U -- TRAIN SBA EMPLOEES ON DISABILITY INITIATIVE

Notice Date

April 10, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Procurement and Grants Management, 409 3rd Street, SUITE 5000,5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20416

ZIP Code

20416

Solicitation Number

SBAHQ-01-Q-0011

Response Due

April 24, 2001

Point of Contact

Billy C. Jenkins 202-205-6622

E-Mail Address

billy.jenkins@sba.gov (billy.jenkins@sba.gov)

Description

The Small Business Administration launched a Disability Business Initiative (DBI) in May 2000, designed to increase technical assistance in entrepreneurial development and to increase the level of financial assistance from SBA loan products for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Also, SBA, in concert with the Government-wide hiring program for individuals with disabilities, submitted an agency plan calling for hiring 60 individuals with significant disabilities per year from FY 2001 to FY 2006. Most recently, as part of the "New Freedom Program" and the President's FY 2002 budget, $5 million is proposed for SBA to significantly increase technical assistance for entrepreneurs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In order to ensure that SBA managers and staff understand the requirements of ADA and fully promote and support the DBI as well as the technical assistance contemplated in the "New Freedom Program," orientation and training is needed for SBA employees. The SBA's Equal Employment Opportunity & Civil Rights Compliance and Director, DBI, have determined that training is required for approximately 300 headquarters and field managers. As SBA staff is widely disbursed in nearly ten offices outside the Washington, DC commuting area, it is assumed that in addition to training in the Washington area, approximately ten field training sessions will also be required. -- The training content should: (1) Inform managers about the legal requirement of the ADA. (2) Promote understanding of how to effectively meet reasonable accommodation needs of employees with disabilities as well as the need of disabled entrepreneurs who seek SBA's loan products and/or entrepreneurial development assistance -- whether provided by SBA staff or SBA partners. (3) Identify common accommodation problems and how to deal with them with the aim of creating a productive work force which includes disabled employees. 94) Enhance SBA's ability to create a business environment which significantly increases capital for and assistance to disabled entrepreneurs. For purposes of responding to this procurement, it is assumed that: -- 100 managers will be trained in the Washington, DC area -- 200 managers will be trained in 10 locations which match the traditional 10 Federal regional cites (i.e. Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle). -- Training will occur in FY 2001 -- Video teleconferencing should be included as an option for training managers who cannot easily travel to Washington or one of the tem regional cities. This would be in addition to face to face training sessions. -- As an option, executive coaching for managers who have existing problems in managing disabled employees to full productivity. -- All training sites should be appropriate for persons with significant disabilities. Note: This procurement is a 100% Small Business Set-aside. This procurement will be awarded based on price past performance, quality and best value to the Government.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010412/USOL003.HTM (W-100 SN50I7T7)