Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 200
Apply for RFA MH 17 200
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorder across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Research on Services for Transition-Age Youth (R34)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 28, 2015 and posted on Oct 28, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 03, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorder across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Research on Services for Transition-Age Youth (R34) is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH) funding opportunity designed to move the field closer to practical, testable solutions for one of the most difficult points in the autism service system: the shift from child-focused supports into adult life and adult services. The grant supports early-stage, services-focused research that develops and pilot tests strategies intended to help youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families or caretakers plan for adulthood and make the transition with fewer disruptions, better coordination, and better real-world outcomes.
The central idea behind the announcement is that many young people with ASD face a steep drop-off in services when they leave K-12 education and other child or adolescent systems. This FOA targets that vulnerable window by funding pilot work that can lead to models of transition support that prevent lapses in services and supports, strengthen functioning in everyday community contexts, and protect or improve overall well-being. In practical terms, the NIH is looking for projects that build and test approaches that help young people navigate adult systems more smoothly and that keep supports in place as responsibilities, expectations, and eligibility rules change.
The opportunity defines "transition-age youth" broadly as individuals with ASD who will, in the coming months or years, age out of supports provided through K-12 education and other child/adolescent service systems. That definition is intentionally flexible. It recognizes that the transition to adulthood does not occur at a single age for everyone, and that factors like individual strengths and needs, family circumstances, co-occurring conditions, local service availability, and differing timelines for graduation or service eligibility can all change what "transition" looks like and how long it lasts. The FOA is structured to accommodate this variability so applicants can design interventions and service strategies that match real-world complexity rather than a one-size-fits-all timeline.
In terms of the outcomes the NIH wants to see, the announcement emphasizes several linked goals. One is continuity: reducing the chances that youths support networks, therapies, education or training services, and health and safety supports drop away during the handoff to adult systems. Another is functioning across community settings, including educational and vocational environments, social participation, family life, and other daily contexts where adult independence is built or undermined. The FOA also highlights maintaining or improving health, safety, and quality of life, which signals an interest in outcomes beyond narrow symptom measures and toward broader life impact. At the same time, the opportunity notes the importance of reducing ASD-related symptoms or sustaining prior improvements, reflecting a balanced view that both clinical and functional outcomes matter in service design.
This is an R34 mechanism, meaning it is oriented toward pilot research rather than large, definitive effectiveness trials. The intent is typically to support the development of an approach and early testing to see whether it is feasible, acceptable to youth and families, implementable in real service settings, and promising enough to justify a larger follow-on study. In the context of this FOA, that could include building transition-planning tools, coordination strategies across service systems, models that integrate family or caretaker planning with adult service navigation, or other service-delivery innovations that can be piloted and measured.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category, with CFDA numbers 93.242 (and also listed 93.242 again in the source data). The FOA number is RFA MH 17 200 and the sponsoring agency is HHS-NIH11. The announcement was created and posted on October 28, 2015, with an application closing date of February 3, 2016. The award ceiling is listed as $225,000, which helps set expectations for the size and scope of the pilot work that can be proposed under this mechanism.
Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, reflecting the cross-sector nature of transition services. Eligible applicants include 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 Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the FOA’s additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility pool underscores the expectation that workable transition models may be developed and tested in multiple real-world settings, including education systems, healthcare and behavioral health service networks, community organizations, and government-connected service infrastructures.
Overall, ServASD II: Pilot Research on Services for Transition-Age Youth (R34) is aimed at strengthening the evidence base for how communities can help adolescents and young adults with ASD move into adult roles with fewer service disruptions and better outcomes. It prioritizes service continuity, community functioning, health and safety, quality of life, and sustained improvements, while encouraging flexible, realistic approaches that reflect the varied and often uneven transition timelines experienced by individuals with ASD and their families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ServASD II: Pilot Research on Services for Transition-Age Youth (R34) funding opportunity?
Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorder across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Research on Services for Transition-Age Youth (R34) is an HHS-NIH funding opportunity focused on early-stage, services-oriented research. Its purpose is to develop and pilot test practical strategies that help youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families or caretakers plan for adulthood and transition into adult services with fewer disruptions and better real-world outcomes.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH), listed in the source as HHS-NIH11.
What is the FOA number for this grant?
The FOA number is RFA MH 17 200.
What type of grant mechanism is this?
This opportunity uses the R34 mechanism, which is designed for pilot research rather than large, definitive effectiveness trials. The emphasis is on developing an approach and conducting early testing to determine whether it is feasible, acceptable, implementable in real service settings, and promising enough to justify a larger follow-on study.
What problem in the autism service system is this FOA trying to address?
The FOA targets a particularly vulnerable period for many youth with ASD: the shift from child-focused supports (including K-12 education and other child/adolescent systems) into adult life and adult service systems. It is intended to support pilot work that reduces service drop-offs and improves coordination during this transition.
Who is considered "transition-age youth" under this FOA?
"Transition-age youth" is defined broadly as individuals with ASD who will, in the coming months or years, age out of supports provided through K-12 education and other child/adolescent service systems. The definition is intentionally flexible because transition timing can vary due to individual needs, family circumstances, co-occurring conditions, local service availability, and differences in graduation or eligibility timelines.
Does the FOA require a specific age range for transition-age youth?
Based on the information provided, the FOA does not set a single fixed age for transition. Instead, it allows applicants to define transition in a way that reflects real-world variability in when supports end and adult responsibilities and eligibility rules begin.
What kinds of projects is NIH looking to fund under this R34?
The FOA supports services-focused pilot research that develops and tests strategies to help youth with ASD navigate the move into adult systems more smoothly. Examples described include transition-planning tools, coordination strategies across service systems, models that integrate family or caretaker planning with adult service navigation, and other service-delivery innovations that can be piloted and measured.
What is meant by "services-focused" research in this announcement?
Within the context provided, "services-focused" research centers on how supports are organized, delivered, coordinated, and sustained as youth with ASD move from child/adolescent systems into adult systems. The emphasis is on practical, testable solutions that work in real service settings and improve continuity and outcomes during transition.
What are the main goals or desired outcomes of funded projects?
The FOA emphasizes several linked goals: continuity of services and supports during the handoff to adult systems; improved functioning across community settings (including education and vocational environments, social participation, family life, and other daily contexts); and maintaining or improving health, safety, and quality of life. It also notes the importance of reducing ASD-related symptoms or sustaining prior improvements, alongside broader functional outcomes.
Is the FOA focused only on clinical symptom outcomes?
No. While the FOA mentions reducing ASD-related symptoms or sustaining improvements, it also highlights outcomes beyond symptom measures, including community functioning, continuity of supports, health and safety, and quality of life.
Why does the FOA emphasize continuity of services?
The announcement is based on the idea that many youth with ASD experience a steep drop-off in services when leaving K-12 education and other child/adolescent systems. Continuity is emphasized to reduce lapses in support networks, therapies, education or training services, and health and safety supports during the shift to adult systems.
What does the FOA mean by improving functioning across community settings?
It refers to strengthening everyday functioning in real-world contexts where adult independence can be built or undermined. The FOA specifically points to educational and vocational environments, social participation, family life, and other daily community settings.
Is this opportunity intended for large-scale effectiveness trials?
No. As an R34, the opportunity is oriented toward pilot research. The intent is early-stage development and initial testing to assess feasibility, acceptability, and implementation in real service settings, and to generate evidence that may support a larger follow-on study.
How flexible is the FOA regarding different transition timelines?
The FOA is structured to accommodate variability in transition timing and duration. It recognizes that transition does not occur at a single age for everyone and that multiple factors can change what transition looks like and how long it lasts.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $225,000, indicating the expected size and scope for proposed pilot work under this mechanism.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
The CFDA number listed is 93.242 (and it is also listed again as 93.242 in the source data).
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The announcement was created and posted on October 28, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is February 3, 2016.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state governments; county governments; 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 Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the FOA's additional eligibility language.
Does the eligibility list suggest particular settings where projects might take place?
Yes. The wide range of eligible organizations suggests projects may be developed and tested in multiple real-world settings connected to transition services, including education systems, healthcare and behavioral health service networks, community organizations, and government-connected service infrastructures.
What role do families or caretakers play in the types of projects described?
The FOA explicitly supports strategies intended to help youth with ASD and their families or caretakers plan for adulthood and navigate the transition. It also describes models that integrate family or caretaker planning with adult service navigation.
What makes this FOA different from a one-size-fits-all transition program?
The FOA emphasizes flexible definitions of transition-age youth and acknowledges that transition experiences differ widely based on personal, family, clinical, and local service factors. This approach is meant to encourage interventions and service strategies that match real-world complexity rather than a single standardized timeline.
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