Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2016 ACL CIP ATTF 0164
Apply for HHS 2016 ACL CIP ATTF 0164
- The HHS-ACL in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.464.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2016 and posted on Apr 06, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 06, 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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL). Its central goal is to expand access to assistive technology by supporting state or community-based financing programs that help people purchase assistive technology (AT) devices and related services. Instead of paying directly for devices as a one-time subsidy, the program focuses on building or strengthening financing mechanisms that make AT more affordable and obtainable over time, especially for individuals who may not be able to pay upfront or who face barriers accessing traditional credit.
The grant is designed to fund practical financing options such as low-interest loan funds, interest buy-down programs (where the program reduces the interest rate a borrower pays), revolving loan funds (where repayments cycle back to fund new loans), loan guarantee programs (which reduce lender risk and can improve approval rates), and insurance-type approaches that help spread risk and cost. The intent is to create sustainable pathways for purchasing AT across a broad range of needs, rather than limiting support to a narrow set of devices, diagnoses, or demographic groups. In practice, this means applicants are expected to structure programs capable of financing the full array of AT devices and services, not just a subset that is easiest to administer.
A major requirement in this opportunity, driven by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, is a strong emphasis on consumer choice and control. Applicants must provide an assurance and clear description of how their AFP project will expand and prioritize consumer decision-making. That includes ensuring that people with disabilities can choose the devices and services that best match their personal goals and circumstances, rather than being funneled into limited, pre-selected options. The program description also highlights equity of access: successful applicants are expected to design programs that reach all people with disabilities, regardless of disability type or health condition, age, income level, or where they live. This pushes applicants to consider outreach, underwriting flexibility, accessibility, and statewide or community-wide availability so the financing model does not unintentionally exclude harder-to-serve populations.
Another core expectation is that funded programs incorporate credit-building activities. The opportunity encourages integrating financial education and sharing information about other potential funding sources, which can help applicants and borrowers make informed decisions and reduce long-term financial vulnerability. This is important because many AT users face recurring costs over a lifetime; pairing financing with education can improve repayment success, help borrowers build or repair credit, and connect them to benefits or alternative supports that may reduce reliance on loans when other resources are available.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as HHS 2016 ACL CIP ATTF 0164 under CFDA 93.464. Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category). The posted and creation dates are April 6, 2016, with an application deadline of June 6, 2016. The award ceiling listed is $700,000, and the agency anticipated making three awards. Overall, the grant is aimed at building durable, consumer-driven financing infrastructure so that assistive technology is attainable for a wider range of people, in more places, with fewer financial barriers.
Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program (AFP) Grant FAQs
What is the Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program (AFP)?
The Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL). It is designed to expand access to assistive technology (AT) by supporting financing programs that help people purchase AT devices and related services.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is to increase access to assistive technology by building or strengthening state or community-based financing mechanisms that make AT more affordable and obtainable over time, especially for individuals who cannot pay upfront or who face barriers accessing traditional credit.
Does the AFP grant pay directly for assistive technology devices?
No. The AFP focuses on developing or strengthening financing options rather than providing one-time subsidies to pay directly for devices. The intent is to create sustainable financing pathways that continue to help people obtain AT over time.
What kinds of financing models can AFP funds support?
The opportunity describes several practical financing approaches, including low-interest loan funds, interest buy-down programs (where the program reduces the interest rate paid by the borrower), revolving loan funds (where repayments fund new loans), loan guarantee programs (which reduce lender risk and may improve approval rates), and insurance-type approaches that help spread risk and cost.
What is an interest buy-down program in this context?
An interest buy-down program is a financing approach where the AFP-supported program reduces the interest rate a borrower would otherwise pay, making a loan for assistive technology more affordable.
What is a revolving loan fund?
A revolving loan fund is a loan program structure where repayments from borrowers are cycled back into the fund to finance new loans, supporting a more sustainable, ongoing lending model.
What is a loan guarantee program and why is it used?
A loan guarantee program is designed to reduce a lender's risk by guaranteeing some portion of a loan. In this opportunity, it is presented as a way to potentially improve loan approval rates and expand access to financing.
What does the grant mean by "insurance-type approaches"?
The opportunity references insurance-type approaches as methods that help spread risk and cost, supporting affordability and access in a way that is not limited to a single loan product.
Is the program intended to support only certain assistive technology devices?
No. The intent is to finance the full array of assistive technology devices and related services, rather than limiting support to a narrow set of devices, diagnoses, or demographic groups. Applicants are expected to structure programs that can cover a broad range of AT needs.
What are "related services" in the AFP description?
The opportunity states that financing can support assistive technology devices and related services. While it does not list specific examples, it clearly indicates the scope is not limited to devices alone.
What is the required emphasis on consumer choice and control?
A major requirement, driven by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, is an emphasis on consumer choice and control. Applicants must provide an assurance and a clear description of how their AFP project will expand and prioritize consumer decision-making so individuals can choose devices and services that match their personal goals and circumstances.
What does the grant require applicants to submit regarding consumer choice?
Applicants must provide an assurance and a clear description explaining how their AFP project will expand and prioritize consumer decision-making and consumer control in the selection of assistive technology devices and services.
How does the opportunity address equity and access?
The program highlights equity of access and expects successful applicants to design programs that reach all people with disabilities regardless of disability type or health condition, age, income level, or where they live. The intent is to avoid financing models that unintentionally exclude harder-to-serve populations.
Who is the program expected to reach?
The opportunity emphasizes reaching all people with disabilities, without limiting access by disability type or health condition, age, income level, or geographic location.
Does the AFP grant require statewide or community-wide availability?
The description encourages applicants to consider statewide or community-wide availability so that the financing model does not unintentionally exclude people based on where they live.
What does the opportunity say about credit-building activities?
Funded programs are expected to incorporate credit-building activities. The opportunity encourages integrating financial education and sharing information about other potential funding sources to help borrowers make informed decisions and reduce long-term financial vulnerability.
Why does the AFP emphasize financial education and credit building?
The opportunity notes that many assistive technology users face recurring costs over a lifetime. Pairing financing with education can improve repayment success, help borrowers build or repair credit, and connect them to benefits or alternative supports that may reduce reliance on loans when other resources are available.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing for this grant?
The opportunity is identified as HHS 2016 ACL CIP ATTF 0164 under CFDA 93.464.
Which federal agency runs this grant?
This grant opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Who is eligible to apply for the AFP grant?
Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, with the exception that institutions of higher education are excluded under the nonprofit category.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
Yes, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants. However, the eligibility section also notes that institutions of higher education are excluded under the nonprofit category.
When was this grant opportunity posted, and what are the key dates?
The posted and creation dates are April 6, 2016. The application deadline is June 6, 2016.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is June 6, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $700,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The agency anticipated making three awards.
What is the overall purpose of funding under the AFP?
The overall purpose is to build durable, consumer-driven financing infrastructure that makes assistive technology attainable for a wider range of people, in more places, with fewer financial barriers.
What kinds of barriers is the AFP program trying to address?
The opportunity specifically points to barriers such as the inability to pay upfront and challenges accessing traditional credit, and it supports financing mechanisms intended to reduce these barriers over time.
Does the opportunity limit support to specific diagnoses or demographic groups?
No. The opportunity explicitly describes an intent to avoid limiting support to a narrow set of devices, diagnoses, or demographic groups, and emphasizes broad accessibility across disability types, ages, incomes, and locations.
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