Opportunity Information: Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031615 001
Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031615 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Research Fellowships Program CFDA Number 84.133F 1" 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 16, 2015 and posted on Mar 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2015 Applications Available March 16, 2015. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 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 April 6, 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 April 6, 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 Carolyn Baron at Carolyn.Baron@ed.gov, or by telephone at 202 245 7244. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 15, 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 $430,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- 1. Eligible Applicants Eligible individuals must (1) Satisfy the requirements of 45 CFR part 75 and (2) have training and experience that indicate a potential for engaging in scientific research related to the solution of rehabilitation problems of individuals with disabilities. The program provides two categories of research fellowships Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. (a) To be eligible for a Merit Fellowship, an individual must be in the earlier stages of his or her career in research and have either advanced professional training or experience in independent study in an area which is directly pertinent to disability and rehabilitation. (b) To be eligible for a Distinguished Fellowship, an individual must have seven or more years of research experience in subject areas, methods, or techniques relevant to rehabilitation research and must have a doctorate, other terminal degree, or comparable academic qualifications. Note Institutions are not eligible to be recipients of research fellowships. Applicants must submit an eligibility statement describing how they meet the requirements for one of the two eligibility classifications allowed under this program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Research Fellowships Program (CFDA 84.133F-1) is a discretionary federal grant competition designed to strengthen the national pipeline of rehabilitation researchers by directly supporting highly qualified individuals to carry out original research focused on improving outcomes for people with disabilities. The program is rooted in Section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), which authorizes research and related activities intended to develop better methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies. The practical aim is to increase full inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities across major life areas such as community participation, employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency, with particular attention to people with the most significant disabilities and to improving the effectiveness of disability-related services authorized under the Act.
A key context for this specific FY 2015 competition is the federal agency transition created by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed on July 22, 2014. Under WIOA, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and it was renamed the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Even though ACL would publish priority notices and make awards during this period, the competition continued to rely on Department of Education application kits and peer review systems for administrative continuity. Applications submitted through Grants.gov were routed into the Department of Education peer review process (via its G5 system) as part of this transition-year approach.
The opportunity is specifically for individuals rather than institutions. Institutions are explicitly not eligible to be the recipients of research fellowships under this program, which is an important distinction from many other federal research competitions. To qualify, applicants must meet the applicable federal administrative requirements (referenced as 45 CFR part 75) and must be able to demonstrate training and experience indicating potential to conduct scientific research that addresses rehabilitation problems for individuals with disabilities. Applicants are also required to include an eligibility statement explaining which fellowship category they qualify for and why.
Two fellowship categories are offered: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. Merit Fellowships are intended for researchers in earlier career stages who already have advanced professional training or independent-study experience in an area directly relevant to disability and rehabilitation research. Distinguished Fellowships are aimed at more established researchers and require at least seven years of research experience in relevant subject areas, methods, or techniques, along with a doctorate, another terminal degree, or comparable academic qualifications. Across both categories, the expectation is that fellows will conduct original research that fits within the statutory scope of Section 204 and meaningfully contributes to rehabilitation knowledge and practice.
Applicants are encouraged to align proposed work with NIDRR/NIDILRRs Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017, which organizes disability and rehabilitation research into three broad outcome domains: (1) community living and participation, (2) health and function, and (3) employment. While the notice emphasizes that the Federal Register posting is the official source for priorities, performance measures, and full requirements, the inclusion of the Long-Range Plan signals that proposals should be framed around measurable real-world outcomes and a coherent theory of how the research will advance inclusion, functioning, and opportunity for people with disabilities.
From a funding and logistics standpoint, the competition anticipated approximately 6 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $430,000 and an award ceiling of $70,000. No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed. The application process was electronic only, using Grants.gov. Applicants were instructed to search by the CFDA number without the alpha suffix (search for 84.133 rather than 84.133F). The notice also makes clear that applications could not be submitted by email; applicants had to download the package, complete it offline, and upload it through Grants.gov.
The timeline provided in the announcement included an applications-available date of March 16, 2015, and an application deadline (deadline for transmittal of applications) of May 15, 2015, with an archive date of June 14, 2015. To support applicants, NIDILRR offered a pre-application meeting on April 6, 2015, held by conference call from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Washington, DC time, followed later that day by one-on-one technical assistance consultations by phone from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The listed contact for arranging participation in the pre-application meeting and consultations was Carolyn Baron (Carolyn.Baron@ed.gov, 202-245-7244). Additional operational contacts included a Grants.gov systems administrator contact (Julius Cotton, 202-245-6288, EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov) and a program manager contact (Patricia Barrett, 202-245-6211, patricia.barrett@ed.gov), reflecting the hybrid administrative environment during the ACL transition.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a career-focused, investigator-centered fellowship program that funds individuals to produce new, original rehabilitation research with clear relevance to disability policy and practice. It emphasizes building national research capacity, encourages alignment with established federal outcome domains, and uses a structured, federal grants submission and peer-review process, while providing early-stage technical assistance to help applicants prepare competitive proposals. For any applicant, the most important practical takeaways are that eligibility hinges on the individual applicants background and career stage (not an institutions status), proposals must fit within Section 204-authorized rehabilitation research, and submission must be made through Grants.gov using the correct CFDA search format and within the stated deadline.
FAQs: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Research Fellowships Program (CFDA 84.133F-1, FY 2015)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Research Fellowships Program (CFDA 84.133F-1), a discretionary federal grant competition that directly supports highly qualified individuals to carry out original research aimed at improving outcomes for people with disabilities.
What is the purpose of the Research Fellowships Program?
The program is designed to strengthen the national pipeline of rehabilitation researchers by funding investigator-centered fellowship projects. The practical aim is to improve inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities across major life areas such as community participation, employment, independent living, family support, and long-term economic and social self-sufficiency, with particular attention to individuals with the most significant disabilities and to improving the effectiveness of disability-related services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
What legal authority supports this program?
The program is rooted in Section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), which authorizes research and related activities intended to develop better methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies.
Who is the awarding/overseeing agency for this opportunity?
During this FY 2015 competition, the program operated under the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Why do Department of Education systems and contacts appear in this opportunity?
This competition took place during a transition year under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA moved the former National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) from the U.S. Department of Education to ACL (HHS) and renamed it NIDILRR. For administrative continuity, the competition continued to rely on Department of Education application kits and peer review systems, and applications submitted via Grants.gov were routed into the Department of Education peer review process (via the G5 system).
Is this opportunity for individuals or institutions?
This opportunity is specifically for individuals. Institutions are explicitly not eligible to be the recipients of research fellowships under this program.
What are the basic eligibility expectations for applicants?
Applicants must be individuals who can demonstrate training and experience indicating potential to conduct scientific research that addresses rehabilitation problems for individuals with disabilities. Applicants must also meet applicable federal administrative requirements referenced as 45 CFR part 75.
Is an eligibility statement required?
Yes. Applicants are required to include an eligibility statement explaining which fellowship category they qualify for and why.
What fellowship categories are available?
Two categories are offered: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships.
What is a Merit Fellowship intended for?
Merit Fellowships are intended for researchers in earlier career stages who already have advanced professional training or independent-study experience in an area directly relevant to disability and rehabilitation research.
What is a Distinguished Fellowship intended for?
Distinguished Fellowships are aimed at more established researchers. They require at least seven years of research experience in relevant subject areas, methods, or techniques, along with a doctorate, another terminal degree, or comparable academic qualifications.
What kind of research does this program fund?
The expectation across both fellowship categories is that fellows will conduct original research that fits within the statutory scope of Section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act and meaningfully contributes to rehabilitation knowledge and practice, with a focus on improving outcomes for people with disabilities.
What outcome areas should proposals connect to?
Applicants are encouraged to align proposed work with the NIDRR/NIDILRR Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017, which organizes disability and rehabilitation research into three broad outcome domains: (1) community living and participation, (2) health and function, and (3) employment.
Is the Long-Range Plan the official list of priorities and requirements?
No. The notice emphasizes that the Federal Register posting is the official source for priorities, performance measures, and full requirements. The Long-Range Plan is included as context and a signal to frame proposals around measurable, real-world outcomes and a clear theory of how the research advances inclusion, functioning, and opportunity.
How many awards were expected under this competition?
The competition anticipated approximately 6 awards.
What was the estimated total funding for the competition?
The estimated total funding level was approximately $430,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $70,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed.
How could applications be submitted?
Applications were electronic only and had to be submitted through Grants.gov. The notice also states that applications could not be submitted by email. Applicants had to download the application package, complete it offline, and upload it through Grants.gov.
How should applicants search for the opportunity on Grants.gov?
Applicants were instructed to search by the CFDA number without the alpha suffix (search for 84.133 rather than 84.133F).
What were the key dates for this FY 2015 announcement?
Applications were available March 16, 2015. The application deadline (deadline for transmittal of applications) was May 15, 2015. The archive date was June 14, 2015.
Was there any pre-application support offered?
Yes. NIDILRR offered a pre-application meeting by conference call on April 6, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Washington, DC time, followed by one-on-one technical assistance consultations by phone from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the same day.
Who was the contact for the pre-application meeting and technical assistance consultations?
The listed contact was Carolyn Baron (Carolyn.Baron@ed.gov, 202-245-7244).
Who could applicants contact for Grants.gov system questions?
The notice listed a Grants.gov systems administrator contact: Julius Cotton (202-245-6288, EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov).
Who was the program manager contact listed in the announcement?
The notice listed a program manager contact: Patricia Barrett (202-245-6211, patricia.barrett@ed.gov).
What is the main practical takeaway about eligibility for this fellowship?
The central eligibility point is that the fellowship is awarded to individuals (not institutions) and eligibility depends on the individual applicant's background and career stage, as reflected in the Merit vs. Distinguished fellowship categories and the required eligibility statement.
What is the main practical takeaway about project fit?
Proposals must fit within Section 204-authorized rehabilitation research and should be framed to produce measurable, real-world outcomes for people with disabilities, with strong relevance to disability policy and practice.
What is the main practical takeaway about submission?
Submission had to be completed through Grants.gov (not by email), using the correct CFDA search format (84.133), and within the stated deadline.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program CFDA Number 84.133P 5
Previous opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase I CFDA Number 84.133S 1
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