Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Development) | HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0383

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0383

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Development) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. 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 sits within NIDILRR's broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, which supports applied research and development efforts designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities, with an emphasis on individuals with the most severe disabilities. The central aim is to generate practical, usable advances that increase full inclusion and integration in society, including employment, independent living, family support, and overall economic and social self-sufficiency, while also strengthening the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

This specific funding priority focuses on the community living and participation domain and requires applicants to propose a development project rather than a purely research-focused study. In this context, "development" means taking what is already known from prior research or established evidence and using it to create or refine tangible products or approaches that can be used by the target population. That can include developing materials, devices, systems, tools, or methods, and it explicitly includes designing and building prototypes as well as developing the processes needed to implement or use those innovations in real settings. The emphasis is on practical outputs that can improve how people with disabilities live in and engage with their communities, such as increasing access, participation, autonomy, and inclusion in everyday community environments and activities.

The opportunity is described as field-initiated, meaning applicants propose the specific topic, innovation, or solution within the broad scope of community living and participation, rather than responding to a narrowly defined government-designed project concept. NIDILRR indicated it planned to make two awards in this domain, and those two awards could end up being any combination of research and development projects based on peer review rankings: both could be research, both could be development, or one could be research and one could be development. For this particular listing, however, the emphasis is on development projects targeted at community living and participation.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0383 and the CFDA number 93.433. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $500,000, and the expected number of awards is 2. The opportunity was created on January 23, 2020, with an original application closing date of March 23, 2020. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common public and nonprofit research and service entities. Eligible applicants listed 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; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The listing also notes "others" may be eligible depending on additional eligibility clarification in the full announcement.

Overall, the program is aimed at moving beyond concepts and toward usable solutions by supporting projects that translate research knowledge into prototypes, tools, and implementation-ready methods that measurably improve community living and participation outcomes for people with disabilities.

• 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 (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 Jan 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 23, 2020 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 2 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 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0383

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