Financial Planning Services

The vendor is required to provide financial planning services tailored for vocational rehabilitation (VR) participants who are receiving supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI).
- Service delivery:
•    The service delivery model is designed in recognition that VR participants have varying levels of financial planning service needs based on factors such as employment goals, living situation, participation in federal and state assistance programs, current phase of vocational rehabilitation services, and other considerations. 
•    The model aims to meet the unique needs of each VR participant while maintaining consistent messaging to promote competitive integrated employment (CIE). 
•    Services anticipates a three-tiered service structure designed to offer varying depths of financial planning information based on participants' needs before and after achieving employment. understanding that not all participants will require every level of service, it is essential that the information provided within each tier is accurate, reliable, and sufficient to inform sound decision-making. 
•    This structured approach is designed for VR participants to receive tailored support that is timely and relevant to their current situation, while promoting employment as a viable pathway to greater financial security.
•    Services is responsible for identifying eligible individuals who need financial planning services and will refer the individuals to the contracted entity.
- Information and referral (I&R)
•    Services, the awarded contractor shall leverage existing materials or develop materials that can be disseminated in person, remotely, or in print and digital formats. 
•    Provide general information to promote employment through work incentive counseling while offering specific, tailored referral options for participants seeking more detailed guidance.
•    This foundational component is primarily designed for individuals who have not yet started to seek employment or who may not yet have identified a specific employment goal. 
•    It serves a dual purpose:
o    Informing participants about the potential impact of employment on their government assistance and insurance programs, in addition to work incentives that can support the transition to maximizing cie.
o    Promoting CIE as a pathway to improved financial security, focused on the benefits of maximizing CIE earnings.
- Employment and resource navigation (EARN)
•    Services, the awarded contractor will improve upon current informational materials (e.g., individual benefit profiles, reports, plans, etc.) and develop targeted informational materials that provide individualized guidance on work incentive planning and financial assistance, customized to the specific employment and financial goals of the VR participant.
•    The complexity of benefit counseling and the potential for misunderstandings, services must approve standardized language for these individualized materials prior to utilization to ensure Consistency in messaging related to the promotion of CIE and benefits of maximizing CIE earnings potential.
- Ongoing resource navigation
•    Short-term follow-up plan for the first 90 days of employment for each individual receiving ongoing resource navigation services.
•    The short-term plan must outline action items to be completed within the first 90 days by the awarded contractor, participant, and engaged support team members, including regular check-ins with participants to ensure the successful implementation of follow-up actions identified in component 2, as applicable.
•    Also outline and implement a seamless transition process for referring participants to appropriate long-term support resources, for needed service continuity after exit from VR-funded financial planning services.

- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Pre-Proposal Conference Date: October 9, 2025
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: October 16, 2025