Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability in Rural Communities | HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0027

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0027

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability in Rural Communities is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered 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). It sits within the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, which supports applied research and related activities intended to strengthen services and supports authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. The central idea behind the RRTC model is to pair rigorous research with practical training, technical assistance, and wide dissemination so that findings do not remain academic, but instead translate into better real-world outcomes for people with disabilities and the systems that serve them.

This particular RRTC is focused on disability in rural communities. Its purpose is to generate new, research-based knowledge that can be used to improve outcomes for people with disabilities who live in rural areas, where service access, transportation, broadband availability, provider shortages, and geographic isolation often create distinct barriers compared to urban and suburban settings. Funded work is expected to target at least one of three outcome domains: community living and participation (for example, independent living supports, civic engagement, social participation, and access to community-based services), employment (such as vocational rehabilitation effectiveness, job access, retention, and employer engagement in rural labor markets), and health and function (including access to healthcare and rehabilitation, preventive services, functional outcomes, and strategies that address rural health disparities). The opportunity is designed to benefit not only individuals with disabilities, but also family members and caregivers, rehabilitation and other service providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders who rely on evidence to make program and funding decisions.

The award mechanism is a grant, categorized under science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 93.433. NIDILRR indicated it planned to make a single award under this competition in FY 2023, making it a highly competitive, single-center funding opportunity rather than a multi-award program. The maximum funding level listed is $875,000 (award ceiling), and the project is structured as a 60-month effort broken into five 12-month budget periods, which typically implies annual continuation approvals tied to progress and reporting.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of public and private entities that can credibly carry out a national research and training center function. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicants as allowed under the program’s additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility reflects the interdisciplinary nature of disability and rural research, and it allows universities, nonprofits, tribal entities, and other research-capable organizations to compete, including those positioned to build strong partnerships with rural communities.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number HHS-2023-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0027 and a creation date of January 30, 2023. The original application closing date was March 31, 2023, with electronic submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Overall, the opportunity funds a single, five-year RRTC intended to strengthen the evidence base on what works in rural contexts and to actively move that knowledge into practice through training, technical assistance, and dissemination aimed at improving participation, employment, and health-related outcomes for rural residents 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 "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability in Rural Communities" 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 30, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2023 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, 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).

Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0027

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