--- kind: "section" citation: "29 U.S.C. § 771" title: "29" title_heading: "Labor" number: "771" heading: "Declaration of purpose and competitive basis of grants and contracts" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/771" units: - "Chapter 16 — Vocational Rehabilitation and Other Rehabilitation Services" - "Subchapter III — Professional Development and Special Projects and Demonstrations" --- # §771. Declaration of purpose and competitive basis of grants and contracts - (a) **Purpose—** It is the purpose of this subchapter to authorize grants and contracts to— - (1) - (A) provide academic training to ensure that skilled personnel are available to provide rehabilitation services to [individuals with disabilities](/usc/29/705.md?p=3-B) through vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation programs (including [supported employment](/usc/29/705.md?p=38) programs), through economic and business development programs, through [independent living services](/usc/29/705.md?p=18) programs, and through client assistance programs; and - (B) provide training to maintain and upgrade basic skills and knowledge of personnel (including personnel specifically trained to deliver services to [individuals with disabilities](/usc/29/705.md?p=3-B) whose [employment outcome](/usc/29/705.md?p=11) is self-employment or telecommuting) employed to provide [state](/usc/29/705.md?p=34)-of-the-art service delivery and [rehabilitation technology](/usc/29/705.md?p=32) services; - (2) conduct special projects and demonstrations that expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services (including those services provided through [community rehabilitation programs](/usc/29/705.md?p=4)) authorized under this chapter, or that otherwise further the purposes of this chapter, including related research and evaluation; and - (3) provide training and information to [individuals with disabilities](/usc/29/705.md?p=3-B) and the [individuals](/usc/29/705.md?p=22)’ representatives, and other appropriate parties to develop the skills necessary for [individuals with disabilities](/usc/29/705.md?p=3-B) to gain access to the rehabilitation system and [statewide workforce development systems](/usc/29/705.md?p=36) and to become active decisionmakers in the rehabilitation process. - (b) **Competitive basis of grants and contracts—** The [Secretary](/usc/29/705.md?p=33) shall ensure that all grants and contracts are awarded under this subchapter on a competitive basis. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 93–112, title III, § 301, as added Pub. L. 105–220, title IV, § 406, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1183; amended Pub. L. 113–128, title IV, § 441(a), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1672.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 771, Pub. L. 93–112, title III, § 301, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 93–516, title I, § 104, Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1618; Pub. L. 93–651, title I, § 104, Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–4; Pub. L. 94–230, §§ 4, 11(b)(7), Mar. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 211, 213; Pub. L. 94–273, § 3(18), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 95–602, title I, §§ 112(a), 122(c)(2), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2967, 2987; Pub. L. 98–221, title I, § 131, Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 99–506, title IV, § 401, title X, § 1002(d)(1), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1823, 1844; Pub. L. 102–52, § 4(a), June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 261, related to grants for construction of rehabilitation facilities, staffing, and planning assistance, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–569, title III, § 301(b)(2), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4411. A prior section 301 of Pub. L. 93–112 was classified to section 770 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–220. A prior section 771a, Pub. L. 93–112, title III, § 302, formerly title II, § 203, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 376; renumbered title III, § 304, and amended Pub. L. 95–602, title I, §§ 109(2), 114, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2963, 2970; Pub. L. 98–221, title I, § 133, Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 99–506, title I, § 103(d)(2)(C), title IV, § 403, title X, § 1002(d)(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1824, 1844; Pub. L. 100–630, title II, § 204(c), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3308; Pub. L. 102–52, § 4(c), June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 261; Pub. L. 102–119, § 26(e), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 607; renumbered § 302 and amended Pub. L. 102–569, title I, § 102(p)(18), title III, §§ 301(b)(3), (4), 302, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4358, 4411; Pub. L. 103–73, title I, § 110(a), Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 726; Pub. L. 103–218, title IV, § 402(b), Mar. 9, 1994, 108 Stat. 96; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1042(d), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 715, related to assistance for training, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–220. See section 772 of this title. ### Amendments 2014—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(a)(1), inserted “and” at end. Subsec. (a)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(a)(2)–(4), redesignated par. (5) as (3), substituted “workforce development systems” for “workforce investment systems”, and struck out former pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows: “(3) provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers; “(4) initiate recreational programs to provide recreational activities and related experiences for individuals with disabilities to aid such individuals in employment, mobility, socialization, independence, and community integration; and”.