Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. This program is authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and is designed to support advanced research and training initiatives that improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The funding opportunity reflects a broader federal commitment to enhancing independence, inclusion, and participation in community life for people with diverse disabilities. The primary purpose of this grant is to establish a single RRTC that will conduct rigorous research on interventions aimed at improving community living outcomes. The program emphasizes addressing both individual-level and environmental barriers, such as access to housing, transportation, healthcare, and caregiving. Applicants must design and implement research that evaluates the effectiveness and scalability of interventions, including at least one large-scale evaluation. In addition to research, the center must function as a national resource by providing training, technical assistance, and dissemination of findings to stakeholders including individuals with disabilities, service providers, and policymakers. Funding under this opportunity is structured as a multi-year award with one expected recipient. The total expected funding is approximately 925000 dollars per year across five 12-month budget periods, resulting in a 60-month project period. Funds must be used in accordance with federal regulations and specific program limitations, including a cap on indirect costs at 15 percent and restrictions on certain activities such as construction or initiatives that conflict with federal policy requirements. There is no cost-sharing requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute matching funds, although voluntary cost sharing may be included but will not influence the review process. Eligibility is broad and inclusive, allowing applications from states, public and private agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal entities. However, individuals and foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet all program requirements, including conducting systematic reviews, implementing research studies, and delivering knowledge translation activities such as training and dissemination. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and require active registration in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov systems. The application process involves multiple required components, including a project abstract, a detailed project narrative, a budget justification, and various supporting documents such as biosketches and a data management plan. The project narrative is the most critical component and is limited to 80 pages. Applications are evaluated through a two-stage process consisting of an initial responsiveness review followed by a merit review. Evaluation criteria include the importance of the problem, alignment with agency priorities, quality of research design, dissemination and training plans, staff qualifications, and overall project feasibility. Key dates for this opportunity include an optional notice of intent due on July 13, 2026, and a full application deadline of July 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. An informational conference call is scheduled for July 10, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by September 1, 2026, which also serves as the anticipated project start date. The program does not explicitly state recurrence, but given its structure within federal research funding cycles, similar opportunities may be reissued periodically. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all requirements and ensure compliance with federal regulations and submission guidelines to remain competitive.

Align strongly with ACL priorities caregiving services and whole person health; emphasize rigorous research design and scalability; ensure full compliance with formatting and page limits