Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) Program: Training and Technical Assistance ALN Number 84.177Z | ED GRANTS 011425 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 011425 001

This discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), funds a single project to deliver training and technical assistance (TTA) under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) Program. The central aim is to strengthen how OIB-funded services are run across the country by building the capacity of the agencies and providers that deliver independent living supports to older adults who are blind. In practical terms, the funded entity is expected to help improve program operations and service quality so that older individuals who are blind experience greater independence and self-sufficiency.

The primary audience for the training and technical assistance is the network of designated State agencies (DSAs), meaning the State agencies responsible for providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind, when those agencies receive OIB program funds. The opportunity also covers other service providers that receive OIB funding through the DSAs and provide direct services to consumers. The intent is not simply general education, but targeted assistance that improves performance, compliance, and effectiveness of OIB programs and the services they support, consistent with priorities and expectations laid out in the official Federal Register notice.

Eligible applicants are broad but capacity-based. Applicants may include State agencies and other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education (including public, State-controlled, and private IHEs), as long as they can demonstrate the ability to provide high-quality training and technical assistance specifically related to independent living services for older individuals who are blind. The notice emphasizes that applicants must show, in their application, that they can deliver the level and type of TTA described in the priority section of the official notice. For nonprofit applicants, nonprofit status must be documented in accordance with 34 CFR 75.51, such as proof of current IRS 501(c)(3) recognition, certification from a State taxing authority or attorney general, articles of incorporation showing nonprofit status, or comparable documentation from a parent organization plus an affiliate statement when applicable.

Key funding details included in the synopsis are: Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.177Z; Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 011425 001; estimated maximum award (ceiling) of $599,706; and an expectation of one award. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument, with the activity category listed as education. The original application closing date provided is March 17, 2025, and the posting/creation date is January 15, 2025.

Because this summary is only a synopsis, the official requirements that control how to apply and how awards will be made are in the Federal Register application notice. That official notice is also where applicants will find the specific priorities, application package instructions, submission requirements, performance measures, and program contacts. Applicants are also directed to follow the Department of Education "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" published December 23, 2024 (89 FR 104528), which governs standard submission and formatting expectations and includes details on where and how to obtain and submit an application.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) Program: Training and Technical Assistance ALN Number 84.177Z" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.177.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $599,706.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 011425 001

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