Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR RTEM 0338

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR RTEM 0338

This funding opportunity, titled "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities," is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically under the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is intended to support a focused Rehabilitation Research and Training Center that will generate practical, usable knowledge and tools to improve employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The overall RRTC model emphasizes not just academic research, but also training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination so that findings actually reach and influence service systems, employers, providers, families, and policymakers.

The core purpose of this particular RRTC is to conduct coordinated research and related activities that help increase the quality and effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act, with employment as the central outcome area. In practice, that means the funded center is expected to do well-designed research on what improves employment for people with I/DD, translate those findings into training and technical assistance for the field, and share results widely in ways that are useful to stakeholders. The opportunity makes clear that the target beneficiaries are people with disabilities (especially people with I/DD), along with family members, rehabilitation and employment service providers, policymakers, and other research and practice stakeholders who influence employment systems and supports.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2019-ACL-NIDILRR-RTEM-0338 and falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, with CFDA number 93.433. The funding instrument is a grant, and the program anticipates making a single award (Expected Awards: 1), which typically signals a national-level center intended to serve as a hub for research leadership, training development, and field-wide technical assistance on the topic of employment for people with I/DD. The maximum award amount listed is $875,000 (award ceiling).

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can credibly operate a national research and training center. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and other entities as described in the opportunity’s additional eligibility details. This range suggests the agency is open to applications from universities, nonprofit research organizations, provider networks, and cross-sector partnerships, as long as they can carry out rigorous research and deliver training and technical assistance with meaningful reach and impact.

Key dates in the posted notice show the opportunity was created on March 29, 2019, with an original closing date of May 28, 2019. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While those dates reflect the original cycle of the opportunity as posted, the summary description captures the main intent: to fund an RRTC that strengthens evidence and practice around competitive, integrated employment and other improved employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through integrated research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination.

• 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 "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" 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 Mar 29, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 28, 2019 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 $875,000.00 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 2019 ACL NIDILRR RTEM 0338

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: