Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Research) | HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0197

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0197

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Research) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within NIDILRRs broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is focused on generating practical, evidence-based knowledge that helps people with disabilities live, participate, and thrive in their communities. The central intent is to support research and related activities that strengthen inclusion and integration across major life areas such as employment, independent living, family support, and overall economic and social self-sufficiency, with particular attention to people with the most significant disabilities. The work is also meant to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which is a key federal framework for vocational rehabilitation and independent living supports.

This specific funding priority requires applicants to propose a field-initiated project aimed squarely at improving community living and participation outcomes for individuals with disabilities. In practical terms, that means the project should be designed to address real-world barriers and facilitators tied to participation in everyday settings, for example access to community-based services, participation in civic and social life, transportation and mobility supports, home and community-based living arrangements, assistive or rehabilitation technologies used in community contexts, or service models that increase autonomy and inclusion. While the topic area is community living and participation, applicants are expected to bring a clear research focus rather than a general program description, and to show how their proposed work will meaningfully advance what is known or what can be implemented in policy and practice.

NIDILRR emphasizes that funded work must be true research in the formal sense: the grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and then conduct an intensive, systematic study guided by those questions. The project is expected to produce either new or full scientific knowledge, or a deeper understanding of the subject or problem being studied. This sets an expectation for methodological rigor and a clear line of sight from research questions to design, data collection, analysis, and conclusions. Although the priority is framed as research, the notice indicates that the eventual award may support either a research project or a development project, depending on how applications rank in peer review, which suggests proposals may vary in whether they primarily test and generate knowledge or whether they build and refine tools, methods, or interventions that support participation.

From a funding and competition standpoint, this opportunity was structured as a single-award competition, with NIDILRR planning to make one field-initiated DRRP award in the community living and participation domain. The expected award count is one, and the award ceiling listed is $500,000. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development, under CFDA number 93.433. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date listed in the announcement (original closing date: February 21, 2017), reflecting standard federal submission rules where late applications are typically not accepted absent specific exceptions.

Eligibility for the competition is broad and includes many types of entities that commonly carry out disability and rehabilitation research or demonstration work. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified). The listing also includes an "Others" category referencing additional eligibility details in the full notice, which is typical language used when agencies anticipate some applicants may qualify under conditions described elsewhere in the application package.

Overall, the grant opportunity is aimed at building credible, usable evidence that can improve how individuals with disabilities experience community living and participation. It encourages applicants to propose focused, testable ideas and to apply strong research methods to generate findings that can inform services, systems, technology development, or other supports tied to independent living and full inclusion in society. The single-award structure and peer review ranking process underscore that proposals need to be both scientifically solid and clearly aligned with the community living and participation priority in order to compete successfully.

• 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: Community Living and Participation (Research)" 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 Dec 21, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 21, 2017 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 $500,000.00 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0197

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