National Council on Disability Pre-Solicitation Notice of Funding Opportunity

Disparate Treatment of Puerto Rico Residents in Federal Programs

NCD’s role is to advise the President, Congress, and other policymakers on disability practices that enhance equal opportunity for people with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. NCD fulfills this role in part by releasing reports which evaluate the efficacy and legality of federal programs in relation to disability rights laws. In 2019, NCD held a Council meeting in Puerto Rico. The first day of the two-day event consisted of a town hall meeting where over 100 Puerto Ricans with disabilities discussed respective concerns and obstacles they faced being a person with a disability residing in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are American citizens yet are not afforded equal federal benefits as are Puerto Ricans or other disabled citizens who live in the states.

This report will discuss in detail all federal benefit programs available to Puerto Rican residents with disabilities and describe in detail how they differ from the same or similar benefits available to people with disabilities residing in the states and other U.S. territories. For example, SSI, SSDI, SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8 housing, and housing vouchers should be discussed.

The estimated contract period is eight months. This potential funding opportunity is contingent on fiscal year 2020 federal funding availability. NCD will distribute The Disparate Treatment of Puerto Rico Residents in Federal Programs Notice of Funding Opportunity to interested parties on May 11, 2020. NCD will expect interested parties to submit their responses by COB (close of business) on June 15, 2020. Copies of the Notice of Funding Opportunity will be available on grants.gov and ncd.gov and may be requested via email on or after the issue date of May 11, 2020.

This pre-solicitation notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Notice of Funding Opportunity. This pre-solicitation notice does not commit the Government to contract for any work or services whatsoever. Further, the National Council on Disability is not at this time seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the United States (U.S) Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this pre-solicitation notice. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S Government to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor grants.gov and ncd.gov sites for additional information.

For more information, contact Amy Nicholas, anicholas@ncd.gov, 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850, Washington, D.C. 20004; 202 272-2008.