Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) Health and Function of Individuals with Disabilities CFDA Number 84.133A 3 (Research) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of Education, administered through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), under the broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program. The specific competition is a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) in the topic area "Health and Function of Individuals with Disabilities."

2) What is the CFDA number for this competition?

The competition is listed under CFDA 84.133A-3 (Research). When searching in Grants.gov, the agency instructed applicants to search for the CFDA number without the alpha suffix (search for 84.133 rather than 84.133A).

3) What is the overall purpose of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program?

The program supports research, demonstrations, training, and related activities (including international activities) that develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies. The overarching goal is to maximize full inclusion and integration into society by improving employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, with special emphasis on individuals with the most severe disabilities.

4) What is a DRRP (Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project) in this context?

DRRPs are applied, outcomes-oriented projects intended to directly improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation services. They are designed to generate practical methods, procedures, and technologies that advance real-world independent living and employment outcomes.

5) What types of activities can a DRRP include?

DRRP projects may include one or more activity types defined in federal regulation (34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19). The opportunity describes allowable activity types as including research, training, demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, technical assistance, or combinations of these.

6) What is the topic area for this DRRP competition?

The topic area is "Health and Function of Individuals with Disabilities."

7) How many awards were expected?

The posting indicated an expectation of one award.

8) How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding available is $500,000, and the award ceiling is also $500,000.

9) Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

Yes. The listing indicates there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources consistent with the terms in the official Federal Register notice.

10) What agency and program office are responsible for the award?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Education. The program office is NIDRR (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research).

11) What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as Education.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes states and public or private agencies; public or private organizations (including for-profit entities); institutions of higher education (public and state-controlled as well as private); and Indian tribes and tribal organizations. The opportunity also references eligibility across multiple types of governmental units (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, small businesses, and other entities. Applicants are advised to rely on the official notice for precise eligibility rules and any clarifications.

13) Where and how were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Submissions could not be emailed directly to the agency.

14) How do applicants find the application package in Grants.gov?

The agency noted that applicants must locate the package by searching the CFDA number without the alpha suffix, meaning applicants should search for 84.133 rather than 84.133A.

15) When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The opportunity was posted on November 29, 2013, and applications were available the same day. The closing date was January 28, 2014. The archive date was February 27, 2014.

16) Was a pre-application meeting offered?

Yes. NIDRR scheduled a pre-application meeting on December 20, 2013, offered by conference call from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Washington, DC time.

17) Were individual consultations available?

Yes. The notice described a window for individual telephone consultations from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Washington, DC time on December 20, 2013 (the same date as the pre-application call).

18) How did applicants participate in the pre-application call or consultations?

Participation required coordination with the program contact listed in the notice.

19) Was a Notice of Intent to Apply (LOI) required?

No. The competition requested, but did not require, a Notice of Intent to Apply. It was optional.

20) When was the optional LOI due?

The requested (optional) LOI was due on January 3, 2014.

21) How was the LOI used in the process?

The LOI was not peer reviewed and was not used to score the application. It was requested to help NIDRR plan the peer review process and avoid conflicts of interest when selecting reviewers.

22) What was the LOI page limit?

The LOI was limited to four pages.

23) What information was the LOI expected to include?

The LOI was expected to include: the project title; the applicant and project director/principal investigator; partner institutions; a brief description of the project vision, goals, objectives, and planned activities (with enough detail to support reviewer recruitment); key staff; names of individuals who could create a conflict if selected as peer reviewers; and the PI contact information.

24) How could the LOI be submitted?

LOIs could be submitted by surface mail or by email to the program manager, Marlene Spencer.

25) Who is the primary program contact for this competition?

The primary program contact listed is Marlene Spencer at the U.S. Department of Education (Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC), with phone and email provided in the notice.

26) Who should applicants contact for technical issues related to accessing the announcement?

For technical issues accessing the announcement, the notice points applicants to the ED Grants.gov system administrator contact (Julius Cotton) via phone or the EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov email.

27) Which source is considered authoritative for requirements and instructions?

The posting emphasizes that the authoritative requirements, priorities, performance measures, and submission details are those in the official Federal Register notice, and applicants are directed to consult that official version for complete rules and instructions.

28) What larger law or service framework does this funding support?

The program is meant to fund work that strengthens disability and rehabilitation services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) by building better evidence, tools, and practices that improve outcomes for people with disabilities, with special emphasis on individuals with the most severe disabilities.