Training registrations and stipend distribution for direct support workers Grant

Training registrations and stipend distribution for direct support workers
DHS, through its Disability Services Division, is seeking Proposals from qualified Responders to administer training registrations, enhanced rate and budget training verification and stipend distribution for direct support workers.
The term of any resulting contract is anticipated to be one year, from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2027. STATE may extend the contract up to a total of five (5) years.
Background
Direct Support Workers (DSWs) who provide services through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) programs Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) budget model, Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Choice, Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS), and the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) are eligible to receive stipends when they have meet certain requirements. Additionally, when DSWs complete qualifying trainings, the services they provide become eligible for an enhanced reimbursement rate or trigger an enhanced budget when they are provided to people using CFSS, PCA services, CDCS, or CSG who are eligible for a certain number of hours of PCA services.
DSWs comprise many types of diversity, including but not limited to people with a wide variety of:
Racial, cultural, spiritual and or religious backgroundsLinguistic backgrounds, including both languages and dialects and accents; Geographic locations; Levels of education; Disabilities, including invisible disabilities; Marital statuses; Types of families; Sexual orientations; Ages; Nationalities and all immigration statuses; Members of tribal nations; Different sexes, including transsexual and intersex individuals; and or Different genders, including people who identify themselves as gender-fluid or gender-neutral.
Funding Availability
Voluntary training registration funding: $ 30,000, cost of training ranges from $75 to $200 dollars each. Additional funding may be added if funding runs out prior to the end of FY27.
Voluntary Training Stipend: $ 1,125,000, stipends in the amount of $750 for issuing 1,500 stipends. Additional stipend funding may be available depending on the remaining balance in FY26.
Retention Stipend: $ 10,000,800, stipends in the amount of $1,200 for issuing 8,334 stipends. Additional stipend funding may be available depending on the remaining balance in FY26.