Opportunity Information: Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031015 002
Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031015 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Field Initiated Program (Development) CFDA Number 84.133G 5 is ED GRANTS 030615 002" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.133 National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2015 and posted on Mar 10, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 11, 2015 Applications Available March 10, 2015. Note On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was effective immediately. One provision of WIOA transferred the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) from the Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, NIDRRs name was changed to the Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). For FY 2015, all NIDILRR priority notices will be published as ACL notices, and ACL will make all NIDILRR awards. During this transition period, however, NIDILRR will continue to review grant applications using Department of Education tools. NIDILRR will post previously approved application kits to grants.gov, and NIDILRR applications submitted to grants.gov will be forwarded to the Department of Educations G 5 system for peer review. We are using Department of Education application kits and peer review systems during this transition year in order to provide for a smooth and orderly process for our applicants. Date of Pre Application Meeting March 31, 2015. Date of Pre Application Meeting Interested parties are invited to participate in a pre application meeting and to receive information and technical assistance through individual consultation with NIDILRR staff. The pre application meeting will be held on March 31, 2015. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by conference call with NIDILRR staff between 100 p.m. and 300 p.m., Washington, DC time. NIDILRR staff also will be available from 330 p.m. to 430 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the same day, by telephone, to provide information and technical assistance through individual consultation. For further information or to make arrangements to participate in the meeting via conference contact Carolyn Baron at Carolyn.Baron@ed.gov, or by telephone at 202 245 7244. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply April 14, 2015. Notice of Intent to Apply Due to the open nature of the priorities in these competitions, and to assist with the selection of reviewers for these competitions, NIDILRR is requesting all potential applicants submit a letter of intent (LOI). The submission is not mandatory and the content of the LOI will not be peer reviewed or otherwise used to rate an applicants application. Each LOI should be limited to a maximum of four pages and include the following information (1) The priority to which the potential applicant is responding (2) the title of the proposed project, the name of the applicant, the name of the Project Director or Principal Investigator (PI), and the names of partner institutions and entities (3) a brief statement of the vision, goals, and objectives of the proposed project and a description of its proposed activities at a sufficient level of detail to allow NIDILRR to select potential peer reviewers (4) a list of proposed project staff including the Project Director or PI and key personnel (5) a list of individuals whose selection as a peer reviewer might constitute a conflict of interest due to involvement in proposal development, selection as an advisory board member, co PI relationships, etc. and (6) contact information for the Project Director or PI. Submission of a LOI is not a prerequisite for eligibility to submit an application. NIDILRR will accept the optional LOI via mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or commercial carrier) or email, by April 14, 2015. The LOI must be sent to Carolyn Baron, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 550 12th Street SW., Room 5134, PCP, Washington, DC 20202 or by email to Carolyn.Baron@ed.gov. For further information regarding the LOI submission process, contact Carolyn Baron at (202) 245 6211. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 11, 2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Applicants Parties eligible to apply for MSI FI Projects grants are limited to minority entities and Indian tribes as authorized by section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Act. A minority entity is defined as a historically black college or university (a part B institution, as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended), a Hispanic serving institution of higher education, an American Indian tribal college or university, or another IHE whose minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity is part of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program run by the Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and it is specifically the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Field Initiated (FI) Program Development competition, listed as CFDA 84.133G-5 (with the related research competition under CFDA 84.133G-4). The core idea behind the FI Projects program is to support work that advances disability and rehabilitation outcomes in practical, real-world ways. Projects are expected to contribute to new or improved methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that help people with disabilities, particularly those with the most severe disabilities, achieve fuller inclusion and integration in society. That includes better outcomes in employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency. A second major aim is to strengthen the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, meaning the work should ideally connect to improving how rehabilitation-related programs and services function and deliver results.
What makes this particular competition distinct is its capacity-building focus for minority-serving organizations. NIDILRR explicitly limits eligibility to minority entities and Indian tribes, using authority under section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act. The stated purpose of doing so is to increase the ability of minority entities to conduct high-quality disability and rehabilitation research over time. In practice, that means this funding is not just about producing a single deliverable; it is also about strengthening research infrastructure, research talent, and sustained research engagement in institutions that serve large proportions of minority students and communities. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and qualifying minority entities, which are defined here as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, American Indian tribal colleges or universities, and other institutions of higher education where minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent.
This announcement is for a development grant (84.133G-5), which is important because NIDILRR uses different selection criteria for development grants versus research grants. Applicants have to clearly designate whether they are applying under the research track (84.133G-4) or the development track (84.133G-5) and then write to the appropriate criteria. The notice emphasizes that this designation is not optional or cosmetic: if the application does not clearly state which track it is applying to, it will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed. NIDILRR also states it will review the application strictly according to the designation chosen by the applicant, without exception, so applicants need to ensure their narrative and evidence match the development-grant expectations.
From an administrative and logistics standpoint, the competition was posted March 10, 2015, with applications due May 11, 2015, and an estimated total funding level of $200,000. The opportunity anticipated making one award, and the award ceiling listed is $200,000. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning the applicant should expect to document some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the official notice. Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, using the downloadable application package found by searching the base CFDA number (84.133 rather than 84.133G). The announcement also makes clear that applications cannot be submitted by emailing the agency; submission must go through Grants.gov.
The opportunity also built in several pre-application supports and planning steps. A pre-application meeting was scheduled for March 31, 2015, offered by conference call, with an additional time block the same day for one-on-one technical assistance by phone with NIDILRR staff. While not required, NIDILRR requested a non-mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) by April 14, 2015, mainly to help them recruit appropriate peer reviewers given the open-ended nature of field-initiated topics. The LOI was capped at four pages and was supposed to identify the priority area being addressed, provide a project title and key parties (applicant, project director/principal investigator, partners), summarize the project vision and planned activities in enough detail to support reviewer selection, list key staff, identify potential conflicts of interest for peer review, and provide contact information. The LOI could be submitted via mail or email, and it was explicitly not scored and not required for eligibility.
Finally, the notice reflects an important historical transition in federal administration at the time. After the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed on July 22, 2014, NIDRR moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and it was renamed NIDILRR. During FY 2015, priorities and awards were issued as ACL notices and ACL made the awards, but the review and application handling still relied on Department of Education systems and tools (including forwarding submitted applications into ED’s G5 system for peer review). The announcement provides specific contacts for help with the electronic application system (Grants.gov and related access issues) and identifies program leadership contacts for substantive program questions, underscoring that applicants were expected to rely on the official Federal Register notice for exact requirements, performance measures, and priority language.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is part of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It is the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Field Initiated (FI) Program Development competition, listed as CFDA 84.133G-5.
2) What is the main purpose of the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program?
The FI Projects program supports work that advances disability and rehabilitation outcomes in practical, real-world ways. Projects are expected to contribute to new or improved methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that help people with disabilities (particularly those with the most severe disabilities) achieve fuller inclusion and integration in society.
3) What kinds of outcomes is this program intended to improve?
The program emphasizes outcomes related to employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
4) Does the opportunity connect to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
Yes. A stated aim is to strengthen the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. In practice, this means the work should ideally connect to improving how rehabilitation-related programs and services function and deliver results.
5) What makes this MSI Field Initiated competition distinct?
This competition has a capacity-building focus for minority-serving organizations. NIDILRR limits eligibility to minority entities and Indian tribes (under section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act) to increase the ability of minority entities to conduct high-quality disability and rehabilitation research over time.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments and qualifying minority entities. Minority entities are defined here as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, American Indian tribal colleges or universities, and other institutions of higher education where minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent.
7) Is this a research grant or a development grant?
This announcement is for a development grant under CFDA 84.133G-5. The related research competition is under CFDA 84.133G-4, but applicants must apply under the correct track and criteria.
8) Do applicants have to choose between the research track and the development track?
Yes. Applicants must clearly designate whether they are applying under the research track (84.133G-4) or the development track (84.133G-5) and write to the appropriate selection criteria for that track.
9) What happens if an application does not clearly state which track it is applying to?
If the application does not clearly state which track it is applying to, it will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.
10) Will NIDILRR interpret an application as development or research based on content if the applicant forgets to label it?
No. The notice emphasizes that the designation is not optional or cosmetic. NIDILRR will review the application strictly according to the designation chosen by the applicant, without exception.
11) When was the competition posted and when were applications due?
The competition was posted on March 10, 2015. Applications were due on May 11, 2015.
12) How much funding was expected to be available?
The estimated total funding level was $200,000.
13) How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making one award.
14) What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed was $200,000.
15) Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should expect to document some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the official notice.
16) How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package.
17) Can an application be submitted by emailing NIDILRR or the agency contact?
No. The announcement makes clear that applications cannot be submitted by emailing the agency. Submission had to go through Grants.gov.
18) How do applicants find the application package in Grants.gov?
The application package was found by searching the base CFDA number (84.133 rather than 84.133G) in Grants.gov.
19) Was there a pre-application meeting?
Yes. A pre-application meeting was scheduled for March 31, 2015, offered by conference call.
20) Was technical assistance available before applying?
Yes. The same day as the pre-application meeting (March 31, 2015), an additional time block was provided for one-on-one technical assistance by phone with NIDILRR staff.
21) Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
No. NIDILRR requested a non-mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI), but it was not required for eligibility.
22) Why did NIDILRR request a Letter of Intent if it was not required?
The LOI was requested mainly to help NIDILRR recruit appropriate peer reviewers, given the open-ended nature of field-initiated topics.
23) When was the LOI due?
The LOI was requested by April 14, 2015.
24) How long could the LOI be?
The LOI was capped at four pages.
25) What information was the LOI supposed to include?
The LOI was supposed to identify the priority area being addressed, provide a project title and key parties (applicant, project director/principal investigator, partners), summarize the project vision and planned activities in enough detail to support reviewer selection, list key staff, identify potential conflicts of interest for peer review, and provide contact information.
26) How could the LOI be submitted?
The LOI could be submitted via mail or email.
27) Was the LOI scored as part of the competition?
No. The LOI was explicitly not scored.
28) What was happening administratively with NIDILRR at the time of this notice?
After the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed on July 22, 2014, NIDRR moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was renamed NIDILRR.
29) Who issued priorities and made awards during FY 2015?
During FY 2015, priorities and awards were issued as ACL notices and ACL made the awards.
30) Did the application and review process still use Department of Education systems?
Yes. Even though ACL issued the notices and made the awards, the review and application handling relied on Department of Education systems and tools, including forwarding submitted applications into ED's G5 system for peer review.
31) Where should applicants look for exact requirements like performance measures and priority language?
Applicants were expected to rely on the official Federal Register notice for exact requirements, performance measures, and priority language.
32) Are there separate contacts for electronic submission problems versus program questions?
Yes. The announcement provides specific contacts for help with the electronic application system (Grants.gov and related access issues) and identifies program leadership contacts for substantive program questions.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of Education
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Next opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program Community Living and Participation CFDA Number 84.133P 1
Previous opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Field Initiated Program (Research) CFDA Number 84.133G 4
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| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Program CFDA Number 84.031W Apply for ED GRANTS 041015 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 041015 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| HHS/ACL/NIDILLRR Employment Policy and Measurement CFDA Number 84.133B 3 Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 042015 002 Funding Number: ED ACL GRANTS 042015 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $875,000 |
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