Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Research) | HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0274

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2018 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0274

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Research) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). This competition sits within NIDILRR's broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is focused on generating practical, evidence-based advances that improve the lives of people with disabilities. In this particular priority area, the central goal is to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through rigorous, structured research.

At its core, the program supports projects that plan and conduct research, demonstrations, training, and related activities, including international activities when relevant. The larger mission is to develop and validate methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that help maximize full inclusion and integration in society. That includes employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, with an explicit emphasis on individuals with the most severe disabilities. The work is also intended to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which underpins many public vocational rehabilitation and related disability service systems.

For this employment-focused DRRP competition, applicants are expected to propose a project that is clearly aimed at improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The funding notice emphasizes true research: the proposed project must be driven by one or more explicit hypotheses or research questions, and it must involve an intensive, systematic study designed to produce either new or fuller scientific knowledge, or a clearer understanding of the employment-related problem being studied. The notice also clarifies that this is a field-initiated opportunity, meaning applicants can propose their own research topics within the employment domain rather than responding to a narrowly pre-defined intervention, as long as the work aligns with the priority and meets research standards.

NIDILRR anticipated making a single award under this specific competition, with an expected award ceiling of $475,000. The agency also noted that the final funded project could be categorized as either a research project or a development project, depending on how applications are ranked by peer reviewers. In other words, the competition is anchored in research expectations, but NIDILRR left room for a high-quality development-oriented approach if that type of proposal scored highest and best met the program intent.

Eligibility is broad and includes many public and private entities that can credibly carry out disability and employment research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with direction to consult the full opportunity text for any additional eligibility clarification.

Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number (HHS-2018-ACL-NIDILRR-DPEM-0274) and the CFDA number 93.433. The opportunity was posted on February 22, 2018, with an application deadline 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 designed for organizations capable of conducting high-quality, hypothesis-driven research that can move the field toward better employment outcomes for people with disabilities, while also contributing to the evidence base that supports rehabilitation and workforce-related policy and practice.

• 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 (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 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 0274

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