Opportunity Information: Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031315 001
Apply for ED ACL GRANTS 031315 001
- The Department of Education in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase I CFDA Number 84.133S 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 13, 2015 and posted on Mar 13, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2015 Applications Available March 13, 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. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 12, 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 $750,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses.
- Eligible Applicants Entities that are, at the time of award, small business concerns as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This definition is included in the application package. If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA. Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make an SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination that the applicant is eligible under its definition of small business concern. Technology, science, and engineering firms with strong research capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are encouraged to participate. Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and universities or other nonprofit organizations are permitted, but the small business concern must serve as the grantee. For Phase I projects, at least two thirds of the research or analytic activities must be performed by the small business concern grantee.
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Opportunity Summary:
The HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I opportunity (CFDA 84.133S-1) is a discretionary federal grant competition designed to help eligible small businesses test early-stage research and development ideas that can ultimately become useful, marketable products or services for people with disabilities. The program is rooted in the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, which requires certain federal agencies to set aside a portion of their external research and development budgets for SBIR awards. In practical terms, this Phase I competition supports short, focused feasibility studies that let a small business demonstrate the scientific or technical merit of an idea, evaluate whether it can realistically work as intended, and show early evidence that it could be commercialized.
Phase I awards under this notice are intended to be modest and time-limited: awards can be up to $75,000 for a project period of up to six months. The point of Phase I is not to fully build and scale a finished product, but to reduce risk and prove enough feasibility to justify continued investment. Successful Phase I projects may later compete for Phase II funding, which continues development based on Phase I results and further evaluates technical merit and commercial potential. Only Phase I grantees are eligible to apply for Phase II under SBIR. The notice references Phase II awards of up to $575,500 over a two-year period. After Phase II, Phase III is where commercialization and broader deployment typically happen, but it is important to note that SBIR funds do not support Phase III; small businesses must pursue market-based revenue, private investment, procurement, or other non-SBIR sources to bring the product fully to market.
A central requirement of this NIDILRR-funded SBIR topic area is that projects must address the needs of individuals with disabilities, consistent with the underlying disability and rehabilitation research mission in federal law (29 U.S.C. 760). The notice indicates example project activity areas, such as manufacturing-related research and development that improves existing methods or creates new processes, machines, or systems that benefit people with disabilities; the use of technology to promote equal access to education, employment, community environments, and information; and work that improves the quality and usefulness of disability and rehabilitation research itself. Applicants are also encouraged to align proposals with the NIDRR (now NIDILRR) Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017, which organizes the research agenda into three broad domains: Community Living and Participation, Health and Function, and Employment. That alignment matters because it signals to reviewers that the project fits the program priorities and contributes to longer-term outcomes in independent living, participation, and economic self-sufficiency.
Eligibility is limited to entities that meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) definition of a small business concern at the time of award. If an applicant's eligibility is questionable, the agency may request an SBA size/status determination and will not make an award until SBA eligibility is confirmed. The notice specifically encourages technology, science, and engineering firms with strong research capabilities in the priority areas to apply. Partnerships are allowed: small businesses can use consultants, universities, or nonprofits as subcontractors or collaborators, but the small business must be the applicant and grantee of record. For Phase I, at least two-thirds of the research or analytical effort must be performed by the small business itself, which is meant to ensure the company is truly leading and executing the innovation rather than acting mainly as a pass-through for academic research.
Administratively, this competition was posted March 13, 2015, with applications due May 12, 2015, and an estimated total funding level of $750,000 with an expected 10 awards. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed, which generally means applicants are not required to contribute non-federal dollars to receive the award, though they still need to present a reasonable and well-justified budget. The funding opportunity is labeled under a Department of Education posting framework, but the notice explains a key structural change: the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed July 22, 2014, transferred the former National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) from the Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and renamed it the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). During the transition year, applications were still processed using Department of Education tools and systems for continuity, including forwarding submissions into the Department of Education G5 system for peer review, even though ACL/HHS would ultimately make the awards.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable package associated with the CFDA number. A detail that matters for applicants is the search instruction: the package must be found by searching for the CFDA number without the alpha suffix, meaning applicants should search for "84.133" rather than "84.133S." The notice also clarifies that applications cannot be submitted by email; they must be uploaded through Grants.gov. Contact information is provided for both technical access issues (a Grants.gov/funding systems administrator) and a program manager point of contact for programmatic questions.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at small businesses that can propose a well-scoped, six-month feasibility project that clearly serves people with disabilities, fits within NIDILRRs broad research domains, and has a credible path toward commercialization. The strongest Phase I proposals in this context are typically those that define a real-world accessibility, participation, health, or employment problem; present a technically sound approach; include measurable Phase I milestones that can be completed within budget and time limits; and explain how Phase I results will position the company for Phase II development and eventual market uptake beyond SBIR funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I discretionary federal grant competition (CFDA 84.133S-1). It supports eligible small businesses that want to test early-stage research and development ideas that could become useful, marketable products or services for people with disabilities.
What is the purpose of SBIR Phase I in this program?
Phase I is meant for short, focused feasibility studies. The goal is to demonstrate scientific or technical merit, show that the idea can realistically work as intended, reduce risk, and provide early evidence that the concept could be commercialized. It is not intended to fully build and scale a finished product.
How much funding is available per award, and how long can the project last?
Phase I awards can be up to $75,000 for a project period of up to six months.
How many awards were expected and what was the total funding level?
The opportunity listed an estimated total funding level of $750,000 and an expected 10 awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed. Applicants generally are not required to contribute non-federal dollars to receive the award, but they still need to provide a reasonable, well-justified budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to entities that meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) definition of a small business concern at the time of award.
What happens if my small business eligibility is questioned?
If eligibility is questionable, the agency may request an SBA size/status determination and will not make an award until SBA eligibility is confirmed.
Are certain types of companies especially encouraged to apply?
Yes. The notice specifically encourages technology, science, and engineering firms with strong research capabilities in the priority areas to apply.
Do projects have to focus on people with disabilities?
Yes. A central requirement is that projects must address the needs of individuals with disabilities, consistent with the federal disability and rehabilitation research mission in law (29 U.S.C. 760).
What kinds of project activities are considered a fit?
The notice includes examples such as: manufacturing-related research and development that improves existing methods or creates new processes, machines, or systems benefiting people with disabilities; technology that promotes equal access to education, employment, community environments, and information; and work that improves the quality and usefulness of disability and rehabilitation research itself.
Should proposals align with any NIDILRR research plan or domains?
Applicants are encouraged to align proposals with the NIDRR (now NIDILRR) Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017. That plan is organized into three broad domains: Community Living and Participation, Health and Function, and Employment.
Why does alignment with the Long-Range Plan matter?
Alignment can signal to reviewers that the project fits program priorities and contributes to longer-term outcomes related to independent living, participation, and economic self-sufficiency.
Can a small business partner with a university or nonprofit?
Yes. Small businesses can use consultants, universities, or nonprofits as subcontractors or collaborators, but the small business must be the applicant and grantee of record.
How much of the Phase I work must the small business perform?
For Phase I, at least two-thirds of the research or analytical effort must be performed by the small business itself.
Why is there a two-thirds performance requirement for the small business?
This requirement is intended to ensure the small business is truly leading and executing the innovation, rather than mainly serving as a pass-through for work performed by other organizations.
What comes after Phase I if the project goes well?
Successful Phase I projects may later compete for Phase II funding. Phase II continues development based on Phase I results and further evaluates technical merit and commercial potential.
Who is eligible to apply for Phase II?
Only Phase I grantees are eligible to apply for Phase II under SBIR.
How much funding is referenced for Phase II, and how long is Phase II?
The notice references Phase II awards of up to $575,500 over a two-year period.
What is Phase III, and does SBIR pay for it?
Phase III is typically where commercialization and broader deployment happen. SBIR funds do not support Phase III; small businesses must pursue market-based revenue, private investment, procurement, or other non-SBIR sources to bring the product fully to market.
When was this competition posted and when were applications due?
The competition was posted March 13, 2015, and applications were due May 12, 2015.
Which agency is associated with this opportunity (HHS/ACL/NIDILRR vs. Department of Education)?
The opportunity is for NIDILRR within ACL at HHS, but it was labeled under a Department of Education posting framework during a transition period. The notice explains that WIOA (signed July 22, 2014) transferred NIDRR from the Department of Education to ACL within HHS and renamed it NIDILRR. During the transition year, applications were still processed using Department of Education tools and systems for continuity.
How were applications processed during the transition?
During the transition, submissions were forwarded into the Department of Education G5 system for peer review, even though ACL/HHS would ultimately make the awards.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package associated with the CFDA number.
Can the application be submitted by email?
No. The notice clarifies that applications cannot be submitted by email and must be uploaded through Grants.gov.
How do I find the correct application package on Grants.gov?
The notice provides a specific search instruction: search by the CFDA number without the alpha suffix. Applicants should search for "84.133" rather than "84.133S" to find the package.
Who should applicants contact for help?
The notice indicates that contact information is provided for both technical access issues (a Grants.gov/funding systems administrator) and for programmatic questions (a program manager point of contact).
What makes a strong Phase I proposal for this opportunity?
Based on the notice description, strong Phase I proposals typically: define a real-world accessibility, participation, health, or employment problem; present a technically sound approach; include measurable Phase I milestones that can be completed within the six-month timeframe and modest budget; and explain how Phase I results position the company for Phase II development and eventual market uptake beyond SBIR funding.
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Previous opportunity: HHS/ACL/NIDILRR Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program Health and Function CFDA Number 84.133P 4
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