Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) Disability in the Family CFDA Number 84.133A 9 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DRRP - Disability in the Family (CFDA 84.133)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary (competitive) federal grant competition from the U.S. Department of Education, administered through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program. The specific competition is a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) on the topic "Disability in the Family," listed under CFDA 84.133 (often referenced in the notice as 84.133A-9).

2) What does "discretionary grant competition" mean in this context?

It means proposals are reviewed and selected competitively, based on the priorities and evaluation criteria published in the official Federal Register notice. Funding is not automatic; applicants are competing for selection.

3) What is the purpose of the DRRP program overall?

The DRRP program is intended to strengthen and improve services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended). In practical terms, the Department is looking to fund work that leads to better methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that improve independent living and employment outcomes for people with disabilities, with an emphasis on individuals with the most significant disabilities.

4) What is the focus area for this specific DRRP competition?

The focus area is "Disability in the Family." The competition sought a project centered on this topic and aimed at producing practical, usable advances in rehabilitation-related knowledge and tools.

5) What kinds of project activities are allowed or expected under a DRRP?

DRRPs can include a mix of activities such as research, training, demonstration projects, development of tools or interventions, dissemination of findings, efforts to encourage utilization of results in real-world settings, and technical assistance. The intent is not only to generate knowledge, but also to generate knowledge and solutions that service systems and communities can apply.

6) Is there a required equity or minority background component?

Yes. Applicants were required to explain how the proposed work would address, in whole or in part, the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds, consistent with 34 CFR 350.40(a). The notice also points to approaches described in 34 CFR 350.40(b) as acceptable ways to meet this requirement.

7) How many awards were expected, and what was the funding level?

For FY 2011, the opportunity anticipated making one award. The estimated total funding amount was $500,000, and the award ceiling was $500,000.

8) Was cost-sharing or matching required?

The listing indicates a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants likely needed to document a non-federal contribution or match. The exact terms and percentage were expected to be clarified in the official Federal Register application notice (the controlling document).

9) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included states and public or private agencies and organizations (including for-profit entities), institutions of higher education (public and private), and federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. The Grants.gov eligibility list also reflects that local governments and special districts may apply, and it explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations. Applicants were expected to confirm the most precise eligibility rules and any conditions in the official Federal Register notice.

10) What is the CFDA number, and how should applicants use it?

The CFDA listing is 84.133. Applicants were instructed to search for the application package in Grants.gov using the CFDA number "84.133" (without the alpha suffix) to locate the correct downloadable package.

11) What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was ED-GRANTS-060911-001.

12) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (not by email). Applicants were expected to download the application package, complete it offline, and upload it for submission through Grants.gov.

13) What were the key dates for the application timeline?

Applications became available on June 9, 2011. The deadline for transmittal of applications was August 8, 2011. The archive date shown was September 7, 2011.

14) Was there a pre-application meeting, and when was it held?

Yes. NIDRR scheduled a pre-application meeting on June 30, 2011, held by conference call. There was a group participation window from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by individual consultation time by phone from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

15) Who were the program contacts for questions about the competition?

Program contacts listed for technical and programmatic questions were Lynn Medley and Marlene Spencer at the U.S. Department of Education (Potomac Center Plaza).

16) Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov system or submission issues?

A separate Grants.gov systems contact was provided for technical difficulties accessing the announcement or submission systems: Julius Cotton.

17) Which document controls the official requirements for this competition?

The synopsis emphasizes that the official Federal Register notice is the controlling document. Applicants were expected to rely on it for the detailed requirements, priorities, eligibility conditions, and evaluation criteria.

18) What outcomes or impact was the Department aiming for through this funding?

The Department aimed to fund work that produces practical and usable advances (methods, procedures, rehabilitation technologies, tools, or interventions) that can be applied in real-world settings to improve independent living outcomes and employment outcomes for people with disabilities, especially individuals with the most significant disabilities, while explicitly addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds.

19) What was the funding activity category?

The funding activity category was listed under Education, consistent with the Department of Education as the awarding agency, even though the topic area is applied rehabilitation research.

20) What is the simplest way to describe what a strong application needed to include (based on the synopsis)?

Based on the information provided, a strong application needed to: (1) clearly align with the DRRP topic "Disability in the Family," (2) propose activities that generate usable, real-world applicable results (not just research for its own sake), (3) focus on improving independent living and employment outcomes for people with disabilities, emphasizing those with the most significant disabilities, (4) explicitly explain how it would address the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds as required by 34 CFR 350.40(a), and (5) follow the electronic submission process through Grants.gov as described, within the stated deadlines, consistent with the controlling Federal Register notice.