New York OPWDD Awards $8 Million Contract To Expand Supported Decision-Making Model For Individuals With I/DD
The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) announced that, through a competitive procurement process, it has awarded AIM Services Inc. a statewide contract valued at nearly $8 million to implement New York’s Supported Decision-Making model for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The contract will establish a structured, replicable framework to support individuals in creating agreements with trusted adults who assist them in making decisions.
New York has been testing supported decision-making since 2016, when it launched a pilot led by Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) and CUNY Hunter College. Funding for the pilot was provided by the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities. SDMNY was formed as a consortium of Hunter College/CUNY, the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (formerly NYSACRA), and Arc Westchester, a major provider organization. The pilot aimed to educate stakeholders on supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship, reduce reliance on guardianship for individuals with I/DD, and restore rights for individuals already under guardianship.
In 2021, OPWDD allocated a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to expand and extend the pilot program. The expansion focused on engaging individuals with I/DD, exploring supported decision-making options, and developing effective, sustainable agreements. OPWDD also contracted with SDMNY during this phase of the pilot.
For the statewide contract, OPWDD issued a request for proposals (RFP OPD-2024-39) on April 29, 2025, with responses due June 10, 2025. The state reported receiving no additional responses. The contract was scheduled to begin on September 1, 2025, and run for five years. OPWDD announced the award on March 17, 2026.
Under the contract, AIM Services will be responsible for four core activities:
- Establishing the program by training facilitators, recruiting individuals served by OPWDD, and developing billing standards
- Conducting quality assurance oversight of third-party supported decision-making providers to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and adherence to pilot-developed processes
- Providing community education on the supported decision-making model, its goals, and its role as an alternative or complement to adult guardianship
- Completing data collection and reporting to evaluate statewide implementation, identify trends, and inform ongoing training and quality assurance
Founded in 1979, AIM Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides residential and community-based services to individuals with I/DD.
OPWDD delivers services both directly and through a network of approximately 500 nonprofit providers. Roughly 80% of services are delivered by private nonprofit agencies, while 20% are provided by state-operated programs. Individuals served by OPWDD reside in a range of settings, including residential homes, group homes, supported apartments, and institutional environments such as developmental centers and other secure facilities.
OPWDD also provides residential supports and services for approximately 43,000 people with I/DD throughout the state. To serve them, OPWDD operates about 1,500 residential and institutional sites across the state.
The RFP is available for download from the OPEN MINDS Government RFP & Contract Database at no charge to OPEN MINDS Circle subscribers.
OPEN MINDS last reported on this topic in New York State OPWDD Provides Funding To Extend A Supported Decisionmaking Pilot on January 20, 2022.
For more information, contact:
- Jennifer O’Sullivan, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, 44 Holland Avenue, Albany, New York 12229; 518-474-6601; Email: communications.office@opwdd.ny.gov; Website: https://opwdd.ny.gov/
- AIM Services, Inc., 4227 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866; 518-587-3208; Fax: 518-587-7236; Email: aimservices@aimservicesinc.org; Website: https://www.aimservicesinc.org/
