New P/T Contracts

VR Program

What is VRS?

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) is a division in Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The agency's mission is to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone. The DEED-VRS division administers several programs and projects, the largest of which is the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. The mission of the programs and projects within the VRS division is to empower Minnesotans with disabilities to achieve their goals for competitive, integrated employment and career development.

What is the Vocational Rehabilitation Program?

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program provides specialized, one-on-one employment services for individuals with disabilities, including a variety of counseling, guidance, training, job skills, and job placement and follow-up services. This includes pre-employment transition services for youth and a full range of employment services for adults.

How Does the VR Program Work with Community Partners?

• VRS partners with organizations and businesses located in communities across the state that provide employment services. The VR program refers to these service providers as "Community Partners."
• VRS and the VR program collaborates with community partners to help Minnesotans with disabilities achieve their goals for competitive, integrated employment and career development outcomes.
• The VR program state-staff provide some of the employment services an individual in the program needs, directly, and in many cases, a person in the VR program will also receive services through a VR program Community Partner.

How can my organization or business become a Community Partner and start to provide services?

• A Community Partner must have a Professional/Technical Master Contract (P/T Contract) with the VR program to provide services as a Community Partner for an individual in the VR program.
• The P/T Contract is the mechanism that contains the employment services structure, expectations, purchases, and pricing. The first step in becoming a Community Partner is to complete an application. The application process is detailed on the "Application" tab of this webpage.

How does my business or organization receive business and bill for services provided?

• When an individual needs services outside what VR program staff will provide, the VR program staff person will offer individuals a choice of Community Partners who can provide services to support their needs.
• Once an individual in the program chooses a Community Partner, VR staff will provide individual referral information to the Community Partner.
• Community Partner staff and VRS staff work closely together to coordinate services for the individual.
• After a referral is made, VRS staff create an "authorization" for purchase of the service. After the Community Partner receives the referral and authorization, the services can begin.
• VRS offers templates for invoices and reports to assist with accurate and timely billing that complies with VRS policies for payment of these contracted services.

What does a business or organization need to become a VR Community Partner?

• To be a community partner with the VR program, your organization must be committed to providing services and supports for individuals exploring, finding, and keeping competitive, integrated employment.
• Review of potential providers includes an assessment of the VR program's service needs, an assessment of the provider's capacity to deliver the service(s), and an assessment of proposed rates for each service.
• If the partner application is approved, the next step is a negotiation of services and rates. Upon approval of the partner application and successful negotiation of services and rates, DEED-VRS will work to execute a state Professional/Technical (P/T) Master Contract with the community partner.
• Information in the following tabs outlines how to apply for a P/T Contract with DEED-VRS to provide employment services through the VR program.

Together, we have an opportunity to empower Minnesotans with disabilities to achieve their goals for employment, independent living, and community integration.

Request for Proposals

The Request for Proposals, instructions, and documents for contracts starting July 2022 are posted on the DEED Competitive Grants and Contracts webpage.

CRP/LUV

Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs)

Community Partners designated as Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Accreditation represents an industry assurance that the CRP meets or exceeds nationally and internationally recognized service standards and is focused on delivering the most favorable results for persons served.

Per state rule, service providers that are CARF accredited have no pre-determined maximum budget cap for their P/T contract. A budget maximum is negotiated with the VR program as part of the contract application and negotiation process.

Limited-Use Vendors (LUVs)

Community Partners designated as Limited-Use Vendors (LUVs) are service providers that are not CARF-accredited. Per state rule, VRS must limit the amount of business it does with LUVs through funding limits and shorter contract terms. Upon negotiation with the VR program, LUVs may conduct business up to $100,000 a year with VRS after a Professional and Technical (P/T) Services Master Contract has been approved.

Funding

The VR program received 73.42% of federal fiscal year 2023 funding through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The federal fiscal year 2023 grants totaled $47,671,377. The required state match for these funds is $12,849,251. The state of Minnesota appropriated $14.3 million to meet the match requirement.