Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Health and Function Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTHF 0025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity to establish a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Health and Function Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). It is funded under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program overseen by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

2) What is the central aim of the RRTC program described here?

The central aim is to strengthen the evidence base and improve the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by supporting a coordinated set of research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities.

3) Who is the lead federal office for this opportunity?

NIDILRR within ACL (HHS) oversees this opportunity under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program.

4) What is the focus of this specific RRTC?

This RRTC focuses on advancing knowledge and practice that lead to better health and functional outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

5) What priority area is explicitly highlighted for this RRTC?

The opportunity explicitly highlights developing and evaluating services, supports, and interventions for people with IDD who also experience co-occurring behavioral disorders, mental illness, or psychiatric disabilities.

6) Is the scope limited only to co-occurring mental or behavioral health conditions?

No. The scope is described as broad enough to address multiple drivers of health and functioning, while explicitly emphasizing the priority area related to co-occurring behavioral and mental health needs.

7) What types of activities are applicants expected to build into the center?

Applicants are expected to build a coordinated center that carries out research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities. The center is expected to generate rigorous, actionable findings and translate those findings into training and resources that can be adopted by systems of care and support.

8) What does the opportunity mean by producing "rigorous, actionable research"?

Based on the description, it means research designed to determine what works, for whom, and under what conditions, with outputs that can be used in real-world services and systems.

9) What is the second emphasized component of this opportunity?

A second emphasized component is developing self-report health measures that can be answered directly by people with IDD.

10) Why does the opportunity emphasize self-report measures for people with IDD?

The emphasis signals a strong interest in improving how health status, health experiences, and related outcomes are measured by moving beyond proxy-only reporting when appropriate. The intent is to create or improve tools that are accessible and valid for people with IDD.

11) How might improved self-report measures be used, according to the opportunity description?

The description indicates these measures can improve research quality and support more person-centered care, program evaluation, and policy decision-making.

12) Who are the intended beneficiaries of the work funded by this center?

Intended beneficiaries include people with disabilities, family members and caregivers, rehabilitation providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders who rely on usable research findings and practical tools to improve outcomes.

13) What is the opportunity number or identifier?

The opportunity is identified as HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTHF 0025.

14) What CFDA number and category are listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.433 and categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

15) How many awards were anticipated?

NIDILRR anticipated making a single award in FY 2023.

16) What is the maximum funding level (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $875,000.

17) What is the project period and how is it structured?

The project period is 60 months, organized into five 12-month budget periods, reflecting an expectation of sustained, multi-year center activities.

18) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; tribal governments and tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities as allowed in the eligibility clarification.

19) Is this opportunity intended to fund a short-term study or a long-term center?

It is intended to fund a long-term center, as indicated by the 60-month project period and the description of sustained, coordinated center activities rather than a short-term study.

20) What are the key dates mentioned in the opportunity description?

The posting date was March 16, 2023. The application due date was May 15, 2023. Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline.

21) When were electronic applications due, and in what time zone?

Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline.

22) What is the overall expected outcome of funding this RRTC?

The opportunity is designed to fund one national center capable of producing impactful research and practical outputs that improve health and function for people with IDD, with particular attention to co-occurring mental and behavioral health needs and to enabling people with IDD to report on their own health through better measurement tools.

23) What kinds of outputs are implied by "training, technical assistance, and dissemination"?

The description indicates outputs should include training and resources that translate research findings into practical tools and supports that can be adopted by systems of care and support, and that are usable by stakeholders such as providers and policymakers.

24) Does the opportunity indicate whether the center should be national in scope?

Yes. The description states the opportunity is designed to fund one national center.

25) How does this opportunity connect to the Rehabilitation Act?

The opportunity states that the center will help strengthen the evidence base and improve the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act through coordinated research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination.