Yes! DRS works with all business sectors, including public, private, government, and nonprofit. The only requirement DRS has is that the business provides employment in a competitive, integrated work setting. This means that the business will provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the community alongside other employees without disabilities. It also means employees with disabilities earn at least minimum wage and get the same workplace benefits and opportunities as other employees doing the same job. If this sounds like your business, we would love to hear from you!

Qualifying employers may be eligible to receive certain federal tax incentives like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Disabled Access Tax Credit and the Barrier Removal Deduction. Employers may also be eligible for wage reimbursement for up to 480 hours of employee training and up to 480 hours of liability coverage during the training period for participating in DRS programs like the on-the-job training program or an internship.

The On-the-Job Training (OJT) program provides real-world training to a DRS consumer in a competitive, integrated work site by an employer. The employer pays the consumer a prevailing wage, not less than minimum wage as established by federal law, and all appropriate benefits under state and federal laws pertaining to workers compensation, unemployment insurance and Social Security. DRS provides 100% wage reimbursement, plus $2.00 per hour. DRS staff provide support and maintain contact with the employer and the consumer to check on progress. Participating employers must register as a vendor with the state of West Virginia to be reimbursed.

Internships are on-site training opportunities targeted toward consumers who need internship hours related to their field of study. The employer pays the consumer a prevailing wage, not less than minimum wage as established by federal law, and all appropriate benefits under state and federal laws pertaining to workers compensation, unemployment insurance and Social Security. DRS provides 100% wage reimbursement, plus $2.00 per hour. DRS staff provide support and maintain contact with the employer and the consumer to check on progress. Participating employers must register as a vendor with the state of West Virginia to be reimbursed.

The West Virginia Purchasing Division registers vendors to do business with state agencies, in accordance with West Virginia Code §5A-3-12, which requires the vendor to register with the state of West Virginia before it can receive reimbursement for goods or services rendered.

There is a $125 annual fee to become a vendor with the state of West Virginia. However, if a business provides a service to DRS consumers, the fee is waived. This would be considered a sole source provider. This must be indicated during the online registration process.
Vendor Fee:  According to the West Virginia Code of State Rules, CSR148, all vendors shall pay to the Purchasing Division, an annual registration fee of $125 prior to being awarded a contract, except that the following categories of vendors are exempt from this requirement.

1. Purchasing card vendors providing travel-related services are not required to pay the registration fee.

2. Purchasing card vendors receiving an aggregate total yearly payment less than $25,000.00 from a spending unit are not required to pay the registration fee.

3. Vendors receiving orders for goods or services of $2,500 or less, regardless of payment method, are not required to pay the registration fee.

4. Vendors providing a good or service under a sole source solicitation are not required to pay the registration fee. The fee is considered waived by the Director for all sole source providers.

Vendors doing business with the state of West Virginia must be registered through the Vendor Self-Service portal of the state’s wvOASIS enterprise resource planning system. The Vendor Self-Service portal may be accessed at wvOASIS.gov.

Vendors may also register by completing a Vendor Registration and Disclosure Statement and Small, Women- and Minority-owned Business Certification Application (WV-1 or WV-1A) and submitting it to the Purchasing Division, in accordance with West Virginia Code §5A-3-12. These forms may be downloaded from the Purchasing Division’s website.

If there are any problems during the registration process, you will need to contact wvOASIS directly by calling 1-855-666-8823. Find more answers through wvOASIS’ frequently asked questions page.

In addition to the wvOASIS registration process, an original W-9 form must be completed and returned to:
WV Division of Rehabilitation Services
State Capitol P.O. Box 50890
Charleston, WV 25305-0890
Attention: Angela Bearfield

Directions for Completing a W-9 Form
1. Vendor (business) must enter its company name as it appears on its income tax form.

1a. If the vendor is a sole proprietor, it must list both its company name and the owner’s name. Usually this would be the vendor’s name on the first line and the company name on the second line. Failure to include the owner’s name for sole proprietors will result in rejection of the form.

1b. The information on the W-9 (name, address, etc) must match the information entered in the wvOASIS registration.

2. Vendor must check the appropriate box for its entity type.

3. Vendor must provide the address as it appears on its tax return.

4. Vendor must enter its Social Security Number in the SS# box or its Federal Employer Identification Number in the FEIN# box. Putting these numbers in the wrong box will result in rejection of the form. 

5. A common mistake is for vendors to check the “Exempt Payee” box. The purpose of this box is to indicate if the vendor qualifies as an Exempt Payee, not DRS. Unless the vendor qualifies as an Exempt Payee, this box must not be checked. 

6. Vendor must sign and date the form in blue ink.

7. The form must be an original and have no white-out, scratch-outs, or corrections of any kind.

If you are providing this service, you will be required to submit the individual’s time sheet, pay stub, and evaluation form on a regular basis (to be determined by your business’s representative and the DRS staff person completing the initial Memorandum of Agreement). Once you turn these forms into the designated DRS staff member, you should receive reimbursement within approximately 2-4 weeks.

Learn more about financial incentives and tax benefits for hiring individuals with disabilities.

If your business is participating in a DRS sponsored on-the-job training program, and the DRS consumer is not on your payroll, DRS utilizes our BRIM insurance to provide liability coverage to the business entity while the DRS consumer is onsite. A BRIM certificate will be provided to your business by DRS staff. 

If the DRS consumer is on your payroll, then DRS will reimburse $2.00/hour for every hour worked by the consumer to cover liability expenses.

We’d love to talk with you! Please reach out to Employment Services Program Manager Alyce Almond.