Social Security Administration
May 16, 2006
Dear Colleague:
I am pleased to announce that Social Security has issued a new Request for
Applications (RFA) for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
Program (currently known as the Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO)
Program). I invite you to access this RFA, which has been posted on
www.grants.gov (Funding
Opportunity Number SSA-OESP-06-1).
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 authorized Social
Security to award cooperative agreements to entities to provide benefits
planning, assistance, and outreach services to Social Security€™s beneficiaries
with disabilities (including transition-to-work aged youth). The purpose of this
community-based program is to disseminate accurate information about work
incentives so beneficiaries may make more informed choices regarding work.
Section 407 of the Social Security Protection Act (Public Law 108-203) extended
the authorization of this grant program to Fiscal Year 2009.
To continue the provision of these valuable services to persons with
disabilities, on May 15, 2006, Social Security issued this new nationwide,
competitive RFA with an emphasis on work incentives, return to work supports,
and jobs for beneficiaries with disabilities, Effective September 30, 2006, this
emphasis also includes changing the BPAO Program name to the WIPA Program.
Benefits specialists under the WIPA Program will be called Community Work
Incentives Coordinators (CWICs).
Address to Request Application
It is preferred that an electronic application be submitted through
www.grants.gov for Funding
Opportunity Number SSA-OESP-06-1. The
www.grants.gov, €œGetting
Started€ webpage is available to help explain the registration and application
submission process. If you experience problems with the steps related to
registering to do business with the Federal government or application
submission, contact the Grants.gov support staff at
support@grants.gov.
Applicants without Internet access should contact the Office of Acquisition and
Grants for further information on applying. Please fax inquiries to the Grants
Management Team at 410-966-9310 or mail to: Social Security Administration,
Office of Acquisition and Grants, Grants Management Team, Attention:
SSA-OESP-06-1, 1st Floor-Rear Entrance, 7111 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Md.
21244. To ensure receipt of the proper application package, please include
program announcement number SSA-OESP-06-1 and the date of this announcement.
Entities must submit applications by July 1, 2006.
Notice of Intent
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, preferably by May 30, 2006, an
email, a fax, post card, or letter of intent to allow Social Security staff to
estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and avoid potential
conflicts of interest in the review process. This notice of intent is not
required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review process of a
subsequent application. The notice of intent should be faxed to (410) 966-1278;
mailed to Social Security Administration, Office of Employment Support Programs,
Attention: Jennifer DeBoy Stammer, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401; or emailed to
jenny.deboy@ssa.gov or
Regina.Bowden@ssa.gov.
Pre-Application Seminars
In late-May and June 2006, Social Security will conduct pre-application seminars
to provide interested community-based organizations guidance and technical
assistance as they prepare to submit their applications. The seminars will be
held in the following cities: Sacramento, California; Mobile, Alabama; Helena,
Montana; Boise, Idaho; Austin, Texas; Lansing, Michigan ; Hartford, Connecticut;
Richmond, Virginia; Albany, New York; and Des Moines, Iowa. This schedule is
located at
www.socialsecurity.gov/work/WIPARFA.html.
Applicants without Internet access can request the pre-application seminar
schedule by fax at (410) 966-1278; by mail at Social Security Administration,
Office of Employment Support Programs, Attention: Debbie Morrison, 107 Altmeyer
Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401; or by email
at Debbie.Morrison@ssa.gov or
Regina.Bowden@ssa.gov.
We look forward to implementing the WIPA Program and hope you will consider
applying.
Sincerely,
/s/
Sue Suter
Associate Commissioner
for Employment Sup
