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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JULY 10,2000 PSA#2638CERTIFICATION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS The U.S.
Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP),
Branch of Medical Standards and Rehabilitation (BSMR) is soliciting
individual vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRC) who live in the
states of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. OWCP/BMSR
intends to certify and contract with individual VRC in these areas to
provide direct vocational rehabilitation services for injured workers
covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and the
Federal Employees' Compensation Act. OWCP certification involves 1)
minimum qualification criteria, 2) rating of educational and experience
factors, 3) selection of those counselors with the highest ratings, 4)
required attendance at a training workshop, and 5) a contractual
agreement to follow OWCP standards. The minimum qualifications for
consideration are: 1) a bachelor degree from an accredited four year
college or university; and 2) two years' workers' compensation
vocational counseling experience. New procedures require each VRC to
submit to the OWCP National Office a complete application package,
original and duplicate, consisting of : (1) a narrative summary which
provides a complete and detailed description of their work experience
and educational background, including vocational counseling experience
in using the labor market, job placement, and using testing/
vocational evaluation; (2) copies of transcripts supporting the
college/university degrees obtained, and references from employers or
contractors to verify experience and rehabilitation counselor
employment; (3) a signed cover letter or statement, submitted
individually, by each VRC indicating that the application package
demonstrates the intent to be available to provide direct services to
injured workers covered under OWCP, and including the following
statement: "I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all
information, statements, and documents herein presented are true,
correct, complete and made in good faith, under penalty of
disqualification and prosecution under the law". Applicants with the
highest ratings will be selected to attend the required training
workshops. The training workshops are planned through December 8, 2000.
OWCP will provide a memorandum of attendance, which each VRC may use to
apply for continuing education units. VRC are not paid or otherwise
reimbursed for attending these workshops. Certification extends for a
basic one year period followed by a maximum of 4 one year options.
Evaluation of counselor's performance will determine whether options
are renewed. VRC who receive referrals are evaluated on OWCP's
standards of timeliness, quality, and adherence to OWCP's policies and
procedures. Additional rating factors are positive outcomes or
successful closures. These evaluations will determine whether VRC
continue to receive referrals, and have a bearing on eligibility for
future workshops. VRC selected to provide direct services are
compensated at the rate of $60 per hour for professional time, and $30
per hour for non-professional time based on the OWCP approved schedule
for direct services on a case by case basis. OWCP may develop and test
pilot programs to determine the feasibility of other methods of
remuneration. OWCP does not guarantee a minimum number of referrals to
each VRC. VRC are hereby asked to forward a complete aapplication
package including all of the required information of resume, verifying
references, and transcripts of completed college work, in one package
to Virginia Miller, M.D., Chief, Branch of Medical Standards and
Rehabilitation, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers'
Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-3522,
Washington, DC 20210. The deadline for for submitting application
packages, original and duplicate, is September 1, 2000. The application
package must be postmarked and/or received at the above address by the
applicable due date or the VRC is disqualified. WEB: NA, NA. E-MAIL:
NA, NA. Posted 07/06/00 (W-SN471806). Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0417 20000710\SP-0004.MSC)
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