Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Outcomes Research and Measurement | HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR RTGE 0391

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR RTGE 0391

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Outcomes Research and Measurement is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within NIDILRRs Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and is designed to strengthen the evidence base behind services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. In practical terms, the grant is meant to support a single RRTC that can combine rigorous research with training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination so that HCBS systems can better deliver on what matters most to people with disabilities: living in the community with real choice, independence, and meaningful participation.

A central focus of this opportunity is improving how HCBS quality is defined and measured. The funded RRTC is expected to work closely with ACL and NIDILRR to continue developing HCBS quality measures that prioritize community living outcomes for people receiving HCBS. That emphasis signals that quality is not just about whether services were delivered, but whether services actually help people achieve everyday goals such as having control over daily routines, being integrated in community life, maintaining relationships, accessing employment or education when desired, and experiencing safety and well-being at home and in the community. The intent is to create measures that are useful for real-world decision-making by states, providers, managed care entities, and advocates, and that reflect outcomes valued by HCBS beneficiaries themselves.

In addition to measure development, the RRTC is expected to conduct research that generates new knowledge about how to improve the quality and effectiveness of HCBS. This includes studying which service models, supports, and system-level practices lead to better outcomes, and identifying what helps or hinders people with disabilities in achieving community living goals. Because the award supports a Research and Training Center, the work is not limited to publishing findings; it also includes translating evidence into practice through training activities, technical assistance for stakeholders, and dissemination products that can be used by policymakers, administrators, service providers, and communities.

The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR RTGE 0391) is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is offered as a grant (Assistance Listing/CFDA 93.433). The award ceiling is $875,000, and the federal government anticipated making one award, meaning a single lead applicant or consortium would be responsible for carrying out the centers full scope of work. Eligible applicants are broad and include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, along with additional eligible entities as clarified in the full notice. The opportunity was created on April 2, 2020, with an original closing date of June 1, 2020, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

Overall, this grant is structured to build a national-level resource center that advances how HCBS outcomes are measured and understood, while producing actionable research that can improve services on the ground. By linking measure development, applied research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination, the program aims to move beyond compliance-driven notions of service quality and toward a clearer, beneficiary-centered picture of whether HCBS is truly supporting community living for people with disabilities.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Outcomes Research and Measurement" 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 Apr 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 $875,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR RTGE 0391

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: