FIELD INITIATED PROJECTS PROGRAM (DEVELOPMENT) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Field Initiated Projects Program (Development)?

The Field Initiated Projects Program (Development) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), administered through NIDILRR. It supports development-focused projects that build on existing research knowledge to produce practical, usable outputs intended to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Which federal agencies are associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL), and is administered through NIDILRR.

What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The program is designed to translate established research and evidence into real-world solutions that can be used by people with disabilities, practitioners, programs, or administrators. The goal is to improve outcomes and the effectiveness of rehabilitation-related services, while supporting broader inclusion and integration in society.

What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes outcomes tied to employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency, particularly for individuals with the most severe disabilities. It also aims to strengthen services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by advancing tools and approaches that service systems can adopt.

What does "development" mean in this competition?

In this competition, "development" means the project focus is not limited to producing new academic findings. Instead, it centers on turning research-based understanding into tangible, practical deliverables such as materials, devices, systems, or methods that can be used in real-world settings.

What types of deliverables are expected under a development award?

Grantees are expected to create practical outputs that directly benefit intended users. This can include designing and developing prototypes, refining processes, and producing deliverables that are ready for testing, implementation, or broader dissemination.

Is this funding intended for basic research or academic discovery?

This specific competition is oriented toward development, meaning it prioritizes producing usable outputs based on existing research knowledge rather than focusing only on generating new academic findings.

Who is the "target population" for a proposed project?

The target population is the group expected to be affected by the project. The announcement notes that the target population can include more than one group, such as individuals who receive rehabilitation-related services, professionals who provide those services, and organizations or agencies that manage or administer them.

Can a project have more than one target population?

Yes. The notice explains that a development project may influence multiple groups, including service recipients, service providers, and the organizations that administer or manage services.

What does the program expect applicants to explain about their target population?

Applicants are expected to clearly describe who will benefit, how the developed outputs will be used, and why the proposed deliverables are beneficial and relevant to the needs of the target population.

How does this program relate to rehabilitation service systems?

Alongside quality-of-life goals, the program seeks to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by advancing tools and approaches that can be adopted by service systems.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2016 ACL NIDILRR IF 0125.

What is the CFDA number and funding category listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized as a grant within the health funding activity category and is listed under CFDA 93.433.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on December 23, 2015.

What is the application deadline?

The original and current closing date for this competition is February 22, 2016.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $200,000.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The agency anticipated making about 9 awards, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of funded projects.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public and private entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other applicants as allowed under the notice (with additional clarification referenced in the opportunity text).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types listed for this opportunity.

Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, with the note that institutions of higher education are excluded from those nonprofit categories as specified in the eligibility list.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.

What kinds of projects is this program generally trying to enable?

Overall, the program is aimed at enabling a wide range of organizations to develop research-informed rehabilitation technologies, tools, and methods that increase participation and independence for people with disabilities and improve rehabilitation service effectiveness.

What makes a proposal a good fit based on the description provided?

Based on the description, a strong fit would be a development-focused project that builds on established research knowledge and results in tangible deliverables (such as devices, systems, methods, or materials) with clear real-world use, clear intended beneficiaries, and clear relevance to improving disability outcomes and/or rehabilitation service effectiveness.