Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 15 001
Apply for RFA HD 15 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Health through Rehabilitation Robotic Technology (R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2014 and posted on Aug 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 13, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Only United States small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit applications for this opportunity. A small business concern is one that, at the time of award of Phase I and Phase II, meets all of the following criteria 1. Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor 2. Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative, except that where the form is a joint venture, there must be less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities in the joint venture 3. (i) SBIR and STTR. Be a concern which is more than 50 percent directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), other business concerns (each of which is more than 50 percent directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), or any combination of these OR (ii) SBIR only. Be a concern which is more than 50 percent owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these. No single venture capital operating company, hedge fund, or private equity firm may own more than 50 percent of the concern OR (iii) SBIR and STTR. Be a joint venture in which each entity to the joint venture must meet the requirements set forth in paragraph 3 (i) or 3 (ii) of this section. A joint venture that includes one or more concerns that meet the requirements of paragraph (ii) of this section must comply with 121.705(b) concerning registration and proposal requirements. 4. Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees.
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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "Improving Health through Rehabilitation Robotic Technology (R43/R44)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-HD-15-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business grant program designed to move rehabilitation robotics from promising concepts into practical, usable technologies that can directly support clinical care and real-world rehabilitation needs. In plain terms, the FOA is aimed at speeding up the translation of robotic rehabilitation tools so they can better assist health care providers and also help individuals who need rehabilitation services, with a clear emphasis on technologies that can be developed into products or solutions with measurable health impact.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under the health-related activity area (Health, Income Security and Social Services) and uses the SBIR phased mechanism associated with R43/R44 awards. That structure is typically intended for early-stage feasibility work followed by more advanced development, positioning small companies to build, test, refine, and prepare rehabilitation robotic technologies for broader use. The overall estimated total funding amount listed for this FOA is $900,000, indicating a relatively focused pool of support intended to stimulate innovation and early commercialization steps rather than fund large-scale deployment on its own.
Eligibility is limited to United States small business concerns (SBCs). To qualify, an applicant must be a for-profit entity with a place of business in the United States and must primarily operate in the United States or otherwise make a meaningful contribution to the U.S. economy through taxes or the use of American products, materials, or labor. The FOA allows several common legal structures, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and certain joint ventures, with the additional condition that joint ventures must have less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities. The small business size requirement is also explicit: the company (including affiliates) must have no more than 500 employees at the time of award for both Phase I and Phase II.
The ownership and control rules follow standard SBIR requirements and explicitly describe multiple acceptable paths. One option is majority ownership and control by one or more U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens (either directly or through other qualifying business concerns). Another SBIR-only option allows majority ownership by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms, as long as no single such entity owns more than 50 percent of the company. Joint venture arrangements are also permitted when each participating entity meets the relevant ownership criteria, with additional registration and proposal compliance requirements for certain venture-backed structures.
Key logistics are straightforward and reflect that this was a time-limited competition. The FOA was posted and created on August 19, 2014, with an original and current closing date of November 13, 2014, and an archive date of December 14, 2014. The CFDA listing connected to this opportunity is 93.865, which corresponds to Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research, aligning the program with NIH priorities in health and human development where rehabilitation outcomes and functional improvement are major concerns. The FOA specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of eligibility.
For applicants or readers looking for the full official announcement details, NIH provided an additional information link to the FOA on the NIH grants guide website (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-15-001.html). NIH also listed the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster as the contact point for technical issues accessing the announcement or problems with links (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), which is typical for NIH postings where the primary barrier is accessing the electronic documentation rather than scientific scope questions.
Overall, the FOA is best understood as a targeted NIH SBIR funding call meant to help U.S. small businesses translate rehabilitation robotic technologies toward practical use in rehabilitation settings, supporting both clinicians and patients by advancing tools that can improve rehabilitation processes and health-related outcomes.
FAQs: Improving Health through Rehabilitation Robotic Technology (R43/R44) - RFA-HD-15-001
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business funding opportunity titled "Improving Health through Rehabilitation Robotic Technology (R43/R44)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HD-15-001. It uses the SBIR phased award mechanisms associated with R43/R44.
What is the main goal of RFA-HD-15-001?
The goal is to move rehabilitation robotics from promising concepts into practical, usable technologies that can directly support clinical care and real-world rehabilitation needs. The emphasis is on translating rehabilitation robotic tools into solutions that can become products or technologies with measurable health impact.
What kinds of technologies does this FOA focus on?
It focuses on rehabilitation robotic technologies, particularly those intended to support rehabilitation processes and health-related outcomes for people who need rehabilitation services, and to better assist health care providers in rehabilitation settings.
What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary grant in the health-related activity area described as Health, Income Security and Social Services, offered through the NIH SBIR phased mechanism associated with R43/R44 awards.
What do R43 and R44 refer to in this opportunity?
R43/R44 refer to the SBIR phased mechanisms used for this opportunity. The structure is intended to support early-stage feasibility work followed by more advanced development, helping small businesses build, test, refine, and prepare rehabilitation robotic technologies for broader use.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this FOA?
The overall estimated total funding amount listed is $900,000. This indicates a focused pool of support intended to stimulate innovation and early commercialization steps rather than fund large-scale deployment by itself.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to United States small business concerns (SBCs). The applicant must be a for-profit entity with a place of business in the United States and must primarily operate in the United States or otherwise make a meaningful contribution to the U.S. economy through taxes or the use of American products, materials, or labor.
What business structures are allowed to apply?
The FOA allows common for-profit small business legal structures, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, and certain joint ventures.
Are joint ventures allowed to apply?
Yes. Joint ventures are permitted, with an added condition that joint ventures must have less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities.
Is there a company size limit?
Yes. The small business size requirement is explicit: the company (including affiliates) must have no more than 500 employees at the time of award for both Phase I and Phase II.
What ownership and control rules apply under this SBIR opportunity?
The FOA follows standard SBIR ownership and control requirements and describes multiple acceptable paths. One path is majority ownership and control by one or more U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens (either directly or through other qualifying business concerns).
Can a venture-backed small business apply?
Yes. The FOA describes an SBIR-only option that allows majority ownership by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms, as long as no single such entity owns more than 50 percent of the company.
Are there special conditions mentioned for venture-backed structures?
Yes. The FOA notes that certain venture-backed structures may have additional registration and proposal compliance requirements.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of eligibility.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The FOA was posted and created on August 19, 2014. The original and current closing date was November 13, 2014. The archive date was December 14, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
Based on the provided dates, it was a time-limited competition with a closing date of November 13, 2014 and an archive date of December 14, 2014.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing connected to this opportunity is 93.865.
What program area does CFDA 93.865 correspond to?
CFDA 93.865 corresponds to Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research, aligning this opportunity with NIH priorities related to health and human development where rehabilitation outcomes and functional improvement are major concerns.
Where can applicants find the official NIH announcement?
The FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide page for full official details: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-15-001.html
Who is listed as the contact for technical issues accessing the announcement?
NIH listed the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster as the contact for technical issues with accessing the announcement or problems with links: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV
What is the plain-language purpose of this FOA?
In plain terms, the FOA is aimed at speeding up the translation of robotic rehabilitation tools so they can better assist health care providers and help individuals who need rehabilitation services, with an emphasis on practical use and measurable health impact.
What is this funding opportunity ultimately trying to support in practice?
It is intended to help U.S. small businesses advance rehabilitation robotic technologies toward practical use in rehabilitation settings, supporting both clinicians and patients by improving rehabilitation processes and health-related outcomes.
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