Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 205
Apply for RFA MH 17 205
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (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:
The Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (R34) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-17-205) is a discretionary NIH grant program under HHS (agency listing shown as HHS-NIH11) designed to move the field of adult autism services forward by supporting early-stage, real-world research. The central purpose of the announcement is to fund pilot studies that develop and test practical service strategies aimed at improving how adults with autism spectrum disorders function day to day, with an emphasis on increasing independence and strengthening overall adult outcomes. Rather than focusing on basic science or purely clinical efficacy in tightly controlled settings, the FOA is framed around services research, meaning studies that examine how to organize, deliver, coordinate, or adapt supports in ways that work in community systems where adults actually receive care and assistance.
A defining feature of the FOA is its explicit focus on adulthood after the transition period. It targets individuals who have already aged out of, or otherwise completed, the child and adolescent service system and the primary education system. In other words, the program is concerned with the service gaps and challenges that often emerge once school-based supports end and adult systems must take over, including navigating health care, employment-related supports, housing, community participation, and safety. The announcement seeks research that is responsive to the realities of adult life with ASD, where needs can be complex and may span multiple systems and settings.
The types of service strategies encouraged by the FOA include those intended to enhance social relationships, improve physical and mental health, and promote independent functioning. Independent functioning is described broadly and specifically includes areas such as community housing and safety, reflecting the importance of stable living situations, daily living skills, and protection from risks that can arise in community environments. The FOA allows approaches that focus on one of these domains or combine them, recognizing that adult outcomes often depend on integrated supports rather than isolated interventions. Overall, the endpoint the program is driving toward is better functional, behavioral, and health outcomes for adults with ASD, indicating interest in meaningful, measurable changes that matter to individuals, families, and service systems.
The mechanism used is the R34, which is typically intended for exploratory and developmental clinical research or pilot work that can justify and inform a later, larger-scale study. In practice, that means the FOA is positioned to support preliminary testing, refinement, feasibility evaluation, and early signals of impact for service models or strategies, rather than definitive, large, multi-site trials. The emphasis on pilot studies also implies attention to questions like whether the strategy can be implemented with fidelity in community settings, whether adults will engage with and continue using the services, what outcomes are most sensitive to change, and what implementation barriers or facilitators exist in typical service environments.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and spans public and private sectors, reflecting the cross-system nature of adult ASD 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also notes an “Others” category with additional eligibility details referenced in the full text, signaling that additional organization types may qualify depending on specific circumstances.
Administrative details indicate this opportunity was posted on October 28, 2015, with an original and current closing date of February 3, 2016. The award ceiling is listed as $225,000, setting the upper limit for budget size under this announcement. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.242 (and also listed alongside it), situating it within the broader federal assistance catalog for health-related research funding. While the record does not specify the exact number of expected awards, the intent is clear: to seed multiple early-stage projects that can rapidly test promising adult ASD service strategies and build the evidence base needed for larger, more definitive studies and eventual improvements in service delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ServASD II: Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (R34) funding opportunity?
It is a discretionary NIH grant program under HHS (agency listing shown as HHS-NIH11) that funds early-stage, real-world services research for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The specific announcement is titled "Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan II (ServASD II): Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (R34)" and is identified as RFA-MH-17-205.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to support pilot studies that develop and test practical service strategies designed to improve how adults with ASD function in day-to-day life. The emphasis is on increasing independence and strengthening overall adult outcomes in community systems where adults actually receive care and supports.
Is this opportunity focused on basic science or tightly controlled clinical trials?
No. The announcement is framed around services research rather than basic science or purely clinical efficacy studies conducted in tightly controlled settings. It prioritizes research on how to organize, deliver, coordinate, or adapt supports within real-world community service environments.
Who is the target population for this FOA?
The FOA targets adults with ASD who are beyond the transition period and have already aged out of (or otherwise completed) child and adolescent services and the primary education system. It is specifically concerned with challenges and service gaps that emerge once school-based supports end and adult systems must take over.
Does this FOA address the period after school-based supports end?
Yes. A defining feature is its explicit focus on adulthood after the transition period, when individuals are no longer receiving child/adolescent services and primary education system supports.
What kinds of adult-life systems and needs does the FOA highlight?
The announcement emphasizes real-world adult needs that may span multiple systems and settings, including navigating health care, employment-related supports, housing, community participation, and safety.
What types of service strategies are encouraged?
The FOA encourages service strategies intended to enhance social relationships, improve physical and mental health, and promote independent functioning for adults with ASD.
What does "independent functioning" include in this FOA?
Independent functioning is described broadly and specifically includes areas such as community housing and safety. This reflects the importance of stable living situations, daily living skills, and protection from risks that can arise in community environments.
Can a proposed strategy focus on one domain, or must it combine multiple domains?
Either approach is allowed. The FOA allows strategies that focus on a single domain (for example, health or social relationships) or combine domains, recognizing that adult outcomes often depend on integrated supports rather than isolated interventions.
What outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The FOA is driving toward better functional, behavioral, and health outcomes for adults with ASD, with interest in meaningful, measurable changes that matter to individuals, families, and service systems.
What does the R34 mechanism imply for the type of work being funded?
The R34 mechanism is typically intended for exploratory and developmental clinical research or pilot work that can justify and inform a later, larger-scale study. Under this FOA, that translates into preliminary testing, refinement, feasibility evaluation, and early signals of impact for service models or strategies rather than definitive large, multi-site trials.
What kinds of pilot-study questions fit this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes pilot-study concerns such as whether a strategy can be implemented with fidelity in community settings, whether adults will engage with and continue using services, which outcomes are most sensitive to change, and what implementation barriers or facilitators exist in typical service environments.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and spans public and private sectors. 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Does the FOA mention any additional eligibility beyond the listed organization types?
Yes. It also notes an "Others" category with additional eligibility details referenced in the full text, suggesting that additional organization types may qualify depending on specific circumstances.
When was this opportunity posted, and what is the closing date?
The opportunity was posted on October 28, 2015. The original and current closing date is February 3, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount under this announcement?
The award ceiling is listed as $225,000, which sets the upper limit for the budget size under this announcement.
Is the expected number of awards specified?
No. The record does not specify the exact number of expected awards, but it indicates an intent to seed multiple early-stage projects to test adult ASD service strategies and build evidence for larger studies.
What federal assistance listing is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.242 (also listed alongside it), placing it within the federal assistance catalog for health-related research funding.
What is the overall intent behind funding these pilot projects?
The intent is to move the field of adult autism services forward by rapidly testing promising service strategies in real-world settings, building the evidence base needed for larger, more definitive studies, and ultimately improving service delivery for adults with ASD.
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