VRS community partners may apply to amend their P/T contracts to adjust their service offerings in accordance with their business needs, the needs of individuals they work with, and the needs of the state VR program.
If you are interested in amending your P/T contract, please contact:
Anne Paulson, VRS Rehabilitation Program Specialist, 651-259-7135
Sara Sundeen, VRS Rehabilitation Program Specialist, 651-247-9121
Janeen Oien, VRS Rehabilitation Program Specialist, 769-204-1354
Jess Outhwaite, VRS Rehabilitation Program Specialist, 763-233-8829
Amendment Process
Amendment Application Evaluation
DEED evaluates amendment applications based on three assessments: 1) the need for a particular service, 2) the provider's capacity to deliver the service, and 3) the proposed rate for the service.
"Service need" may include the needs of VR individuals, the needs of the state VR program, and/or the business needs of community partner organizations.
Rate Increases: If a community partner requests an increase in the rate for a service already on their contract, the community partner organization must provide a rationale for the rate increase. The requested rate increase must be acceptable to DEED's Administrative and Financial Services and the Minnesota Department of Administration's Office of State Procurement. Some questions to consider are: Is there a change in the external cost of the service? Is there a change in the regulatory environment? Is the provider changing or enhancing the service that makes the rate increase necessary?
Amendment Application Review and Amendment Development Process Step-By-Step
VRS expects a high volume of amendment applications during this period. Detailed steps for processing an amendment application are described below. Some of these steps can take approximately 2 weeks and the whole process often takes about 2 months.
VRS staff prepares each application for review by VRS leadership. VRS leadership reviews each amendment application and approves or declines amendment proposal based on service need.
DEED-Administrative Fiscal Services (DEED-AFS) conducts a careful review of Community Partner's existing P/T contract and proposed amendment. If approved by DEED-AFS, DEED-AFS returns the contract amendment to VRS.
VRS secures VRS Director's signature on P/T contract amendment and sends to DEED-AFS.
DEED-AFS submits the amendment to Department of Administration's Office of State Procurement for review and approval.
Office of State Procurement returns fully executed P/T contract, as amended, to DEED-AFS. DEED-AFS encumbers funds in SWIFT. DEED-AFS returns the fully executed amendment to VRS.
VRS sends the fully executed P/T Contract, as amended, to community partner.
VRS requests DEED Communication upload the contract to DEED's external website. VRS updates WF1 with new amendment information. VRS notifies all VRS staff of new amendment.
Funding
The VR program received 78.70% of federal fiscal year 2024 funding through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The federal fiscal year 2024 grants totaled $52,850,455. The required state match for these funds is $14,299,999. The state of Minnesota appropriated $14.3 million to meet the match requirement.
