13.5 Business Enterprise Program

Business Enterprise assessment and training services are available from the DVR Business Enterprise Program (BEP). This program is governed by the Randolph-Sheppard Act to authorize the operation of vending facilities/stands (vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, cart service, counters) in federal buildings and other properties to improve economic opportunities for individuals who are blind and those that are determined to have a significant disability.

BEP staff shall provide an informal, informational interview to an individual who shows initial interest in the BEP. The interview provides information about the length of the program as well as the requirements of the program. It gives an interested individual a chance to ask pertinent questions regarding BEP opportunities and locations. The individual’s DVR Counselor shall also join this meeting in person or by phone when possible.

When an interested individual is considered appropriate for the BEP, the DVR Counselor shall complete a BEP referral form, providing all pertinent referral information to the BEP Trainer and a copy of the following:

• Highest academic accomplishment (minimum high school diploma or equivalent).

• Proof of Citizenship.

• Latest vision report documenting the individual meets the definition established for legal blindness.

• Completed CBI (most, if not all, BEP locations require background clearance for both operators and employees in order to work in these facilities).

• Completed Federal Background Check (if the individual has resided outside of Colorado).

• Drug testing as determined per location.

Upon receipt of a completed referral form and pertinent documentation from the DVR Counselor, the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Trainer shall schedule an initial interview and notify the DVR Counselor by email of the scheduled interview date. The BEP Trainer shall set up and conduct a face-to-face interview with the interested individual at a mutually agreed upon location. If the interview cannot be scheduled within 30 calendar days of the DVR referral, the BEP Trainer shall provide the DVR Counselor with written notification as to why this could not be accomplished (an initial interview is required of the individual prior to IPE development for any IPE that includes a BEP operator goal).

The initial interview shall consist of the following individuals:

• The Individual receiving services

• The BEP Trainer

• The BEP Program Manager (if applicable)

• DVR Counselor (if possible)

• Vision Rehabilitation Therapist/Orientation & Mobility Specialist (if possible)

• A member of the Committee of Blind Operators (if possible)

Once the interview has been completed, the BEP Trainer shall fill out an “Interview Outcome Summary.” This summary shall be sent to the PAT Supervisor or designee, BEP Program Manager, and the individual’s DVR Counselor within 14 business days of the completed interview.

As the BEP Trainer explores an individual’s compatibility with the program, the BEP may require additional background information such as the individual’s:

• Management experience

• Attendance history

• Leadership development

• Professionalism

• Communication skills

• Business math aptitude

• Food service experience

• Interest in the food service industry

• Work history

• Work competency

After this process is complete, the trainer shall either: recommend the individual for the BEP Training Program, recommend additional testing or evaluation, or decline the individual. On occasion, the BEP may recommend conditional acceptance or that additional action steps be addressed before the individual is admitted into the program. Once a decision has been made, the trainer shall inform the individual, the PAT Supervisor or designee, the DVR Counselor, and the BEP Program Manager.

Once the individual has been accepted into the BEP Training Program and completed a PAT evaluation, the individual shall address any recommended personal adjustment skills, pass a ServSafe food safety training course with a score of 75 percent or better, and complete any other simulated on-the-job-training exercises determined appropriate before advancing to the BEP portion of the training process as recommended by the BEP Trainer, DVR Counselor, and individual. Upon successful completion of this initial process, the individual shall advance to the BEP business leadership training program.

*Exceptions: On occasion, the BEP Program Manager may decide that an individual applying to the program should be granted an exemption to the traditional training process. Only the BEP Program Manager can make such exceptions. If and when an exception is made, the BEP Program Manager shall make them on a case-by-case basis and document justification for the exemption. This documentation shall be placed in the individual DVR case record and in the BEP service file. Prior to the beginning of the BEP business leadership training process, the DVR Counselor shall provide the BEP Trainer with a copy of the Individualized Plan for Employment and any amendments. Additionally, the DVR Counselor shall provide the BEP Trainer with any assessments or reports that may be completed throughout the comprehensive assessment that are pertinent to the individual's success. All reports shall be sent to the BEP Trainer. In the absence of a BEP Trainer, all reports shall be sent to the attention of the BEP Program Manager; they shall take responsibility for updating the BEP file and all appropriate parties.

The BEP portion of business leadership training shall focus on vending and restaurant management. For individuals to become certified and eligible to bid on available BEP sites, they shall complete the BEP business leadership training course. In addition to the BEP course curriculum, the individual shall actively participate in all interactive class and lab exercises, get an 80 percent or better on all course tests, and be able to write and present an effective business plan. Certification is received upon the successful completion of all phases of training. Individuals shall not receive certification unless they complete the entire course curriculum. Some individuals may be eligible to test out of certain phases of training but this shall be determined on a case-by-case basis and is at the discretion of the BEP Trainer and Program Manager. Individuals who do not successfully achieve certification may retake sections they did not pass during the next training class. The decision to allow an individual to retake sections shall be at the discretion of the BEP Trainer and Program Manager. During the training program, the DVR Counselor and BEP Trainer shall meet at regular intervals to discuss the individual’s progress; the DVR Counselor shall document the content and outcome of these meetings in the DVR service record/electronic case management system. The BEP Trainer shall provide the DVR Counselor with a written training progress report every month, which shall be placed in the service record. The individual progress report shall identify:

• Management and leadership development

• Professionalism

• Attendance history

• Communication skills

• Effective note-taking

• Business math aptitude

• Course progress

• Milestone evaluations

Requirements for monthly progress reports and other progress meetings shall be included as evaluation methods and schedules on the IPE. The BEP Trainer shall notify the individual and counselor in writing when the BEP training has been successfully completed.

Once the BEP has been successfully completed, the BEP Trainer shall provide the DVR Counselor with a written final report. The report shall identify:

• That the individual has successfully completed the BEP training curriculum.

• The date of course completion.

• Validation that the individual has received course certification.

• Any relevant issues or concerns impacting the training outcome.

• A review of the BEP’s training plan in relation to the Individual Performance Objectives.

• Recommended support resources, such as start-up cash, all business license expenses, liability insurance (specifically for the individual) and other eligible start-up business expenses as determined by the BEP Program Manager, PAT Supervisor, BEP Trainer, and DVR Counselor.

After the successful completion of the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Business Leadership Training Program and once the individual has won a bid on a location and been assigned to that location, a BEP Business Consultant shall provide the individual with location support as needed. Support shall initially be focused on business collaboration, communication, and start-up business needs with the individual for the first 90 days. During these 90 days, the BEP Business Consultant or Program Trainer shall provide written progress reports to the DVR Counselor every month until the DVR Counselor successfully closes the individual’s case. The individual shall become a Licensed Operator after successfully operating their location for 90 days. If the individual does not successfully operate their assigned location and does not become a Licensed Operator after 90 days, they may be referred back to the DVR Counselor for additional support including guidance and counseling. After the individual becomes a Licensed Operator, their Business Consultant shall continue to provide the Licensed Operator with ongoing business collaboration.

Reports provided by the BEP Business Consultant shall contain:

• Date of the report

• Issues and factors that are influencing the individual’s placement

• Additional training needs, if any

• Equipment needs, if any

Ongoing and frequent communication between the DVR Counselor, individual, and BEP Business Consultant are paramount to the success of the vocational objective. All parties need to be actively engaged in this communication process to troubleshoot any employment problems.

The service record maintained by the BEP Trainer and/or BEP Business Consultant shall not be closed until the DVR service record is closed. It shall be the DVR Counselor’s responsibility to notify the BEP Program Manager when the DVR service record is closed and the reason for closure.

BEP is responsible to maintain documentation and a case record for all BEP participants and operators throughout involvement with BEP. Documentation is separate from the DVR Counselor’s case file, the BEP Trainer’s desk file, and the BEP Business Consultant’s desk file.

If an individual receiving DVR services has an appeal during the BEP training process, it shall be addressed by DVR or the BEP, depending on the issue under appeal. If the issue under appeal is a DVR matter, the individual shall use the formal or the informal processes available (see Chapter 4). If the individual is a licensed blind vendor and is dissatisfied with a determination made by the BEP, a formal appeal shall be requested as described in the Colorado Code of Regulation, 12 CCR 2513.1 (Volume 9) 9.431.1.