Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among Individuals with Disabilities | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among Individuals with Disabilities?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity to fund a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) focused on interventions that improve community living outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The center is expected to function as a coordinated hub that conducts research and also delivers training, technical assistance, and dissemination so findings are used in real-world service systems.

Which federal agency administers this grant?

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

What program does this opportunity fall under?

It sits within the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program.

What is the main purpose of funding an RRTC under this opportunity?

The purpose is to build practical, evidence-based knowledge about interventions that help people with disabilities live and participate in their communities. The center is intended to strengthen the effectiveness of rehabilitation-related services and systems, consistent with the Rehabilitation Act (as amended), with an emphasis on usable outcomes rather than research publications alone.

What does "community living outcomes" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, community living outcomes refer to real-world supports, services, and strategies that make it easier for individuals with disabilities to live where they choose, engage in daily life, and access needed resources outside institutional settings.

How is an RRTC different from a single research project?

The RRTC model combines multiple functions. Instead of funding one narrow study, the funded center is expected to run a coordinated set of activities that includes well-designed research plus training, technical assistance, and dissemination to encourage real-world adoption of effective interventions.

What major activities is the funded center expected to carry out?

Based on the description provided, the center is expected to: (1) conduct well-designed research on interventions that improve community living outcomes; (2) provide training to help others apply evidence-based approaches; (3) offer technical assistance to support implementation in service systems; and (4) disseminate findings and products so they reach the audiences who can use them.

How many awards were anticipated?

The competition anticipated one award, meaning the intent was to fund a single RRTC as the primary center for this topic area.

What was the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity was $875,000.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

How is the opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.433.

When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The posting date (and creation date) was April 8, 2016. The closing date for applications was June 7, 2016.

Is this a time-limited competition?

Yes. The dates provided indicate it was a time-limited competition with a defined application window, and it was designed as a single-center competition to establish or support one national hub of work in this topic area.

What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad. Eligible applicants included state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other applicants as clarified in the full eligibility text.

Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were included in the eligibility list.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations were included as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes, for-profit organizations other than small businesses were listed among eligible applicants.

Who is intended to benefit from the work of the funded RRTC?

The intended beneficiaries include rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities and their family members, policymakers, and other stakeholders across the disability and research communities who use evidence to guide decisions.

Does the excerpt specify required research subtopics?

No. The excerpt does not list specific required research subtopics, but it clearly anchors the center's mission around interventions that lead to improved community living outcomes for individuals with disabilities, along with training, technical assistance, and dissemination expectations.

Why does the opportunity emphasize training, technical assistance, and dissemination?

The opportunity is designed to produce applied, usable outcomes. Beyond generating new research findings, the center is expected to translate evidence into guidance that service systems can use, provide targeted support to improve practice, and share results widely so they can be implemented.

What is the overall goal of this RRTC competition?

The overall goal is to fund a single, high-capacity center to strengthen the evidence base and practical implementation of interventions that support community living for people with disabilities, improving independence and participation through better services and systems.