Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOD DDUC 0022
The University Centers for Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service opportunity is a discretionary federal grant competition run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD). For Fiscal Year 2026, ACL anticipates making up to two awards that support University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service, commonly referred to as UCEDDs. These awards are designed as five-year grants and are intended to fund the federal share of the costs needed to administer and operate UCEDD programs.
The core purpose of UCEDDs is to strengthen supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by leveraging universities (or affiliated public or nonprofit entities) as hubs that combine training, service, research, and information-sharing. Each funded UCEDD is expected to carry out four required core functions: interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education for students and professionals; community services that can include training, technical assistance, and demonstration or model projects; research; and dissemination of information so that what is learned reaches practitioners, families, policymakers, and communities. In practice, this means the centers are meant to operate as interdisciplinary units that translate evidence and lived experience into real-world improvements in systems and services.
The activities supported under this program can address a wide range of community life areas that influence quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The notice highlights examples such as quality assurance, education and early intervention, child care, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, and other formal and informal community supports. The emphasis is not limited to clinical or academic outcomes; it is framed around practical, community-based systems that shape inclusion, independence, and well-being.
The authority for these awards comes from the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (the DD Act). The opportunity cites Section 151(a), which directs that appropriations authorized under Section 156(a)(1) be used to make five-year grants to UCEDDs in each state to carry out the four core functions. This framing underscores that the program is part of a national infrastructure intended to ensure sustained, statewide capacity in developmental disabilities education, research, and service.
Eligibility for this specific competition is limited. Only the entities that received UCEDD awards in FY 2021 are eligible to apply under this funding opportunity announcement, meaning it functions as a continuation or recompete among existing grantees rather than an open solicitation for new applicants. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible to compete for or receive awards. Faith-based and community organizations may be eligible if they meet the stated eligibility requirements, which generally implies they must fit within the structure of an eligible entity (such as a nonprofit associated with a university) and be able to carry out the required UCEDD functions.
Key administrative details included in the listing are: Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2026-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0022; Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 93.632; activity category listed as Income Security and Social Services; and funding instrument type Grant. The posting indicates an expected total of two awards, with an award ceiling of $629,042. The opportunity was created on 2026-06-22, and the original application closing date is 2026-07-22.Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOD DDUC 0022
- The Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Centers for Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.632.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-22. (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 $629,042.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: University Centers for Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) - FY 2026
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal grant competition for University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs). The awards support the federal share of costs needed to administer and operate UCEDD programs over a five-year project period.
Which federal agency runs this competition?
The competition is run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD).
What is the purpose of UCEDDs?
The purpose is to strengthen supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by using universities (or affiliated public or nonprofit entities) as hubs that combine training, service, research, and information-sharing. UCEDDs are intended to translate evidence and lived experience into real-world improvements in systems and services.
How many awards does ACL expect to make for FY 2026?
ACL anticipates making up to two awards for Fiscal Year 2026.
How long is the grant period?
These awards are designed as five-year grants.
What is the maximum (ceiling) amount for an award?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $629,042.
What costs are these awards intended to support?
The awards are intended to fund the federal share of the costs needed to administer and operate UCEDD programs.
What are the required core functions UCEDDs must carry out?
Each funded UCEDD is expected to carry out four required core functions:
- Interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education for students and professionals
- Community services, which can include training, technical assistance, and demonstration or model projects
- Research
- Dissemination of information to reach practitioners, families, policymakers, and communities
What does "interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education" mean in this context?
Within this program context, it refers to training and education activities designed for students and professionals that draw from multiple disciplines, including both pre-service preparation and continuing education.
What types of activities can be included under "community services"?
The notice indicates community services can include training, technical assistance, and demonstration or model projects as part of efforts to strengthen community-based systems and supports.
What kinds of topic areas can UCEDD activities address?
The opportunity notes that supported activities can address a wide range of community life areas that influence quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Examples include:
- Quality assurance
- Education and early intervention
- Child care
- Health
- Employment
- Housing
- Transportation
- Recreation
- Other formal and informal community supports
Is the program focused only on clinical or academic outcomes?
No. The notice emphasizes practical, community-based systems that shape inclusion, independence, and well-being, not just clinical or academic outcomes.
What law authorizes this funding?
The authority is the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (the DD Act). The opportunity cites Section 151(a), which directs that appropriations authorized under Section 156(a)(1) be used to make five-year grants to UCEDDs in each state to carry out the four core functions.
Is this an open competition for new organizations?
No. Eligibility for this competition is limited to entities that received UCEDD awards in FY 2021. It functions as a continuation or recompete among existing grantees rather than an open solicitation for new applicants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only the entities that received UCEDD awards in FY 2021 are eligible to apply under this funding opportunity announcement.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply or receive an award?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible to compete for or receive awards.
Can faith-based or community organizations apply?
Faith-based and community organizations may be eligible if they meet the stated eligibility requirements. The notice indicates this generally implies they must fit within the structure of an eligible entity (such as a nonprofit associated with a university) and be able to carry out the required UCEDD functions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2026-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0022.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 93.632.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What activity category is this opportunity listed under?
The activity category is listed as Income Security and Social Services.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-06-22.
What is the original application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-07-22.
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