Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Development) | HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0273

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0273

This grant opportunity comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It falls under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program within the broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program. The central aim of DRRP funding is to support efforts that improve the lives of people with disabilities by strengthening inclusion and full participation in society, with a major emphasis on employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency. The program is especially focused on ensuring that individuals with the most severe disabilities benefit from advances in services, practices, and rehabilitation technology, and it is also intended to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).

For this specific priority area, applicants are expected to propose a development project focused on improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. In practical terms, a "development" project here means taking what is already known from research and translating it into something usable and beneficial for the target population. Rather than funding purely theoretical work, the opportunity emphasizes creating tangible outputs such as new or improved materials, tools, devices, systems, service models, or methods. This can include designing and building prototypes, refining processes, and producing ready-to-test or ready-to-deploy approaches that can help people with disabilities obtain, maintain, or advance in employment.

This is described as a field-initiated opportunity in the employment domain, meaning applicants can propose ideas that respond to real-world needs and gaps in employment supports, as long as they align with the development focus and the goal of better employment outcomes. NIDILRR indicated it planned to make a single award in this employment domain cycle. While the priority highlights development, NIDILRR also noted that the final award could end up being categorized as either a research project or a development project depending on how applications are ranked by the peer review panel, suggesting that proposals are judged competitively on merit and alignment and the top-ranked submission determines what is ultimately funded.

Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant (not a formula entitlement), categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and listed under CFDA 93.433. The funding opportunity number is HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0273. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $475,000, with an expected number of awards of 1. Eligible applicants are broad and include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), with a note that additional eligibility details may be provided in the full announcement.

Key dates listed for this competition show it was created on February 22, 2018, with an original closing date of April 23, 2018. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward turning disability and rehabilitation research into practical, implementable employment-related innovations, with the expectation that the funded project will produce concrete deliverables that can strengthen employment outcomes for people with disabilities, particularly those with significant support needs.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Development)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2018 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $475,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0273

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