Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0336
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Information and Communication Technologies Access is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The program is positioned in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 93.433) and is designed to support advanced, applied engineering research that leads to practical solutions for disability-related challenges. In plain terms, it funds a specialized research center whose work is meant to strengthen the real-world effectiveness of services and supports authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by developing and moving forward technologies that reduce barriers and improve participation for people with disabilities.
At the core of the RERC model is a full pipeline approach rather than a single research project. The center is expected to conduct advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies aimed at solving specific rehabilitation problems or removing environmental barriers that limit access, independence, and full participation. Beyond invention and prototyping, the program emphasizes demonstration and evaluation, meaning the center should show how the technologies work in realistic contexts and generate evidence about usability, accessibility, effectiveness, and outcomes. The RERC is also intended to be a catalyst for broader systems impact, including facilitating changes in service delivery systems, encouraging adoption of improved practices, and bridging the gap between research and implementation.
This particular competition is field-initiated and focused on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) access. The main goal is to advance research and development of innovative technologies and strategies that make ICT optimally accessible and usable for people with disabilities. ICT is broadly understood to include the digital tools and services people rely on for communication, information access, work, learning, and daily living. That scope can include software applications, web and mobile interfaces, communication platforms, computing devices, kiosks and terminals, multimedia content, emerging digital services, and the standards and methods that shape whether those technologies can be used effectively by people with a wide range of disabilities. The emphasis on "optimally accessible and usable" signals that the work is not limited to basic compliance, but aims for high-quality, practical accessibility that supports real performance and inclusion.
The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $925,000. The funding instrument is a grant. The original posting indicates it was created on February 12, 2019, with an original closing date of April 12, 2019, and it specifies that electronically submitted applications were due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While those dates reflect the specific competition cycle, the details capture the typical scale and structure of an RERC award and the general expectations associated with establishing and operating a center.
Eligibility is broad and allows applications from a wide mix of organizations capable of carrying out high-level research, development, evaluation, and training. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The solicitation also references an "Others" category with additional clarification in the full eligibility text, which typically allows participation by additional entities under certain conditions. This breadth is consistent with the RERC intent to bring together interdisciplinary teams that can combine engineering, rehabilitation science, accessibility expertise, user-centered design, and strong stakeholder engagement.
Taken together, this funding opportunity supports the creation of a rehabilitation engineering research center focused on expanding ICT accessibility and usability for people with disabilities, while also pushing beyond research alone by emphasizing demonstration, rigorous evaluation, training opportunities, and efforts that speed the production and distribution of new technologies and equipment through private-sector channels. The intended outcome is not only better tools, but also stronger translation into practice: improved accessibility in everyday technologies, wider availability of solutions in the marketplace, and measurable gains in how people with disabilities access information and communicate in work, education, and community life.Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0336
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Information and Communication Technologies Access" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 12, 2019 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 $925,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- 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), 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program, specifically the RERC on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Access. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Which federal program and listing does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is part of the RERC Program and is listed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. It is identified as CFDA 93.433.
What is the main purpose of the RERC Program?
The RERC Program supports advanced, applied engineering research intended to produce practical solutions to disability-related challenges. The focus is on developing and advancing technologies that reduce barriers and improve access, independence, and participation for people with disabilities, strengthening the real-world effectiveness of services and supports authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
What makes an RERC different from a single research project?
An RERC is designed as a center with a full pipeline approach, not a standalone project. The expected work spans research and development, technology demonstration in realistic settings, evaluation to generate evidence (for example, usability, accessibility, effectiveness, and outcomes), and activities aimed at speeding translation and adoption into practice.
What is the focus of this specific RERC competition?
This competition is field-initiated and focused on advancing ICT access. The goal is to develop innovative technologies and strategies that make ICT optimally accessible and usable for people with disabilities.
What does ICT mean in this funding opportunity?
ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) is described broadly and can include software applications, web and mobile interfaces, communication platforms, computing devices, kiosks and terminals, multimedia content, emerging digital services, and the standards and methods that influence whether those technologies can be used effectively by people with a wide range of disabilities.
What does "optimally accessible and usable" imply?
The phrase suggests the work is intended to go beyond basic accessibility compliance. The emphasis is on high-quality, practical accessibility and usability that supports real performance, inclusion, and participation for people with disabilities in everyday contexts.
What types of activities is the center expected to conduct?
The center is expected to conduct advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies aimed at solving specific rehabilitation problems or removing environmental barriers. It should also include demonstration and evaluation, showing performance in realistic contexts and producing evidence about usability, accessibility, effectiveness, and outcomes.
Is demonstration and evaluation required, or is research and prototyping enough?
The opportunity emphasizes demonstration and evaluation in addition to invention and prototyping. The center is expected to show how technologies work in realistic contexts and generate evidence about results and outcomes.
What kinds of outcomes does the program aim to achieve beyond new technology?
The RERC is intended to support broader systems impact, including facilitating changes in service delivery systems, encouraging adoption of improved practices, bridging the gap between research and implementation, and speeding the production and distribution of new technologies and equipment through private-sector channels.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $925,000.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Who administers the program?
The program is administered by HHS/ACL through NIDILRR.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local 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; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Does the opportunity allow participation from organizations outside the main eligibility list?
The solicitation references an "Others" category with additional clarification in the full eligibility text, which typically allows participation by additional entities under certain conditions.
What kinds of organizational capabilities are implied by the eligibility description?
The eligibility description indicates the applicant should be capable of carrying out high-level research, development, evaluation, and training, consistent with operating a multidisciplinary center.
What is the intended audience or beneficiary of the work?
The intended beneficiaries are people with disabilities, with a focus on improving their access to and usability of ICT for communication, information access, work, learning, and daily living.
What is the application deadline information provided for this competition cycle?
The original posting was created on February 12, 2019, with an original closing date of April 12, 2019. Electronically submitted applications were due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Are the dates provided specific to one cycle or generally applicable?
The dates provided reflect the specific competition cycle described (2019). The description notes that while those dates are cycle-specific, they illustrate the typical scale and structure of an RERC award and the general expectations associated with establishing and operating a center.
What role does translation to practice play in this opportunity?
Translation to practice is a central theme. The RERC is expected to help bridge research and implementation, encourage adoption, and support pathways that increase the likelihood that improved ICT accessibility solutions become available and used in real-world settings, including through private-sector distribution channels.
Does this opportunity emphasize training?
Yes. The description includes training opportunities among the expectations associated with the center, alongside research, development, demonstration, evaluation, and efforts to speed production and distribution.
What is the overall intended impact?
The intended impact includes better tools and technologies, improved accessibility in everyday ICT, wider availability of solutions in the marketplace, and measurable gains in how people with disabilities access information and communicate in work, education, and community life.
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