Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) Program on Wireless Technologies | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) Program on Wireless Technologies?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity focused on advancing rehabilitation engineering research, development, demonstration, and evaluation related to wireless technologies, with an emphasis on improving accessibility and usability for people with disabilities.

Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

What is the overall goal of the RERC program?

The overall goal is to strengthen the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by supporting advanced engineering research, development, demonstration, and evaluation of technologies that address rehabilitation challenges and reduce environmental barriers that limit participation for people with disabilities.

What is the main focus of this specific competition?

This competition focuses on wireless technologies and how they can be made more accessible and usable for individuals with sensory, mobility, cognitive, and other disabilities.

How many awards are expected to be made under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipates one total award, funding a single Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) focused on wireless technologies.

What is the anticipated award ceiling?

The award ceiling is $925,000.

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The funding opportunity number is HHS-2016-ACL-NIDILRR-RE-0154.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is categorized under CFDA 93.433.

What is the posting date and application closing date?

The grant was posted on March 9, 2016, and the application closing date was May 9, 2016.

What types of wireless technologies are within scope for this RERC?

The scope includes wireless systems people rely on in daily life, including personal, local, and wide area networks, as well as the applications that run on top of those networks, whether installed directly on devices or delivered through cloud-based platforms.

What kinds of activities is the funded RERC expected to carry out?

The center is expected to conduct research and development aimed at improving people’s ability to obtain wireless technologies, independently access them, and use them effectively. The work is also expected to include demonstration and evaluation, with an emphasis on producing usable solutions rather than remaining at the conceptual stage.

Which life settings are explicitly referenced as target environments for impact?

The intended impact spans schools, workplaces, and community environments, and explicitly includes emergency response contexts where accessible wireless communication and information access can be critical.

Why are wireless technologies emphasized in this opportunity?

Wireless technologies are described as foundational infrastructure for modern participation because they enable communication, data transfer, information access, navigation, and remote control of devices and services. Accessibility barriers in wireless systems can quickly become barriers to education, employment, independent living, transportation, public services, and safety-related information.

What types of disabilities are considered in the competition’s focus?

The opportunity explicitly mentions sensory, mobility, cognitive, and other disabilities.

Does the RERC program emphasize outcomes beyond research publications?

Yes. RERCs are expected to help move promising technologies into real-world use by encouraging improvements in service delivery systems, stimulating private-sector production and distribution of new tools and equipment, and providing training opportunities that build capacity in the field.

Who are the primary stakeholders expected to benefit from the funded work?

The primary stakeholders include people with disabilities, policymakers, and industry.

How is industry expected to be involved or impacted?

The opportunity signals an intent to stimulate private-sector production and distribution so that accessibility improvements can scale through mainstream wireless devices, platforms, and services, extending outcomes beyond research into commercially available or widely deployed solutions.

Is the opportunity intended to influence policy, standards, or procurement decisions?

Yes. By naming policymakers and industry as key stakeholders, the opportunity points to outcomes that can inform standards, guidance, procurement decisions, and product development related to accessible wireless technologies.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility includes a broad range of public and private entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other applicants as described in the opportunity’s additional eligibility information.

Are both nonprofit and for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses are also eligible, as described in the eligibility section.

Are tribal entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed among eligible applicants.

Are educational institutions eligible applicants?

Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.

What kind of center is NIDILRR looking to fund?

NIDILRR seeks to fund a single specialized center capable of combining rigorous engineering research and development with real-world testing, stakeholder engagement, and pathways to adoption so that wireless technologies become more independently accessible and usable for people with a wide range of disabilities.