Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACL NIDILRR RTEM 0027
This funding opportunity, titled "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes Among People With Disabilities" (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2021-ACL-NIDILRR-RTEM-0027), is a discretionary federal grant offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is categorized as science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 93.433). The central goal is to fund a single Rehabilitation Research and Training Center that will build practical, evidence-based knowledge about which employer practices most effectively lead to successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
At its core, the RRTC program is designed to strengthen the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by supporting a coordinated set of research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities. Rather than focusing only on academic research, an RRTC is expected to operate as a hub that produces usable findings and then actively helps stakeholders apply them. The intended beneficiaries are broad and include people with disabilities and their families, vocational rehabilitation and other rehabilitation service providers, employers and workforce partners, policymakers, and researchers. For this specific center, the emphasis is on employer-side practices, meaning the work should clarify what employers can do, and what works best, to recruit, hire, onboard, retain, and advance employees with disabilities in ways that translate into better employment outcomes.
The opportunity anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of $875,000. The announcement was created on January 19, 2021, with an original closing date of March 22, 2021. As a discretionary grant, funding is competitive and typically requires applicants to propose a strong project design with clear methods, measurable outputs, and a plan for translating research into practice through training and dissemination. While the summary language does not spell out specific required research questions or deliverables, the program framing strongly signals that the funded center is expected to produce "new knowledge" (not just synthesize existing literature) and to pair that knowledge with intentional outreach so that employers, service systems, and policymakers can actually use the results.
Eligibility is intentionally broad, reflecting the interdisciplinary and applied nature of rehabilitation employment research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the additional eligibility guidance referenced in the announcement. This range allows applications from universities, research institutes, nonprofits focused on disability employment, policy organizations, and certain private-sector entities, including those positioned to study employer practices directly and to disseminate findings into workplaces.
Overall, the grant is aimed at moving the field beyond general recommendations by identifying, testing, and communicating concrete employer practices that are associated with successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities. In practical terms, a well-aligned RRTC proposal under this opportunity would be expected to combine rigorous research (to determine which practices are effective and under what conditions) with training and technical assistance (to help employers and service systems implement those practices) and dissemination (to ensure findings reach and influence decision-makers, practitioners, and the disability community).Apply for HHS 2021 ACL NIDILRR RTEM 0027
- 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 Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes Among People With Disabilities" 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 Jan 19, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 22, 2021. (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 $875,000.00 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 the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes Among People With Disabilities."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2021-ACL-NIDILRR-RTEM-0027.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
What program does this opportunity fall under?
It sits within NIDILRR's Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program.
How is this opportunity categorized (research area and CFDA)?
The opportunity is categorized as science and technology and other research and development, and it is listed under CFDA 93.433.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The central goal is to fund a single Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) that builds practical, evidence-based knowledge about which employer practices most effectively lead to successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The announcement anticipates making one award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $875,000.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on January 19, 2021.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was March 22, 2021.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This is a discretionary grant, meaning it is competitive and applicants typically need to propose a strong project design with clear methods, measurable outputs, and a plan for translating research into practice through training and dissemination.
What is an RRTC expected to do beyond conducting research?
An RRTC is expected to function as a hub that conducts a coordinated set of research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities. The aim is not only to produce findings, but to actively help stakeholders apply those findings in real-world settings.
What topic is this specific RRTC focused on?
This center focuses on employer-side practices associated with successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities, including what employers can do to recruit, hire, onboard, retain, and advance employees with disabilities.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of the work funded under this opportunity?
The intended beneficiaries include people with disabilities and their families; vocational rehabilitation and other rehabilitation service providers; employers and workforce partners; policymakers; and researchers.
Does the summary specify exact required research questions or deliverables?
No. The summary language does not spell out specific required research questions or deliverables, but the program framing strongly signals expectations around producing new knowledge and ensuring the results are used through training and dissemination.
Is the project expected to create new research or only summarize existing studies?
The framing strongly indicates the funded center is expected to produce new knowledge, not merely synthesize the existing literature.
What kinds of employer practices are within the scope of this opportunity?
The scope emphasizes employer practices that influence successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities, specifically practices related to recruiting, hiring, onboarding, retaining, and advancing employees with disabilities.
What does "successful employment outcomes" mean in this context?
The announcement describes the aim as improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities, with an emphasis on outcomes that can be influenced by employer practices across the employment lifecycle (from recruitment through advancement). The summary does not provide a single formal definition beyond that framing.
What types of activities are implied as important for a strong proposal?
Based on the description, a well-aligned proposal would combine rigorous research (to determine which practices are effective and under what conditions) with training and technical assistance (to help employers and service systems implement effective practices) and dissemination (to ensure findings reach decision-makers, practitioners, and the disability community).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as allowed under additional eligibility guidance referenced in the announcement.
Can universities or colleges apply?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
Can nonprofits apply, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are listed as eligible.
Can tribal governments or tribal organizations apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes, for-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible.
What kinds of organizations seem well-positioned to apply based on the description?
The description suggests applications may come from universities, research institutes, nonprofits focused on disability employment, policy organizations, and certain private-sector entities that can study employer practices directly and disseminate findings into workplaces.
How does this opportunity connect to the Rehabilitation Act?
The RRTC program is described as strengthening the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by supporting coordinated research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities.
What is the overall intended impact of this grant?
The grant is aimed at moving the field beyond general recommendations by identifying, testing, and communicating concrete employer practices associated with successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities, and ensuring those results are actively translated into practice.
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