FIELD INITIATED PROJECTS PROGRAM (RESEARCH) | HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR IFRE 0192

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR IFRE 0192

The Field Initiated Projects Program (Research) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administered through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) under NIDILRR. Its central aim is to support research that either generates new knowledge or develops and improves methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that help people with disabilities fully participate in society. The program places particular emphasis on advancing outcomes for individuals with the most severe disabilities, with a focus on practical areas like inclusion and integration in community life, employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency.

A second major purpose of the program is to strengthen the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. In other words, beyond producing academic findings, projects should be positioned to inform or improve real-world rehabilitation services and systems. The opportunity is specifically for FI Research proposals, meaning the funded work must be structured as research rather than, for example, solely service delivery or outreach.

The notice makes clear what it expects from a “research” project under this program. Applicants must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and then carry out an intensive, systematic study designed to produce either (1) new scientific knowledge or (2) a stronger, evidence-based understanding of the topic, problem, or existing body of knowledge. This signals that proposals should be grounded in a rigorous research design, with clear questions, a defensible methodology, and a plan to generate interpretable findings that contribute to rehabilitation research and practice.

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2017-ACL-NIDILRR-IFRE-0192) is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is offered as a grant. The CFDA number associated with it is 93.433. The maximum award amount listed is $200,000, and the agency anticipated making about 8 awards under this competition. Applications were due by February 8, 2017, with electronic submissions required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date (the opportunity was originally posted/created November 10, 2016).

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of applicants that commonly conduct research or support public-interest program development. 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 Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories). The listing also includes an “Others” category, indicating that additional eligible entities may be described in the full announcement’s eligibility clarification section.

Taken together, this grant opportunity is designed to fund well-defined research studies that can push the rehabilitation field forward, either by producing new scientific insights or by developing and validating approaches and technologies that improve independence, participation, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities, while also strengthening the evidence base behind Rehabilitation Act-related services.

• 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 "FIELD INITIATED PROJECTS PROGRAM (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 Nov 10, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 08, 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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 IFRE 0192

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