84.421F Disability Innovation
Fund (DIF) Evidence Building Support (EBS)
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
01/14/2026
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
24
0
36
0
1,621
0
The U.S. Department of Education’s
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) requests clearance for
a new data collection activity to support the 84.421F Disability
Innovation Fund (DIF) Evidence-Building Support (EBS) project. The
purpose of the DIF, as provided by the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), is to support innovative activities
aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) as
defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Rehabilitation Act) (29 U.S.C. 705(5)) for children, youth, and
other individuals with disabilities. RSA is investing a total of
$251,934,086 in grant funding to the 27 State Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR), other State agencies, Public, Private and
Nonprofit Entities, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of
Higher Education through the 84.421F DIF program. This request
covers the following single primary data collection for the EBS: •
Annual interviews with 84.421F DIF project directors In September
2024, RSA awarded five-year cooperative agreements to 27 State VR,
other State agencies, Public, Private and Nonprofit Entities,
including Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education to
implement model demonstration projects. The projects vary across
the 27 grants but they share the same purpose, which is to develop,
implement, refine, assess, and disseminate innovative or
substantially improved strategies or programs geared toward
increasing CIE for individuals with disabilities. RSA is conducting
evaluation and technical assistance (TA) activities and will report
on implementation and evaluation progress across all grantees in
Annual Evidence Reports. This report will also document findings
that RSA can use to coordinate ongoing activities and communicate
with outside agencies and congressional staff. To supplement the
existing data sources, RSA will conduct one annual semi-structured
interviews with the individual grantee project directors in grant
Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Calendar Year (CY) 2025 - CY 2029). These
interviews will provide valuable qualitative insights into overall
project goals, implementation progress, and the barriers and
facilitators encountered—information that is not captured through
administrative data reporting alone. This richer understanding will
help fill critical gaps and will support the development of the
Annual Evidence Report, inform evaluations, coordination, and
evaluation technical assistance efforts.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
84.421 F DIF EBS Supporting Statement Part B.docx
84.421F Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Evidence Building Support (EBS)