUND DOE/DVR is a federal-state program that works with people who have physical or mental disabilities to prepare for, gain or retain meaningful employment. DOE/DVR is authorized by the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Chapter 413, Part II, Florida Statutes. Federal funding for the program is contingent upon adherence to the State Plan approved by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The State Plan is DOE/DVR s contract with the federal government explaining how DOE/DVR helps people with disabilities find employment. One of the requirements of the State Plan is statewideness, which requires DOE/DVR to provide services throughout the state. Currently, DOE/DVR contracts for outreach activities, identification and referral of MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members in the following counties: a) Volusia b) Orange c) Osceola d) Lake e) Polk f) Seminole g) Putnam h) Miami-Dade Page 2 of 5

3 III. PROGRAM GOALS The primary goal of the program is to contract with community based organizations that currently serve MSFWs to educate and inform them about the vocational rehabilitation services available to MSFWs with disabilities and their families. These organizations are to conduct outreach activities, identify and refer MSFWs and their families to DOE/DVR as well as provide interpreter services and transportation, if necessary. By working with these groups, DOE/DVR is reaching out to the MSFW community and receiving more appropriate referrals. DOE/DVR is interested in continuing to contract for these services in the counties listed above, in addition to the potential to include other counties. IV. OBJECTIVE The objectives associated with this project are: 1. Conducting outreach activities intended to reach MSFWs with disabilities and/or their families so that they may learn more about the DOE/DVR program. Examples of activities include attendance at community events; visits to farmworker camps and agencies; Public Service Announcements; distribution of flyers and/or brochures; and home visits; 2. Identifying and referring MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members to the appropriate DOE/DVR unit office for services; 3. Maintaining full participation throughout the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) process, which includes serving as an advocate for the individual and communicating with the VR Counselor regarding the individual throughout the VR process; 4. Providing interpreter services for MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members, which includes, but is not be limited to, Spanish or Haitian Creole; 5. Providing transportation to MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members who have been referred to or served by DOE/DVR; and 6. Ensuring MSFWs with disabilities and/or their family members go through the entire VR process. V. PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION This RFI is issued for the purpose of obtaining information about community based organizations who currently serve MSFWs with disabilities and their families. Responses should provide information that supports the below Response Format section based on the above paragraphs. VI. PROCESS Page 3 of 5

4 DOE/DVR management will review and analyze information received in response to this Request for Information (RFI) to determine the feasibility of issuing a competitive solicitation for these services. Any cost information received will be used solely to gain a perspective of the potential budgetary magnitude. Responses to this request will be reviewed for informational purposes only and will not result in the award of a contract. Vendors submitting a response to this RFI are not prohibited from responding to any related subsequent solicitation. VII. RESPONSE FORMAT Potential vendors are asked to address all of the following requirements in their response: 1. Company literature, such as corporate overview and company structure, financial soundness and stability, and services currently offered; 2. Point of contact information, including representative name and alternative, if available, telephone number(s), and address(s); 3. A statement of interest in providing the services outlined in this RFI, including an outline of a specific concept, technology, or approach that would meet the goals and requirements described in this RFI; 4. A description of the respondent s business and its experience as it relates to the services outlined in this RFI. This description should include a narrative explaining past experiences in which the respondent has engaged in conducting outreach activities, identification and referral; 5. A description of how the respondent s approach will offer advantages or improvements over existing processes. The description should also identify known or potential concerns with the approach; and 6. A description of the staffing level the respondent anticipates will be needed in order to carry out its proposed approach. The description should include, at a minimum, the estimated number/type/level of expertise of staff that the respondent would assign to an initiative such as the one described in this RFI. VIII. DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION WEBSITE Additional information about the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation can be found at: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS A. Time Schedule The following timetable shows the approximate dates for this Request for Information. All times indicated are Eastern Time (ET). Page 4 of 5

5 Request for Information Issued Questions Due to no later than Answers to Vendors on or before Receipt of ed RFI responses 03/12/13 03/25/13 by 2:00 p.m. 04/01/13 04/15/13 by 2:00 p.m. PLEASE PROVIDE RESPONSES VIA B. Questions and Restrictions The Department of Education may be contacted via or fax regarding submission of questions concerning this RFI. Any respondent s questions must be submitted in writing and received by the Department on or before the specified due date at the following address or fax: Please deliver questions to: Attn: Christina Davis 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 332 Tallahassee, FL Fax Number: Telephone Number: Christina.Davis@fldoe.org The Department will provide written answers to all questions that respondents submit by the specified due date. Questions and Answers and notice of changes (addenda) will be posted on the Florida Vendor Bid System (VBS) at (click on Business & Industry, under Doing Business with the State of Florida click on State Purchasing, click on Everything for Vendors and Customers, then Vendor Bid System and Search Advertisement, select the Department of Education in the Agency window and initiate search), under this RFI number. It is the responsibility of all respondents to monitor this site for any changing information prior to submitting a response. Page 5 of 5

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR REHABILITATION ENGINEERING SERVICES RFI

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR REHABILITATION ENGINEERING SERVICES RFI 2013-25 325 West Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 Please deliver or email submissions to: Attn: Christina Davis 325 West Gaines