Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities | HHS 2026 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0215

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity to establish a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities. The center is expected to build stronger evidence for what helps people with disabilities live, participate, and thrive in the community by combining well-designed research with training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination.

Which agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically through NIDILRR (the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research).

What is the official opportunity title?

The official title is: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0215.

What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?

This opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is listed as CFDA 93.433.

How many awards does NIDILRR expect to make?

NIDILRR intends to make one award under this competition.

How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?

Because only one award is expected, the competition is likely to be highly competitive. Applicants should plan to submit a comprehensive, center-level proposal rather than a small standalone study.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $925,000. Applicants should treat this as the upper limit of what can be requested and propose a scope appropriate for a multi-year research and training center.

How long is the project period?

The total project period is 60 months.

How is the 60-month project structured?

The project is structured as five consecutive 12-month budget periods, similar to a five-year center grant with annual budget increments across the full project timeline.

What is the main purpose of funding an RRTC under this announcement?

The main purpose is to advance the goals of the Rehabilitation Act by developing and testing evidence-based services, supports, and interventions that improve community living outcomes, and ensuring that findings are used in real-world settings (not just published).

What types of activities is the funded center expected to carry out?

The funded center is expected to conduct well-designed research and pair it with practical training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination. The work is intended to support service systems, providers, policymakers, and people with disabilities by producing evidence that can be put into practice.

What does the announcement emphasize about research?

The central emphasis is on developing and testing evidence-based services, supports, and interventions that improve community living outcomes, using well-designed research to generate credible evidence.

How should applicants think about the required scope of work?

Applicants should propose a coordinated, center-level program of work, typically including an applied research core, stakeholder engagement, knowledge translation, training, technical assistance, and measurable deliverables across the five-year period.

Why is dissemination and knowledge translation important in this opportunity?

The announcement highlights that results should not only be published, but also disseminated broadly and translated into practical use so they influence service systems, providers, policymakers, and people with disabilities.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations, including state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and 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); for-profit organizations (including other than small businesses and small businesses); and other eligible entities as listed in the announcement.

Are faith-based or community organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.

Are foreign entities eligible to apply?

No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive an award under this funding opportunity.

Does the applicant organization need to be based in the United States?

Yes. Because foreign entities are not eligible, the applicant organization must be based in the United States and meet domestic eligibility rules.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline listed is July 29, 2026.

What kind of outcomes is the center expected to improve?

The center is expected to improve community living outcomes for people with disabilities, with an emphasis on helping people live, participate, and thrive in the community.

Who is expected to benefit from the center's work?

The intended users and beneficiaries include service systems, providers, policymakers, and people with disabilities themselves, since the work is designed to be used in real-world programs and policy decisions.

What does a strong application typically need to demonstrate (based on the description provided)?

Based on the information provided, a strong application typically needs to show clear alignment with NIDILRR priorities, a rigorous plan for generating credible evidence on interventions that improve community living, meaningful involvement of people with disabilities and other stakeholders, and a realistic strategy to ensure results reach and influence real-world programs and policies.

Is this funding intended for a single study or for a broader program?

The description indicates it is intended for a broader, comprehensive center-level program of work, not a small standalone study.

What makes this opportunity an RRTC rather than a standard research grant?

The defining feature described is the pairing of research with practical training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination so that findings are actively used by the field. The structure and expectations align with a coordinated research and training center model.