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 | ED GRANTS 040924 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 040924 001

This opportunity is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), specifically the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). It sits under the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) and is titled "Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities Through the Transformation of Education, Career, and Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Project." The Assistance Listing Number is 84.421F, and the posted opportunity number is ED GRANTS 040924 001. It was created on April 9, 2024, and the original application deadline listed is July 8, 2024. The notice indicates an expectation of 29 awards, but applicants are directed to the Federal Register application notice for the definitive details, including any ceilings, floor amounts, or other award parameters that may not be fully reflected in the synopsis.

The core purpose of the DIF program, as authorized through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), is to fund innovative activities that increase competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes for youth and other individuals with disabilities. In plain terms, the Department is looking to support projects that test or demonstrate improved ways of helping people with disabilities prepare for, enter, and succeed in jobs that are integrated with nondisabled peers and that pay competitively. The notice ties the definition of CIE to section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(5)), with additional clarification available in the regulatory definition at 34 CFR 361.5(c)(9). Because this is framed as a model demonstration project, the intent is not just to provide services, but to build, pilot, and show approaches that can be replicated or taken to scale, especially where education-to-career pathways and employment systems need to be better aligned.

Eligibility is broad and includes both government and non-government applicants. On the state side, eligible applicants include specific state agencies (or their legal equivalents): a State Educational Agency; a State Juvenile Justice agency; a State Developmental Disabilities agency; a State Department of Health; a State Department of Human Services; or the designated State unit for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services. Beyond state agencies, the program also allows public, private, and nonprofit entities to apply, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). The Grants.gov listing also references multiple categories such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, along with nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and an "others" category, reinforcing that a wide range of organizations may be able to serve as the applicant depending on how they fit the official notice.

Several compliance notes are highlighted for certain applicant types. For most applicants, the regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply, but federally recognized Indian Tribes are exempt from those particular regulations. Institutions of Higher Education are specifically subject to 34 CFR part 86. Nonprofit applicants should pay close attention to the requirement at 34 CFR 75.51 on how to prove nonprofit status. The synopsis spells out acceptable ways to document nonprofit status, including IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), a certification from a state taxing body or state attorney general, incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status, documentation through a parent organization plus an affiliate statement, or alternative evidence for entities with sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from applying for 501(c)(3) determination but that would otherwise qualify as nonprofit under the regulation.

The synopsis repeatedly emphasizes that it is not the official governing document and that applicants need to rely on the Federal Register notice for the full set of requirements. That official notice is where applicants will find the specific program priorities, the definition of "innovative" as used for this competition, required project components, performance measures, reporting expectations, selection criteria, and any pre-application requirements. It is also where applicants should confirm how to submit, what forms are required, and what the Department will consider responsive or nonresponsive. In addition, the Department points applicants to the "Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published December 7, 2022) for standardized guidance on obtaining and submitting an application, including addresses and submission procedures.

Overall, this grant is geared toward organizations that can design and demonstrate updated education-to-career and employment models that measurably increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities, especially youth transitioning into adulthood. Strong applicants will typically be those positioned to coordinate across education, workforce, and rehabilitation systems, collect and report meaningful outcome data, and build approaches that can be sustained and replicated beyond the grant period, consistent with the model demonstration focus described in the title and purpose.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "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" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.421.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 29 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.

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