Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 14 102
Apply for RFA MH 14 102
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan (ServASD) 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 Mental Health Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2013 and posted on May 30, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 1, 2013. (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: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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 State governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses County governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan (ServASD) Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (R34) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-14-102) is a National Institutes of Health grant program designed to seed early-stage, practical research on services that can improve day-to-day life outcomes for adults on the autism spectrum. The central aim is to support pilot studies that develop and test real-world service strategies intended to optimize adult independence and functioning, with an emphasis on generating the early evidence and implementation knowledge needed to justify larger, more definitive studies later. In other words, this FOA is not just about understanding autism in a clinical sense; it is about improving how services are designed and delivered so that adult outcomes measurably improve.
A key feature of the announcement is its explicit focus on adults who have already moved beyond the child, adolescent, and primary education service systems. That means the target population is individuals who have completed the transition period and are now navigating adulthood, where service availability often drops off and systems are more fragmented. The FOA recognizes that adult life brings distinct challenges and service needs, and it encourages research that directly addresses those realities rather than extending pediatric or school-based models into adulthood without adaptation.
The FOA invites pilot interventions and service strategies that address several high-impact domains, either individually or in combination. These domains include employment and training (for example, approaches that improve job readiness, placement, retention, or workplace supports), social relationships (strategies to strengthen social connection, community participation, and interpersonal functioning), physical and mental health (service models that improve access, coordination, quality, or outcomes in healthcare and behavioral health), and independent functioning. Independent functioning is described broadly and includes community housing and safety, reflecting practical concerns like stable living arrangements, support intensity, risk reduction, and the ability to navigate daily life in the community. The intended end point across these domains is improvement in behavioral, functional, and health outcomes for adults with ASD, meaning studies should be oriented toward measurable changes that matter for adult quality of life and autonomy.
Because this is an R34 mechanism, the expectation is that funded projects will be pilot in nature: focused, time-limited studies that test feasibility, refine service models, develop procedures, and generate preliminary outcome signals. The emphasis is on building and testing service strategies rather than basic discovery research, and on producing actionable information about what can work, for whom, and under what service conditions. While the source text does not list specific research design requirements, the framing strongly implies interest in practical, services-oriented methods such as feasibility trials, pilot randomized studies, pragmatic approaches in community settings, and studies that help define implementation barriers and facilitators within real service systems.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area, listed under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The award ceiling is $225,000, which reinforces the pilot-scale intent: enough to build and test an approach, but generally not enough for a large multi-site efficacy trial. The opportunity was posted May 30, 2013, created Oct 21, 2013, and had an original closing date of Oct 22, 2013, with a current closing date shown as Nov 1, 2013; it was archived Dec 1, 2013. Even though it is archived, the summary remains useful as a model of NIH priorities in adult autism services research and as a reference point for similar, newer announcements.
Eligibility is broad across public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors (with the noted exception that foreign entities are not eligible). Eligible applicants include state and local governments (state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The announcement also explicitly includes a range of mission-focused and minority-serving organizations and institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), along with federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, regional organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy as described in the opportunity.
For applicants seeking the full requirements, the announcement points to the NIH Grants Guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-14-102.html). For technical issues accessing the posting, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ServASD R34 grant opportunity (RFA-MH-14-102)?
The Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan (ServASD) Pilot Studies of Services Strategies for Adults with ASD (R34) is an NIH grant opportunity intended to seed early-stage, practical services research focused on improving real-world outcomes for adults on the autism spectrum. The emphasis is on developing and testing service strategies that can measurably improve day-to-day adult independence, functioning, and quality of life, and on generating early evidence and implementation knowledge to support larger studies later.
What is the main purpose or central aim of this funding opportunity?
The central aim is to support pilot studies that develop and test real-world service strategies for adults with ASD, with the goal of optimizing adult independence and functioning. Projects are expected to generate feasibility data, early outcome signals, and practical insights about implementation in actual service systems, so that applicants can justify and design more definitive follow-on studies.
Is this opportunity focused on understanding autism clinically or on improving services?
Based on the description provided, the focus is on improving how services are designed and delivered so that adult outcomes improve in measurable ways. It is framed as services research rather than basic discovery work.
Who is the target population for supported projects?
The target population is adults on the autism spectrum who have moved beyond child, adolescent, and primary education service systems. In other words, the FOA is aimed at individuals who have completed the transition period and are now navigating adult life, where services can be more fragmented and less available.
Does the FOA support services research specifically for adults rather than adapting pediatric models?
Yes. A key feature is its explicit focus on adult realities and adult service needs, rather than simply extending pediatric or school-based models into adulthood without adaptation.
What kinds of intervention or service strategy domains are encouraged?
The FOA invites pilot interventions and service strategies in several high-impact domains, either individually or in combination, including:
- Employment and training (job readiness, placement, retention, workplace supports)
- Social relationships (social connection, community participation, interpersonal functioning)
- Physical and mental health (access, coordination, quality, and outcomes in healthcare and behavioral health)
- Independent functioning, broadly defined and including community housing and safety (stable living arrangements, support intensity, risk reduction, daily community navigation)
What outcomes are studies expected to improve?
The intended endpoint is improvement in behavioral, functional, and health outcomes for adults with ASD. The description emphasizes measurable changes that matter for adult quality of life, autonomy, and independence in real-world settings.
What does the R34 mechanism imply about project scope?
An R34 is presented here as a pilot-scale mechanism. Funded projects are expected to be focused and time-limited, designed to test feasibility, refine service models, develop procedures, and generate preliminary outcome signals rather than conduct large, definitive trials.
What types of research approaches does the FOA appear to favor?
While specific design requirements are not listed in the provided text, the framing strongly implies interest in practical, services-oriented methods such as feasibility trials, pilot randomized studies, pragmatic approaches in community settings, and work that identifies implementation barriers and facilitators within real service systems.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $225,000, consistent with a pilot-study intent (enough to develop and test an approach, but typically not enough for a large multi-site efficacy trial).
What is the CFDA number and program area for this grant?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.242, described as Mental Health Research Grants, and is characterized as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity is archived. The original closing date was Oct 22, 2013, a current closing date is shown as Nov 1, 2013, and it was archived Dec 1, 2013. Even though it is closed, the summary can still be useful as a reference point for NIH priorities and for similar, newer announcements.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
It was posted May 30, 2013, and created Oct 21, 2013.
Who can apply (eligibility overview)?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors (with foreign entities excluded). Eligible applicants include various levels of government, higher education institutions, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as certain tribal and federal entities described in the opportunity.
Are state and local governments eligible?
Yes. The opportunity lists eligible government applicants including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are included as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible, and do they need 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are both listed as eligible.
Are businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are eligible, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.
Are minority-serving institutions and mission-focused organizations explicitly included?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes a range of institutions and organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). It also includes faith-based and community-based organizations and regional organizations.
Are federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed among eligible applicants.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations allowed?
No. The opportunity states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible and that foreign components are not allowed under the NIH policy as described in the announcement.
Where can applicants find the full announcement text and requirements?
The announcement points to the NIH Grants Guide link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-14-102.html
Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the posting?
The listed contact for technical issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What kinds of adult-life challenges does the FOA highlight as motivation for this research?
The FOA highlights that after adults move beyond child and school-based systems, service availability often drops off and systems become more fragmented. It encourages research that addresses these adult-specific service realities directly.
Can projects combine multiple domains (for example, employment and health services)?
Yes. The FOA states that the encouraged domains can be addressed individually or in combination.
Does the FOA emphasize real-world settings and implementation?
Yes. The description emphasizes practical service strategies, real-world delivery contexts, and producing actionable information about what can work, for whom, and under what service conditions, including implementation barriers and facilitators in real service systems.
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Previous opportunity: Services Research for Autism Spectrum Disorder across the Lifespan (ServASD) Research on Early Identification and Linkage to Services for ASD (R01)
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