Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) Program: RERC on Technologies to Enhance Independence and Community Living for People with Cognitive Impairments | HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0343

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2019 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0343

This funding opportunity is a discretionary federal grant from 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). It falls under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) program, which supports advanced engineering research and development focused on practical rehabilitation needs. The central goal of the RERC program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by creating and advancing innovative technologies that directly address rehabilitation problems or reduce environmental barriers that limit full participation in everyday life.

The specific competition is for a Field-Initiated RERC focused on technologies that enhance independence and community living for adults with cognitive impairments. In practical terms, the grant is meant to support research and development of tools, devices, systems, or technology-enabled approaches that help adults with cognitive impairment perform daily activities they choose to do, whether at home, in the community, or in the workplace. The emphasis is not only on inventing or refining technology, but on making sure the technology actually improves real-world functioning and supports greater autonomy and participation in typical living environments.

A defining feature of an RERC award is that it is broader than a single research study or prototype. The program expects centers to conduct advanced engineering R and D, demonstrate and evaluate the resulting technologies, and help move successful innovations toward wider adoption. That includes facilitating changes in service delivery systems so that promising technologies can be integrated into how supports are provided, and encouraging private-sector production and distribution so the technologies can realistically reach the people who need them. Training is also part of the mission, meaning the center is expected to create opportunities that build expertise in rehabilitation engineering and related fields, helping develop the pipeline of researchers, developers, and practitioners who can continue this work over time.

The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 93.433, and uses the grant funding instrument. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2019-ACL-NIDILRR-REGE-0343, originally created on May 16, 2019, with an original closing date of July 15, 2019 (with electronic applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date). The listed award ceiling is $925,000, and the agency anticipated making one award, which signals a single center would be selected to lead this focused national effort.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that could realistically run a research center. 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 tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the additional eligibility language in the announcement. In short, the program is structured to allow universities, nonprofits, industry partners, and government entities to compete, which fits the RERC model that often depends on cross-sector collaboration to develop, test, and ultimately deliver technology solutions at scale.

Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at establishing a specialized RERC that advances technologies supporting independent living and community participation for adults with cognitive impairments. It is designed to fund not just innovation, but the full pathway from engineering research and development through demonstration, evaluation, training, and real-world uptake, with the end result being tools and systems that make daily activities more doable, more self-directed, and more accessible across home, community, and work settings.

• 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 (RERCs) Program: RERC on Technologies to Enhance Independence and Community Living for People with Cognitive Impairments" 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 May 16, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 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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