Opportunity Information: Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 042015 003
Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 042015 003
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Employment for Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments CFDA Number 84.133B 5" 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 Apr 20, 2015 and posted on Apr 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2015 Applications Available April 20, 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 May 11, 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 May 11, 2015. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by conference call with NIDILRR staff from the Administration for Community Living 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 call or to arrange for an individual consultation, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply May 26, 2015. Notice of Intent to Apply Due to the open nature of the RRTC priority announced here, and to assist with the selection of reviewers for this competition, 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 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 (2) 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 (3) a list of proposed project staff including the Project Director or PI and key personnel (4) 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 (5) 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 May 26, 2015. The LOI must be sent to Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 550 12th Street, SW., room 5142, PCP, Washington, DC 20202 or by email to Patricia.Barrett@acl.hhs.gov. For further information regarding the LOI submission process, contact Patricia Barrett at (202) 245 6211. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications June 19, 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 $875,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $875,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses 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 Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Eligible Applicants States public or private agencies, including for profit agencies public or private organizations, including for profit organizations IHEs and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Employment for Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments (CFDA 84.133B), is a discretionary federal grant competition under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program. The funding is aimed at supporting a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) focused on improving employment outcomes for people who are blind or have other visual impairments. In practical terms, the competition is meant to fund a center that can combine research, training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination of findings so that rehabilitation services and related employment supports become more effective and better aligned with the goals of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The larger program purpose is to develop and test methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology, along with related activities (including international work when relevant), that help maximize full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, especially for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
The RRTC model emphasized in this notice is designed to produce benefits that extend beyond academic research. The expectation is that the funded center will conduct well-designed work in a priority topical area identified by NIDILRR and translate that work into usable training and assistance for real-world stakeholders. That includes rehabilitation service providers, people with disabilities and their families, policymakers, and other research and practice audiences. A key theme running through the notice is effectiveness: projects should not only generate knowledge, but also strengthen the services and systems authorized under the Rehabilitation Act, and make it easier for stakeholders to use evidence-based practices in employment-related supports for individuals with blindness or visual impairments.
This opportunity was posted April 20, 2015, with applications due June 19, 2015, and an estimated total funding amount of $875,000. The notice indicates an expected number of awards of one, with an award ceiling of $875,000, and it states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. While the opportunity appears under education-related categories and references Department of Education systems, it reflects a broader federal transition in which the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed July 22, 2014, transferred the former National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) 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). As part of that change, NIDRR was renamed the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). During the FY 2015 transition period described in the notice, ACL would publish the priority and make the award, but application submission and peer review would still rely on Department of Education tools, including forwarding submissions into the Department of Education G5 system for peer review, to keep the process stable for applicants.
Applicants were required to submit proposals electronically through Grants.gov, using the Grants.gov Apply process (download the package, complete offline, then upload and submit). The notice is explicit that applications could not be submitted by emailing an electronic copy. A practical instruction included in the announcement is that applicants needed to search for the application package by CFDA number without the alpha suffix, meaning search for "84.133" rather than "84.133B" to locate the correct package.
To support prospective applicants, the agency offered a pre-application meeting on May 11, 2015, held by conference call, with a scheduled window for group technical assistance and a separate time block the same day for individual consultations by phone. The announcement also requested, but did not require, a Notice of Intent to Apply in the form of an optional Letter of Intent (LOI) due May 26, 2015. The LOI was not scored and was not a prerequisite for submitting a full application; instead, it was primarily used to help NIDILRR plan for peer review given the open nature of the priority. The LOI was limited to four pages and was expected to include the project title, applicant and project leadership details, partner institutions, a concise description of the project vision/goals/objectives and planned activities (in enough detail to inform reviewer selection), proposed staff/key personnel, identification of potential reviewer conflicts of interest, and PI contact information. The LOI could be submitted via mail or email to the listed program manager contact.
Eligibility for this competition was broad and included states and public or private agencies and organizations (including for-profit entities), institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Indian tribes as well as tribal organizations. The full listing in the opportunity also referenced multiple government types (state, local, special district), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and school districts, reflecting the program's openness to a range of entities capable of operating an RRTC-level center.
For official requirements and the authoritative version of the opportunity, the notice directs applicants to the Federal Register application notice, emphasizing that the synopsis is not a substitute for the published notice and that performance measures, priorities, detailed submission requirements, and program contacts are provided there. The announcement lists contact points for technical problems accessing the full announcement and for program-specific questions, including a grants systems administrator contact and the program manager, Patricia Barrett at ACL/HHS, who was also the LOI recipient.
FAQs: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Employment for Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments (CFDA 84.133B)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal grant competition under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program. The specific competition is titled "HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Employment for Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments (CFDA 84.133B)" and is intended to fund a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC).
2) What is the main purpose of the funded project?
The purpose is to support an RRTC focused on improving employment outcomes for individuals who are blind or have other visual impairments. The center is expected to combine research, training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination of findings so rehabilitation services and employment supports become more effective and aligned with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
3) What broader program goals does this opportunity support?
The larger program purpose is to develop and test methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology, along with related activities (including international work when relevant), to maximize full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, especially for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
4) What is an RRTC in the context of this notice?
In this notice, an RRTC is a center model designed to produce benefits beyond academic research. The funded center is expected to conduct well-designed work in a priority topical area identified by NIDILRR and translate that work into usable training, technical assistance, and dissemination for real-world stakeholders.
5) What types of activities are expected from the RRTC?
The notice emphasizes a combination of: (1) research, (2) training, (3) technical assistance, and (4) broad dissemination of findings. The overall theme is that projects should generate knowledge and also strengthen services and systems authorized under the Rehabilitation Act, making it easier for stakeholders to use evidence-based practices in employment-related supports.
6) Who are the intended audiences or stakeholders for the center's work?
The work is intended to be useful to rehabilitation service providers, people with disabilities and their families, policymakers, and other research and practice audiences.
7) How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $875,000.
8) How many awards were expected?
The notice indicates an expected number of awards of one.
9) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $875,000.
10) Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
11) When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted April 20, 2015, and applications were due June 19, 2015.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes states and public or private agencies and organizations (including for-profit entities), institutions of higher education, federally recognized Indian tribes, and tribal organizations. The listing also references multiple applicant types such as state, local, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and school districts.
13) Where is the authoritative version of the requirements?
The notice directs applicants to the Federal Register application notice for official requirements and emphasizes that the synopsis is not a substitute for the published notice. The Federal Register notice contains performance measures, priorities, detailed submission requirements, and program contacts.
14) How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the Grants.gov Apply process (download the application package, complete it offline, then upload and submit).
15) Could an application be submitted by email?
No. The notice explicitly states that applications could not be submitted by emailing an electronic copy.
16) How do applicants find the correct application package in Grants.gov?
The notice instructs applicants to search by the CFDA number without the alpha suffix. In other words, search for "84.133" rather than "84.133B" to locate the correct application package.
17) Was there a pre-application meeting?
Yes. The agency offered a pre-application meeting on May 11, 2015, held by conference call.
18) What support was offered during the pre-application meeting?
The meeting included a scheduled window for group technical assistance and a separate time block the same day for individual consultations by phone.
19) Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
No. The notice requested, but did not require, a Notice of Intent to Apply in the form of an optional Letter of Intent (LOI).
20) When was the optional LOI due?
The optional LOI was due May 26, 2015.
21) Was the LOI scored or required for submitting an application?
No. The LOI was not scored and was not a prerequisite for submitting a full application.
22) Why did the agency request an LOI if it was optional?
The LOI was primarily used to help NIDILRR plan for peer review given the open nature of the priority.
23) What was the LOI page limit?
The LOI was limited to four pages.
24) What information was the LOI expected to include?
The LOI was expected to include: the project title; applicant and project leadership details; partner institutions; a concise description of the project vision, goals, objectives, and planned activities (with enough detail to inform reviewer selection); proposed staff/key personnel; identification of potential reviewer conflicts of interest; and PI contact information.
25) How could the LOI be submitted?
The LOI could be submitted via mail or email to the listed program manager contact.
26) Which agency was responsible for publishing the priority and making the award during the FY 2015 transition?
During the FY 2015 transition period described, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would publish the priority and make the award.
27) Why does the notice mention both HHS/ACL and Department of Education systems?
The notice reflects a federal transition under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed July 22, 2014, that transferred the former National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) from the U.S. Department of Education to ACL within HHS, and renamed it NIDILRR. During the FY 2015 transition, application submission and peer review still relied on Department of Education tools, including forwarding submissions into the Department of Education G5 system for peer review, to keep the process stable for applicants.
28) Who was listed as the program contact for program-specific questions and LOI receipt?
The notice identifies the program manager as Patricia Barrett at ACL/HHS, and states she was also the LOI recipient.
29) Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the full announcement?
The announcement lists a grants systems administrator contact point for technical problems accessing the full announcement.
30) What is the key takeaway about using the synopsis versus the official notice?
The key takeaway is that the synopsis is not a substitute for the Federal Register application notice. Applicants are directed to rely on the Federal Register notice for the authoritative requirements, including performance measures, priorities, detailed submission requirements, and official contacts.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of Education
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Next opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities CFDA Number 84.133B 1
Previous opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILLRR Employment Policy and Measurement CFDA Number 84.133B 3
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