SOI 1186 Residential Services for Individuals who are Legally Blind

The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) announces a Solicitation of Interest (SOI) for qualified organizations that currently provide a residential services program for individuals who are legally blind (hereafter also referred to as participants) that develops and expands the participant’s abilities to help them achieve self-reliance and independence in both daily life and the workplace. Please see the SOI Eligibility Criteria section for additional information.

This advertisement is public notice that OCFS is seeking information from organizations to identify residential services programs offered throughout the United States so that NYSCB can ultimately offer a broad array of programs to its participants, who will make informed choices on a residential services program(s) that truly meets their individual needs. Please see the SOI Scope of Work section for additional information.

Proposed residential programs must develop and expand the participant’s abilities in one or more of the following areas:

• Vocational rehabilitation
• Academic instruction/college prep
• Workplace readiness
• Specific job training skills
• Independent living
• Self-advocacy
• Use of assistive and/or adaptive technology
• Financial literacy

Please note: Proposed program(s) that are solely of a recreational nature will not be funded under this SOI.

The purpose of this solicitation is to invite any eligible and interested entities 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 SOI How to Respond section for additional information and submission requirements.

OCFS intends to select one or more contractors based on the criteria outlined in the announcement.

Please see the SOI document located on the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements.