Coordination of Vocational Rehabilitation Mediation Services

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Adult Career and Continuing Education Services- Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) is seeking proposals for the coordination and delivery of mediation service statewide for ACCES-VR.

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), ACCES-VR is mandated to establish and implement procedures to allow an applicant or recipient of vocational rehabilitation services to resolve disputes through a mediation process that must be made available whenever an applicant, recipient of services, customer or the individual’s representative requests an impartial due process hearing: 34 CFR 361.57 Review of Determinations made by Designated State Unit Personnel (See Attachment A).

There are 20 Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) located across New York State.  The New York State Unified Court System Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Court Improvement Programs (ADR/CIP) provides independent oversight, training and technical support for CDRCs.

Subcontracting will be limited to thirty percent (30%) of the total contract budget. Subcontracting is defined as non-employee direct personal services and related incidental expenses, including travel.

NYSED will award ONE (1) contract pursuant to this RFP. The contract resulting from this RFP will be for a term anticipated to begin October 1, 2025, and to end September 30, 2030.

Service Area: Statewide

A map provides the name and location of each CDRC throughout the state.

Questions: Questions regarding the request must be submitted via online form no later than the close of business May 14, 2025. Questions regarding this request should be identified as Program or Fiscal. A Questions and Answers Summary will be posted to the ACCES Procurement website no later than May 28, 2025. The following are the designated contacts for this procurement:

Program Matters: David Morgan, Malgorzata Zegarska-Sanders

Fiscal Matters: for CAU: Tara Wildove

Submission: Bidders are requested to submit their bids electronically via online form as detailed in the Submission section of the RFP, and must be received at NYSED no later than June 11, 2025.