Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Health and Function (Development) | HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0329

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0329

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Health and Function (Development) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically its National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within NIDILRR's broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is designed to support applied work that strengthens the real-world health and functional outcomes of people with disabilities. The overall DRRP program emphasizes practical research and related efforts that help people with disabilities, especially those with the most severe disabilities, participate fully in society through improved inclusion, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, while also improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).

This specific funding priority focuses on a development project in the "health and function" domain. In this context, "development" is not just basic research or theory-building; it is the use of existing research knowledge to create something concrete that can benefit a defined target population. Applicants are expected to translate research into usable outputs such as materials, devices, systems, tools, protocols, or methods. The description explicitly includes the design and development of prototypes and processes, which signals that the program is looking for tangible, testable innovations that can be refined into practical solutions rather than purely observational studies. The end goal is to improve health and functional abilities for individuals with disabilities in ways that can be adopted in rehabilitation practice, community settings, service systems, or supportive technologies.

The opportunity is described as "field-initiated," meaning applicants can propose their own topic and approach within the boundaries of the health and function domain rather than responding to a narrowly pre-specified project concept. Even so, the competition is highly selective: NIDILRR planned to make only one award in this domain under this opportunity. The notice also highlights an important nuance: although this posting is framed as a development-project funding opportunity, NIDILRR indicated that the single field-initiated award in health and function could ultimately be made to either a research project or a development project, depending on how applications are ranked by the peer review panel. In other words, the final funded project type is influenced by peer review outcomes and comparative merit among submissions.

From an applicant eligibility standpoint, the program is open to a wide range of organizations across the public, nonprofit, and higher-education sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and municipal governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and other applicants as allowed under additional eligibility language in the full announcement. This broad eligibility reflects the program's applied mission and the reality that impactful rehabilitation innovation can come from universities, healthcare and service nonprofits, public agencies, and collaborative partnerships.

Key administrative details included an award ceiling of $500,000 and an expectation of one total award. The Funding Opportunity Number was HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0329, and the CFDA number listed was 93.433. The opportunity was categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and the funding instrument type was a grant. The posting date was February 14, 2019, and the original application deadline was April 16, 2019, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. Overall, the opportunity was built to fund one strong, field-driven development effort that converts rehabilitation research knowledge into practical innovations aimed squarely at improving health and functional outcomes for people with disabilities.

• 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 "Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Health and Function (Development)" 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 14, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 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 $500,000.00 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0329

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