Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Requirements
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Requirements
About RSA Requirements
Independent living services for older individuals who are blind (OIB) are administered through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Find information about reports and regulations that are required for OIB programs. For an overview of the legislation, recommended practices, and requirements, including reporting for OIB programs, see our course “An Overview of Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind.”
Technical assistance – the OIB-TAC is available for individual questions related to collecting information, calculating costs, and defining terms used by the 7-OB report. Learn about the OIB staff and find contact information on our Staff page.
About the 7-OB
The 7-OB report must be completed annually by each OIB program. Information reported is for the Federal Fiscal Year, FFY, which begins October 1 and ends September 30. Download the PDF or word document to see the instructions and form. Note that the 7-OB needs to be completed online through the RSA MIS electronic portal. It is recommended that all information for the 7-OB be collected prior to beginning entry in the RSA MIS portal. Questions about the 7-OB report can be directed to the OIB-TAC, while questions about RSA MIS should be directed to RSA.
Resources
RSA MIS Instructions
This section provides basic information about the MIS RSA system, used to submit the 7-OB annual report. Questions related to MIS should be directed to RSA.
Read online:
RSA MIS Instructions
Download:
RSA MIS Instructions (Word Doc)
7-OB Data Collection Tool
Some contracting agencies may not have case management systems that easily collect and provide needed information for the 7-OB. This excel file was developed to help with the collection of information needed for the report. See also our course “Understanding Data Collection and the 7-OB Report”.
Download the excel file:
7-OB Data Collection for States that Contract
Here are the blank templates of the 7-OB data collection spreadsheet used in Colorado. This state has multiple contract recipients to collect 7-OB data from.
1) The Subrecipient template gets sent individually to each agency, and then is returned to the DSA. Included is a Q&A document to help them correctly enter information for the 7-OB.
2) The Summary spreadsheet is used internally by Colorado’s OIB Program Manager. The Summary tab is the final information that is entered into to the RSA portal.
Here is a suggested reporting routine:
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October-November: host an optional training/Q&A session for subrecipients on how to fill out the 7OB collection tool (the Subrecipient Template) . Organize information into a Q&A document for subrecipients to reference.
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Early November: 7OB reports are due to to OIB Program Manager via the collection tool. (a "first draft")
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Mid-November: the OIB Program Manager reviews each subrecipient's report line by line, identify any questions or errors
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Mid-late November: answers to questions/correction of errors are due back ("second draft")
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End of November/beginning of December: review the submitted revisions, identify any final questions/errors, and compile all 7 subrecipients' data into one master report (the Summary Template)
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Early December: draft the 7-OB submission in the RSA portal (and complete any internal approval processes).
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Mid-December: submit the 7-OB report in the RSA portal
OIB-TAC Course: Understanding Data Collection and the 7-OB Report
This course provides an in depth look at the 7-OB, provides examples for collecting and calculating information, and suggests ways to streamline reporting.
Register for the online course:
Understanding Data Collection and the 7-OB Report
7-OB Report
Read online:
Certification Regarding Lobbying ED 80-00
The lobbying certificate, a signed agreement that your program has not use federal funds for lobbying activities, needs to be signed each year.
Read online:
Certification Regarding Lobbying ED 80-0013 Form
FFY 2022 OIB GAN Attachments
When the OIB grant is awarded each year, the official email from RSA announcing the new grant, includes these attachments alerting the state of changes and requirements.
Read online:
FFY 2022 OIB GAN
Sample SF425-CAP-OIB-PAIR 07292020
Annual financial report completed by the fiscal unit that reports on funds available and how funding was spent.
Read online:
Title VII Chapter 2
Section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act authorizing the older blind program.
Read online:
Title VII Chapter 2
RSA Regulations FAQs
Can a contracting agency be required to provide a match?
No, according to 34 C.F.R. § 367.64 What is the prohibition against a State's condition of an award of a sub-award or contract based on cash or in-kind contributions?
(a) A State may not condition the making of a subaward or contract under section 752(g) of the Act on the requirement that the applicant for the subaward or contract make a cash or in-kind contribution of any particular amount or value to the State.
(b) An individual, entity, or organization that is a subrecipient or contractor of the State, may not condition the award of a subcontract on the requirement that the applicant for the subcontract make a cash or in-kind contribution of any particular amount or value to the State or to the subrecipient or contractor of the State.
(Authority: Section 752(f) and (g) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; 29 U.S.C. 796k(f) and (g))
Can a consumer be served in more than one state?
Yes, but there should be collaboration to ensure that services are not duplicated. There is no requirement for residency in the state. Although RSA allows for the practice of jointly serving an individual, the state is free to make rules or establish guidelines.
Read the RSA guidelines: