Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0112
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment (Research) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It focuses on supporting research and related development work that strengthens the inclusion and full participation of people with disabilities in society, with a strong emphasis on improving employment outcomes. The broader DRRP program is rooted in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) and is intended to build evidence and practical knowledge that can improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation and disability-related services, especially for people with the greatest support needs.
Under this specific employment-focused priority, applicants are expected to propose a project clearly aimed at improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The competition is framed as a research-oriented effort: the project must be organized around one or more specific hypotheses or research questions, and it must carry out an intensive and systematic study designed to produce either new scientific knowledge or a deeper understanding of the employment-related problem being examined. In other words, the program is not looking for general advocacy or routine service delivery; it is looking for structured, rigorous inquiry that can generate credible findings and actionable insights that advance what the field knows about disability and employment.
NIDILRR indicates that the employment domain will be supported through field-initiated DRRP awards, and the final mix of award types will depend on peer review rankings. Depending on how applications score, awards may support (1) research projects, (2) development projects, or (3) projects that combine research and development components. This structure gives NIDILRR flexibility to fund work that ranges from generating new evidence to building and refining tools, interventions, or approaches that can be tested and used to improve employment-related services and outcomes.
Awards are designed for a 60-month project period, organized into five 12-month budget periods. The maximum award amount is $500,000 (award ceiling), and the notice anticipates making 2 awards. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2025-ACL-NIDILRR-DPEM-0112, and it is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 93.433. The original closing date for applications is 2025-03-18, with the opportunity having been created on 2025-01-14.
Eligibility is broad across government, education, nonprofit, and private-sector entities within the United States. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. Faith-based and community organizations are also eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement.
Overall, this grant opportunity is designed for organizations capable of executing rigorous, well-framed research (and, where appropriate, development work) that can measurably advance knowledge and improve real-world employment outcomes for people with disabilities, particularly those who require the greatest levels of support.Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPEM 0112
- The 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: Employment (Research)" 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 2025-01-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-18. (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 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, 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, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment (Research)?
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment (Research) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It supports research and related development work intended to strengthen the inclusion and full participation of people with disabilities in society, with a strong emphasis on improving employment outcomes.
Which federal agencies are involved in this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) via the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
What is the main focus of this funding opportunity?
The central focus is improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Projects are expected to generate credible findings and actionable insights that advance knowledge about disability and employment and strengthen employment-related services and outcomes.
Is this grant intended for service delivery or advocacy programs?
No. The competition is framed as a research-oriented effort. It is not seeking general advocacy or routine service delivery. It is seeking structured, rigorous inquiry designed to produce new scientific knowledge or a deeper understanding of a specific employment-related problem.
What does NIDILRR mean by a "research-oriented" project?
Applicants are expected to organize the project around one or more specific hypotheses or research questions and conduct an intensive and systematic study. The intent is to generate new scientific knowledge or deepen understanding of the employment-related problem being studied.
Are development activities allowed, or must projects be pure research?
Development may be supported. Depending on peer review rankings, awards may fund (1) research projects, (2) development projects, or (3) projects that combine research and development components. This allows funding to cover work ranging from generating evidence to building/refining tools, interventions, or approaches that can be tested and used to improve employment outcomes.
How does NIDILRR decide what types of projects to fund under this priority?
NIDILRR states that the employment domain will be supported through field-initiated DRRP awards, and that the final mix of award types will depend on peer review rankings. In practice, this means the portfolio could include research-only, development-only, or combined research-and-development projects depending on how applications score.
How long is the project period?
The project period is 60 months.
How is the budget period structured?
The 60-month project period is organized into five 12-month budget periods.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $500,000.
How many awards does the notice anticipate making?
The notice anticipates making 2 awards.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2025-ACL-NIDILRR-DPEM-0112.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 93.433.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2025-01-14.
What is the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications is 2025-03-18.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across government, education, nonprofit, and private-sector entities within the United States. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are faith-based or community organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement.
Does the program prioritize any particular group within the disability community?
The broader DRRP program emphasizes improving the effectiveness of rehabilitation and disability-related services, especially for people with the greatest support needs. This employment-focused priority is similarly framed around improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities, with particular attention to those who require the greatest levels of support.
What kind of outcomes is the program trying to influence?
The opportunity emphasizes improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities and strengthening the evidence base and practical knowledge used by the field to improve the effectiveness of employment-related rehabilitation and disability services.
What is the legal or programmatic foundation for the DRRP program?
The broader DRRP program is rooted in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).
What types of organizations are this opportunity best suited for?
This opportunity is designed for organizations capable of executing rigorous, well-framed research (and, where appropriate, development work) that can measurably advance knowledge and improve real-world employment outcomes for people with disabilities, particularly those with the greatest support needs.
Do applicants need to propose a specific topic within employment?
The information provided indicates that the project must be clearly aimed at improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities and must be organized around specific hypotheses or research questions. No additional topic constraints are stated in the provided description beyond the employment focus and research rigor expectations.
What does "field-initiated" mean in this context?
Based on the information provided, NIDILRR indicates the employment domain will be supported through field-initiated DRRP awards, meaning applicants propose the research and/or development ideas (within the employment focus) and awards are made based on peer review rankings.
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