(a) The director shall contract with a program operator to place participants in private-sector employment. The program operator shall have demonstrated experience in administering a large-scale supported work program that utilizes grant diversion, including:
(1) Experience in developing comprehensive and diverse cooperative agreements with the private sector;
(2) Providing on-the-job supervision of program participants and graduated stress and peer support;
(3) Performing task analysis of entry-level jobs; and
(4) Restructuring work to meet the needs of the participant population.
(b) The program operator shall place participants under contract with private-sector companies in supported work environments and, at the end of supported work training, shall place the participants in permanent unsubsidized jobs in private-sector companies. The supported work training shall not exceed nine (9) months in duration for each participant; provided, however, that the director, in his or her discretion, may extend the period of supportive work training for a person with a disability for not more than nine (9) additional months if the director determines that an extension is necessary to enable the person with a disability to obtain the full benefit of the program.