Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Research) | HHS 2026 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0221

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP): Community Living and Participation (Research) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation (Research). It is offered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

2) What is the main purpose of this competition?

The central purpose is to support rigorous, field-initiated work that improves community living and participation outcomes for people with disabilities. Funded projects are expected to generate useful, defensible evidence that can strengthen policies, practices, services, technologies, or community-based supports that affect how people with disabilities live, engage, and participate in their communities.

3) What topic area must the proposed project focus on?

Applicants must propose a clearly defined research project focused on community living and participation for people with disabilities.

4) Does the project have to be research, or can it include development work too?

The priority is framed as research, but NIDILRR notes that awards may ultimately be categorized as research projects, development projects, or combined research and development efforts based on peer review scoring and ranking. This means proposals can potentially include development and testing of tools, interventions, models, or approaches when those activities are justified by the research plan and how the application performs in peer review.

5) What does NIDILRR mean by "rigorous" research in this announcement?

The work must involve an intensive and systematic study designed to produce new or fuller scientific knowledge, or a deeper understanding of the problem being studied. In practical terms, the project is expected to go beyond general program descriptions or informal assessments and instead use structured methods and a coherent design that can credibly answer the stated research questions or test the stated hypotheses.

6) Are applicants required to include research questions or hypotheses?

Yes. Applicants are required to propose a clearly defined research project grounded in one or more explicit hypotheses or research questions.

7) What kinds of outcomes should this work ultimately support?

The competition is intended to strengthen the evidence base for improving real-world community living and participation outcomes for people with disabilities. Results should be positioned to inform or improve policies, practices, services, technologies, or community-based supports.

8) How long is the project period?

The project period is 36 months.

9) How is the budget/project period structured?

The 36-month project period is divided into three 12-month budget periods. This structure implies the application should lay out clear annual milestones, deliverables, and a feasible pathway from start-up through data collection and analysis to dissemination of results.

10) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $500,000.

11) Approximately how many awards does ACL expect to make?

ACL expects to make approximately 2 awards under this announcement.

12) What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

13) What is the CFDA number and activity category listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.433, with an activity category described as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit entities. 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 tribal organizations
• Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions within those nonprofit categories)
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses
• Other eligible entities as defined in the announcement

15) Are faith-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community organizations that otherwise meet the eligibility requirements are explicitly eligible.

16) Are foreign entities eligible to apply or receive an award?

No. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this opportunity.

17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2026 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0221.

18) What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is 2026-08-05.

19) What is the opportunity creation date?

The creation date is 2026-07-06.

20) What should an applicant emphasize in the project plan given the 3-year structure?

Based on the three 12-month budget periods, applicants should present clear yearly milestones and deliverables, along with a realistic sequence of activities from project start-up to data collection and analysis, and finally to dissemination of results.

21) Is this opportunity intended to support projects that affect real-world systems like services or community supports?

Yes. The announcement emphasizes generating evidence that can strengthen policies, practices, services, technologies, or community-based supports that shape how people with disabilities live and participate in their communities.