Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPGE 0415
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP): Assistive Technology to Promote Independence and Community Living opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The overall aim of the DRRP program is to fund research, development, demonstration projects, training, and related activities (including work with international dimensions when appropriate) that lead to better methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies. The end goal is practical impact: improving inclusion and integration of people with disabilities across daily life domains such as employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on people with the most significant disabilities, and on improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).
This specific DRRP priority focuses on assistive technology and related innovations that help people with disabilities live more independently and participate more fully in their communities. A clear emphasis is placed on supporting community living and independent living outcomes, especially for people who are aging with disabilities. In other words, the funding is meant to push forward technologies and applied research that address real-world barriers that emerge or intensify as people with disabilities grow older, such as changes in mobility, strength, cognition, sensory functioning, access to transportation, or the availability of caregivers and services. The program is oriented toward solutions that can be developed, tested, and translated into use in everyday settings, rather than remaining purely conceptual.
NIDILRR also signals a particular interest in proposals that address the needs of people with disabilities in rural, frontier, or tribal communities. This reflects the reality that many assistive technology and rehabilitation service models assume access to dense service networks, broadband connectivity, specialty clinicians, or nearby repair and distribution channels, which are often limited outside urban areas. Projects that consider these contexts might focus on design constraints like long distances, lower infrastructure availability, fewer specialists, affordability, and cultural relevance, with an eye toward technologies that can be supported and maintained locally and sustainably.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0415 and falls within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development funding activity category (CFDA 93.433). The award ceiling is $500,000 per award, and the forecast anticipated making about four awards. The original posting indicates a creation date of March 26, 2020, with an original closing date of May 26, 2020, and electronically submitted applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. The notice also states that this forecast replaced earlier related documents (HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0405 and HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0406), meaning this listing superseded those prior versions.
Eligibility is broad and includes many public, private, and nonprofit entities that could realistically carry out applied research and development. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other applicants as clarified in the opportunity’s additional eligibility information. This wide eligibility pool is consistent with the program’s applied nature, since effective assistive technology R&D and demonstration work often involves partnerships among universities, disability service providers, community organizations, healthcare and rehabilitation systems, and technology developers.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity is about moving assistive technology forward in ways that measurably improve day-to-day independence and community participation for people with disabilities, while paying special attention to the lived realities of aging with a disability and to communities that are often underserved due to geography and infrastructure limitations.Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPGE 0415
- 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): Assistive Technology to Promote Independence and Community Living" 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 26, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 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 4 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, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: DRRP - Assistive Technology to Promote Independence and Community Living (HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0415)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) program. It is 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).
What is the overall purpose of the DRRP program?
The DRRP program funds research, development, demonstration projects, training, and related activities that lead to improved methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies. The intended outcome is practical, real-world impact that improves inclusion and integration of people with disabilities across major life domains such as employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency.
What is the focus of this specific DRRP priority?
This priority focuses on assistive technology and related innovations that help people with disabilities live more independently and participate more fully in their communities. The emphasis is on community living and independent living outcomes, with particular attention to people aging with disabilities.
What does "assistive technology to promote independence and community living" mean in practice?
Based on the description provided, it means supporting applied technology and innovation work that can be developed, tested, and translated into everyday use. The goal is to reduce real-world barriers to independent living and community participation, rather than producing purely conceptual or theoretical outputs.
Why does the opportunity emphasize people who are aging with disabilities?
The opportunity highlights that barriers can emerge or intensify as people with disabilities grow older. Examples mentioned include changes in mobility, strength, cognition, sensory functioning, access to transportation, and the availability of caregivers and services. Projects are expected to address these types of lived, practical challenges.
Is the program intended for basic research or applied work?
The information provided emphasizes applied research and solutions that can be translated into use in everyday settings. While research is part of the program, the stated orientation is toward development, testing, demonstration, and real-world translation.
Does NIDILRR have any special interests within this priority?
Yes. NIDILRR signals particular interest in proposals addressing the needs of people with disabilities in rural, frontier, or tribal communities, recognizing that these settings often have limited infrastructure and service networks compared to urban areas.
What challenges in rural, frontier, or tribal communities does the opportunity highlight?
The opportunity notes that many assistive technology and rehabilitation service models assume access to dense service networks, broadband connectivity, specialty clinicians, and nearby repair and distribution channels. These resources may be limited outside urban areas. Projects may need to consider long distances, lower infrastructure availability, fewer specialists, affordability, cultural relevance, and local sustainability.
What kinds of activities can be supported by DRRP funding?
The DRRP program description includes research, development, demonstration projects, training, and related activities. It also notes that work with international dimensions may be included when appropriate.
What outcomes is the program ultimately trying to improve?
The stated end goal is improved inclusion and integration of people with disabilities across daily life domains. The description specifically mentions employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on people with the most significant disabilities.
How does this opportunity relate to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
The program description states an emphasis on improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).
Who administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by HHS through ACL and NIDILRR.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0415.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number listed?
The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development funding activity category, with CFDA 93.433.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $500,000 per award.
How many awards were anticipated?
The forecast anticipated approximately four awards.
When was the opportunity originally posted and when did it close?
The original posting indicates a creation date of March 26, 2020, with an original closing date of May 26, 2020.
What time were electronic applications due on the deadline date?
Electronically submitted applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Did this listing replace any earlier documents?
Yes. The notice states this forecast replaced earlier related documents: HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0405 and HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0406. This listing superseded those prior versions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other applicants as clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.
Are both nonprofit and for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, subject to the noted condition) and for-profit organizations (including small businesses, and other for-profits other than small businesses) are listed as eligible.
Are tribal applicants eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.
Are schools and universities eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts and public and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
What types of partnerships does this opportunity seem designed to support?
The description notes that effective assistive technology research, development, and demonstration often involves partnerships among universities, disability service providers, community organizations, healthcare and rehabilitation systems, and technology developers, and the eligibility list is broad in a way that supports these kinds of collaborations.
Is there an emphasis on any specific disability group?
The program emphasizes improving outcomes for people with disabilities broadly, with particular emphasis on people with the most significant disabilities and on the needs associated with aging with a disability.
Does the opportunity require projects to be sustainable or maintainable locally?
The description highlights an interest in technologies that can be supported and maintained locally and sustainably, particularly in rural, frontier, or tribal contexts where infrastructure and service networks can be limited.
Does the opportunity allow international components?
The DRRP program description states that related activities can include work with international dimensions when appropriate.
What is the main "bottom line" goal of this funding?
The funding is intended to move assistive technology forward in ways that measurably improve day-to-day independence and community participation for people with disabilities, with special attention to aging with disability and to communities that are underserved due to geography and infrastructure limitations.
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