DISC 1273 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment

The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) announces a Discretionary Opportunity Announcement for qualified organizations that can conduct a Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) for the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB). NYSCB provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to about 4,500 participants with blindness and visual impairment through seven district offices located throughout New York State. Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) regulations require that a CSNA be conducted every three years. The results and recommendations from this assessment are incorporated into the annual plan submitted by NYSCB to the RSA. This advertisement is a public notice that OCFS is seeking to contract with one organization to conduct a CSNA for NYSCB which will involve an evaluation of NYSCB case management data, along with primary data collection through surveys and focus groups. The awarded contractor’s provision of statewide and regional office-level data to NYSCB through the CSNA will facilitate comprehensive planning and policy development and lead to identification of specific areas in need of improvement within services and supports, program practices, and policies. The contractor will work in close consultation with NYSCB staff and the NY State Rehabilitation Council to ensure the accuracy and high quality of the CSNA white paper/policy brief. Please see the Eligibility Criteria and the Scope of Work sections of this solicitation for additional information. The purpose of this solicitation is to invite any eligible and interested organizations that believe they can satisfy this program’s needs to inform OCFS by a Letter of Interest (LOI). To be considered responsive, your organization’s LOI should be received no later than the deadline specified on the first page of this announcement. Please see the How to Respond section of the solicitation for additional information and submission requirements. This opportunity is authorized under Section 163 of State Finance Law as a discretionary purchase. OCFS intends to contract pursuant to its discretionary purchasing authority under State Finance Law Section 163(6), which authorizes purchases without a formal competitive process in certain circumstances. This funding opportunity is limited to purchases up to the discretionary buying threshold from respondent organizations qualified as: NYS certified Minority-and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) NYS certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) NYS Small Business Enterprise (SBE) NYS-certified MWBE and SDVOB are qualified pursuant to Article 15-A of State Executive Law and Article 3 of Veterans’ Services Law. In accordance with Section 160(8) of State Finance Law and Article 4-B of Economic Development Law, a NYS small business is resident in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or less persons. Primary respondents that are certified and/or qualify as a small business, MWBE or SDVOB should complete, sign, and submit the Attachment 3 – Affirmation of Business Status provided with this solicitation. Eligibility Criteria Interested parties who meet the following criteria are eligible to respond: Agree to provide the services outlined in the Scope of Work section. Licensed to do business in the state of New York or agree to become licensed in the state of New York if selected for award. Be a NYS Certified MWBE, SDVOB, and/or SBE as evidenced by completing and providing an Attachment 3 – Affirmation of Business Status. Have a minimum of three (3) years of experience at the time of application analyzing and compiling data for state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Have completed at least one Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) prior to the time of application for provision to a New York State vocational rehabilitation agency. Provide three professional references, one of which must be for research and evaluation-related work performed or completed within the past 12 months. Agree to abide by the terms of the Attachment 6 – NYSCB Confidentiality Agreement, if selected to receive an award. Please see the solicitation document located on the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: The most recent contract to implement a needs assessment for NYSCB is C030315 Apter & O'Connor Associates, Inc. (Contract Dates 7/1/2024-11/30/2025). Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) SDVOB Goal: 0.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) MBE Goal: 0.00% WBE Goal: 0.00% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contracting goals (DBE) DBE Goal: 0.00%