Disability Access, Equity, and Inclusion Project Technical Assistance and Developmental Evaluation Solicitation for Proposals for Program Year 2023-24

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), announces the availability of up to $1.5 million from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title IV Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funds for the Disability Access, Equity, and Inclusion (DAEI) Technical Assistance (TA) and Developmental Evaluation (DE) for Program Year 2023-24 (PY 23-24) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP) grant. The DAEI TA DE PY 23-24 awardee will assist the DAEI pilot program awardees as they design, develop, and implement projects that support lasting cross-systems collaboration, co-enrollment, co-case management, and cross training strategies between WIOA Title I and IV programs to improve employment outcomes for peiple with disabiities (PWD), and for conducting developmental evaluation that builds on lessons learned. The DAEI TA DE grant aims to increase access, equity, and inclusion of PWD in WIOA Title I and other workforce development programming, and to improve employment outcomes for this target population by providing necessary guidance and support to pilot awardees in their development of successful DAEI programs.  . In collaboration with EDD and DOR, the TA DE awardee will be responsible for creating and sustaining a larger collaborative community centered upon the integrated service delivery model and the goals and objectives of the DAEI pilot. This includes facilitating connectivity among pilot awardees, assistance with coordinating local and regional connectivity to develop grantee networks, developing successful strategies, sharing best practices, and identifying and addressing challenges as they occur throughout the life of the grant. Program outputs, including progress and analytical reports, will inform adaptations, shifts, and recommendations to the work as new lessons emerge to support real-time feedback and learning.  Applicants for the DAEI TA DE award must be organizations with the capacity, relationships, and expertise to deliver the necessary TA DE services statewide. Proposals will be accepted from. Proposals will be accepted from Public workforce development agencies, Human service or social service agencies, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Business-related non-profit organizations, non-profit or for-profit social benefit corporations, Workforce intermediaries, and Educational institutions Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PST on October 8, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on September 17, 2024, at 10 a.m. PST.  Pre-registration is required for all attendees. Refer to the EDD's Workforce Development Solicitation for Proposals website.   The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by September 24, 2024, at noon to WSBSFPGrants@edd.ca.gov. To view the Solicitation for Proposal, visit: https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/WDSFP_Workforce_Development_Solicitations_for_Proposals