1. Meet with service provider. The Office Director and, if appropriate, local VR staff meet with the prospective service provider to review:

   • local service needs
   • numbers and characteristics of persons in need of service
   • service arrangements, and
   • other service development and implementation concerns.

2. Discuss service agreement terms, conditions, and assurances. The Office Director and, if appropriate, local VR staff, discuss the Service Agreement form, and its Terms, Conditions, and Assurances with the prospective service provider.

   • Supported employment discussion. If the Service Agreement is for job coaching leading to individual or crew supported employment, discuss the Milestone Definition and Payment Schedule (Appendix C, Rule 72) with the service provider. Assure the provider understands the definitions of each milestone, the basis for payment, and responsibilities.
   • Background screen. Services requiring a background screen are noted by an * on the service agreement form. The Office Director and, if appropriate, local VR staff inform providers of the following:

     • Individuals who will provide direct services requiring a background screen.

       • the provider will have to pass a background screen, which will take approximately two weeks,
       • services cannot be provided until it has been completed unless an exception request is approved,
       • the scope of the screen, and
       • while criminal convictions will not necessarily disqualify someone, the Department will consider the nature of the crime, its recency, and its severity when considering suitability for providing the services.

     • Providers whose employees will provide direct services requiring a background screen. Signing the service agreement is written assurance that no person employed by the provider has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving neglect or abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.

3. Complete Service Agreement.

   • Complete the Service Agreement form and obtain the service provider's signature.
   • If a background screening is required, obtain a signed DHHS Request for Neglect Central Register/ry form from the individual, business owner(s), or business principles who will provide direct services. Note: If a service provider refuses to sign an DHHS Request for Neglect Central Register/ry form, notify the provider that without a completed background screen the services of the provide cannot be used.
   • The Office Director reviews the Service Agreement and approves it based on the following criteria:

     • the services to be offered are responsive to client needs in the area to be served;
     • the fees for service are within VR guidelines in Rule 72; and
     • the provider is aware of and in apparent compliance with the agreement terms, conditions, and assurances, particularly those related to qualifications of providers of services to individuals and background screening requirements.

4. Set up provider in QE2. Complete the process for setting up a new provider in QE2, if necessary.
5. Submit service agreement. Send the original signed Service Agreement and DHHS Request for Neglect Central Register/ry form, if applicable, to the State Office.
6. Conduct background screen. The State Office:

   • Completes the DMV driving record checks (if driving is a requirement of the job) and communicates results to NDE Legal Counsel;
   • submits the forms to NDE Legal Counsel, who will conduct the background checks of the State Patrol, HHS Registries and the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry and communicate the results back to the State Office.

     • Service provider passes background screen. The State Office notifies the Office Director that the provider has passed the background screen, and enters the service agreement in QE2.
     • Service provider does not pass background screen. The State Office notifies the Office Director and VR Director that the provider has not passed the background screen.

       • The Office Director contacts the provider and informs the provider that VR cannot be used to provide services. NOTE: If services are being provided under an exception request, the office director will send the provider a written notice terminating the agreement immediately in accordance with the terms of the service agreement regarding background screens.
       • The State Office will note the failed background screen on the provider record in QE2. If services are being provided under an exception request, the State Office will immediately inactivate the agreement in QE2.

7. Send approved agreement to provider. Send a signed copy of the agreement to the provider, and retain a file copy. If the agreement includes services for individual or crew supported employment include a copy of the Milestone Definition and Payment Schedule (Appendix C, Rule 72) with the agreement.
8. Complete implementation arrangements. As soon as possible after approval, the Office Director and appropriate local VR staff should meet with the service provider to complete local arrangements for day to day implementation of the service agreement, including monitoring service outcomes and effectiveness.

Services requiring written agreements. A service agreement is not a grant or contract. A service agreement does not bind Nebraska VR to give the provider any fixed amount of money or to use any fixed amount of the providerʼs available service capacity. A service agreement does not bind the provider to reserve any service capacity for use by Nebraska VR, or restrict the provider from selling all of its available services to other purchasers. A service agreement must be used as the written agreement for the following services:

Service Category	Service
Miscellaneous training	Benefits planning
Job readiness training	Job readiness training
On the job training	Job coach Job coaching-Placement
IL training	IL exploration and skills *
Rehabilitation technology	Rehabilitation engineering
Supported employment	Individual supported employment * Crew supported employment *
Small business	Technical assistance *
Personal assistance	Interpreter-hearing impaired Interpreter-foreign language
Assessment support	Benefits analysis Interpreter-hearing impaired Interpreter-foreign language Job coaching* Self employment consultation *

Background screen required. Services marked with an * require a background screen consisting of:

• State Patrol Criminal Records
• Nebraska Sex Offender Registry
• DHHS Request for Neglect Central Register/ry
• DMV Driving Records (if transporting a client is a requirement of the job)

EXCEPTION REQUEST. If staff must use a service provider before the background screen is completed: the Office Director should send to the State Office a justification of why that provider must be used before completing the background screen. Repeated requests for exceptions will be handled on an individual basis.

Background screening. Provider background screening protects the client in situations where there is the potential of unobserved 1:1 contact in the workplace or home.

Service agreements with individuals who will provide direct services requiring background screening. If the service agreement is with an individual, or the service provider's owners or business principles will provide direct services requiring background screening, VR will conduct the background screen.

• New service agreements should be forwarded to the State Office at least two weeks before beginning services to any individual to allow time for the background screen to be completed.
• No services can be provided until the provider passes the background screen unless there is an exception request.
• New service agreements in which services to an individual must begin in less than two weeks should be forwarded to the State Office accompanied by an exception request.
• If a provider is serving an individual(s) under an exception request does not pass the background screening, services to the individual(s) must be terminated immediately. Immediately means the next actions taken after learning that the provider did not pass are to terminate services and remove the client from the situation.

Providers. Nebraska VR may enter into service agreements with public and private agencies and organizations, community rehabilitation programs, businesses, and independent contractors. Nebraska VR is responsible for determining that the provider is qualified to provide services to applicants and recipients of services.

Service agreements with providers whose employees will provide direct services requiring background screening. If the service agreement is with a service provider employing individuals who provide direct services requiring background screening, the providerʼs signature on the service agreement is written assurance that persons employed to provide these direct services have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving neglect or abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.