Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 150
Apply for RFA MH 17 150
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Adaptation/Optimization of Technology (ADOPTech) to Support Social Functioning (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 22, 2015 and posted on Oct 22, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 03, 2016. (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.
- 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), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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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Opportunity Summary:
The Adaptation/Optimization of Technology (ADOPTech) to Support Social Functioning (R21) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-17-150) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program in the health area (CFDA 93.242) aimed at advancing practical technologies that can measurably improve social functioning for people with social impairments. The central idea is to spur early-stage, high-impact research and development that adapts, optimizes, or newly creates cutting-edge tools that act as "social prosthetics" meaning scalable technologies or devices that help users perform better in real-world social situations. Rather than focusing only on basic science, the opportunity emphasizes building and testing technology-based solutions that can augment social performance, supporting day-to-day interactions and participation.
This FOA uses the R21 mechanism, which generally supports exploratory or developmental work where innovators can demonstrate feasibility, refine prototypes, and generate early evidence that a technology can work as intended. Within this context, the program is designed to move beyond concepts and toward working systems, including iterative optimization and initial testing. The emphasis on scalability signals a preference for solutions that could be deployed broadly, not just in highly controlled laboratory environments, and that could ultimately be disseminated or translated into settings where people live, learn, and receive services.
A wide range of applicants are eligible, reflecting an interest in cross-sector innovation. Eligible organizations include federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private universities, public or Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. This breadth of eligibility makes it possible for academic teams, startups, established companies, public agencies, and community-based organizations to apply, including partnerships that combine clinical expertise, engineering, and implementation know-how.
The award has a stated ceiling of $200,000, positioning it as a relatively modest but targeted investment intended to catalyze innovation, prototype development, and early testing. The opportunity was posted and created on October 22, 2015, with an application closing date of February 3, 2016. The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (listed as HHS-NIH11). Overall, the program is best understood as a push to accelerate technology development that can directly support social functioning, with an explicit interest in tools that can be adapted and optimized into practical, scalable "assistive" or augmentative technologies for social interaction challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ADOPTech to Support Social Functioning (R21) funding opportunity?
ADOPTech (RFA-MH-17-150) is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 93.242) focused on advancing practical technologies that can measurably improve social functioning for people with social impairments. The program emphasizes technology-based solutions that support day-to-day social interaction and participation in real-world settings.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), listed as HHS-NIH11.
What does the program mean by "social prosthetics"?
In this program, "social prosthetics" refers to scalable technologies or devices designed to help users perform better in real-world social situations. The intent is to create or improve tools that augment social performance and make everyday interactions easier or more effective.
What kinds of projects does this FOA prioritize?
The FOA prioritizes early-stage, high-impact research and development that adapts, optimizes, or newly creates cutting-edge tools intended to improve social functioning. The emphasis is on building and testing technology-based solutions rather than focusing only on basic science.
Is this opportunity more about basic research or technology development?
It is oriented toward technology development and early testing. Rather than focusing only on basic science, it emphasizes creating working systems, iteratively optimizing them, and generating initial evidence that they perform as intended.
What grant mechanism is used, and what is it typically for?
This FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which generally supports exploratory or developmental work. In this context, it is intended to help innovators demonstrate feasibility, refine prototypes, and produce early evidence that a technology can work as intended.
What does "scalability" mean in the context of this program?
Scalability signals a preference for solutions that could be deployed broadly, not only in highly controlled laboratory environments. The program is interested in technologies that could ultimately be disseminated or translated into settings where people live, learn, and receive services.
Who is eligible to apply?
A wide range of applicants are eligible, including:
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Tribal organizations
- State governments
- Local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts)
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private universities
- Public or Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses.
Can nonprofit organizations apply if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, provided they are not institutions of higher education.
Can universities and colleges apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private universities.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. State governments and local governments are eligible, including counties, cities, townships, special districts, and independent school districts.
Does the FOA encourage cross-sector collaboration?
The broad eligibility described supports cross-sector innovation. The opportunity is positioned to allow academic teams, startups, established companies, public agencies, and community-based organizations to apply, including partnerships that combine clinical expertise, engineering, and implementation know-how.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award has a stated ceiling of $200,000.
What is the purpose of the $200,000 ceiling?
Based on the description, the ceiling positions the award as a modest but targeted investment intended to catalyze innovation, prototype development, iterative optimization, and early testing.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted and created on October 22, 2015, and the application closing date was February 3, 2016.
What is the program trying to achieve overall?
The program aims to accelerate technology development that can directly support social functioning, with an explicit interest in tools that can be adapted and optimized into practical, scalable assistive or augmentative technologies for social interaction challenges.
What does "measurably improve social functioning" imply for proposed work?
The description indicates an emphasis on technologies that can show measurable improvements in social functioning, suggesting that projects should be oriented toward demonstrable outcomes and early evidence of effectiveness rather than remaining at the conceptual stage.
Does the FOA expect projects to move beyond ideas?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes moving beyond concepts and toward working systems, including iterative optimization and initial testing to establish feasibility and early evidence of performance.
What types of settings are envisioned for eventual deployment?
The FOA highlights translation into settings where people live, learn, and receive services, indicating interest in practical deployment beyond controlled laboratory environments.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is described as an NIH discretionary grant program in the health area under CFDA 93.242.
What is the FOA identifier for this opportunity?
The FOA identifier is RFA-MH-17-150.
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