Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Health and Function (Development) | HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0200

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0200

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Health and Function (Development) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered 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). It sits within NIDILRRs broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, which funds applied research and development work intended to improve real-world outcomes for people with disabilities. The central aim is to support projects that strengthen full participation and inclusion in society by improving rehabilitation methods, procedures, and technologies that help people with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on individuals with the most significant disabilities, and by improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).

This specific priority is focused on the health and function domain and is explicitly framed as a development project opportunity. That means applicants are expected to move beyond basic research questions and instead use existing research knowledge to create something tangible and beneficial for the target population. In practice, NIDILRR is looking for development work that produces materials, devices, systems, or methods that can improve the health and functional outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The description highlights activities such as designing and developing prototypes and establishing the processes needed to make those prototypes usable, testable, and ready for broader adoption. While the opportunity is development-oriented, it also sits within a program area where NIDILRR may fund projects that include research components as well, depending on how applications score in peer review and how the portfolio is shaped.

A key feature of the opportunity is that it is described as field-initiated, meaning the agency is not prescribing a single narrow intervention or condition; instead, it is inviting applicants to propose strong, evidence-informed development ideas within the broad theme of improving health and function for people with disabilities. The overall program scope also allows for related activities like demonstrations, training, and even international activities, as long as they align with the mission of improving inclusion, independent living, employment, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency through better rehabilitation science and technology.

The funding mechanism is a grant, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 93.433. The listed award ceiling is $500,000. The notice also indicates an expectation of 1 award for this specific posting, while simultaneously stating that NIDILRR planned to make two field-initiated DRRP awards in the health and function domain overall; this suggests the agency may have been coordinating multiple opportunities or selecting across a set of applications in the domain, with final award counts influenced by peer review rankings and program decisions.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types in disability, health, and rehabilitation innovation: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and other entities as clarified in the full eligibility text. Applications for the original competition were due March 20, 2017, with electronic submissions required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

In plain terms, this opportunity was designed to fund teams capable of turning rehabilitation and disability research knowledge into practical, testable solutions that directly improve health and functioning for people with disabilities, with an emphasis on development work such as prototypes, tools, or implementable methods that can strengthen participation and independence in everyday life.

• 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: Health and Function (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 18, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 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 $500,000.00 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2017 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0200

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