In 1992, the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), established a System for Issuing Policy and Information (SIPI). SIPI is one method used by RSA to promulgate policy and technical assistance and disseminate information to state vocational rehabilitation agencies, other grantees and other public and private organizations.

Through SIPI, RSA established policy and prescribes the methods found necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the programs funded under the Acts for which RSA is responsible. These acts are: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended; and the Hellen Keller National Center Act of 1984 (the Acts).

Policy is a formal statement, determined by the RSA commissioner, from among one or more legally supportable options, establishing conditions, relationships or conduct which are held to be necessary for:

1. implementing or substantiating the letter and/or intent of relevant law and regulations; and

2. ensuring the proper management by such laws and regulations.

Through the RSA Web site, viewers have access to the following SIPI issuances.

• Policy Directives - a Policy Directive (PD) is a formal statement of required action(s) or condition(s) that must be carried out or met by state VR agencies or other RSA grantees in order to be in compliance with the Acts. A PD is legally enforceable because it is based on a statutory or regulatory provision.

• Technical Assistance Circulars - a Technical Assistance Circular (TAC) is a formal statement of guidelines and/or suggested methods to satisfy statutory, regulatory or policy requirements. A TAC addresses those areas of program requirements for which state VR agencies or other RSA grantees have flexibility in determining precisely how such requirements are to be met.

• Information Memoranda - an Information Memorandum (IM) transmits information to grantees who operate formula or discretionary grant programs authorized by the Acts, and to individuals who are responsible for monitoring these programs.