Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies

The Administration for Community Living through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research is offering funding under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program focused on AI-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies. This opportunity is authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and is designed to support advanced research and development that improves health and functional outcomes for individuals with physical disabilities, particularly those affecting mobility, reaching, grasping, and manipulation. The program aligns with federal priorities around whole-person health and innovation in disability services, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence into assistive and rehabilitation technologies. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish a single Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center that will conduct comprehensive research, development, evaluation, and dissemination activities. The center is expected to generate state-of-the-science knowledge and produce innovative, evidence-based technologies that are adaptive, personalized, and integrated into daily life. Applicants must demonstrate how their work will improve usability, accessibility, affordability, and adoption of assistive and rehabilitation technologies. The program strongly emphasizes stakeholder engagement, requiring involvement from individuals with disabilities, caregivers, clinicians, and other relevant stakeholders throughout all phases of the project. Funding under this opportunity supports a wide range of allowable activities including engineering research, prototype development, testing, evaluation, knowledge translation, and dissemination. However, there are restrictions on the use of funds. For example, funding cannot be used for construction or major rehabilitation of buildings, nor for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility-related activities as defined in the notice. Software development is only allowable when it is integral to a hardware solution. The program does not require cost sharing, though voluntary contributions must be honored if proposed. Indirect costs are permitted under approved or de minimis rates. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad but limited to organizational entities. Eligible applicants include states, public or private agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal organizations. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must propose a project that fully responds to all program requirements, including specifying target populations, expected products, evaluation methods, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Applications that fail to meet these criteria or exceed budget or duration limits will be disqualified. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as a project abstract, project narrative, budget justification, and supporting attachments. The project narrative is the most critical component and must address detailed evaluation criteria including research design, development activities, training, dissemination, staffing, and operational planning. Applications are reviewed first for responsiveness and then scored through a merit review process based on a 100-point scale. Final funding decisions also consider portfolio balance, applicant performance history, and cost reasonableness. Key dates for this opportunity include an optional notice of intent due June 24, 2026, and a required application submission deadline of July 16, 2026. An informational conference call is scheduled for June 17, 2026. The expected project start date is September 1, 2026, with a five-year project period consisting of five 12-month budget periods. Award notifications are expected around the same time as the start date. Applications must be submitted electronically, and late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. The program anticipates making one award with annual funding between 970000 and 975000 dollars, totaling up to approximately 4,875,000 dollars over the full project period. Recipients must comply with federal regulations, reporting requirements, and performance expectations throughout the award period. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring, and funding is contingent upon congressional appropriations and satisfactory progress. For additional information, applicants may contact program officer Thomas Corfman or financial contact Nicole Dunning through the Administration for Community Living.

Ensure full responsiveness to priority requirements; clearly define research and development stages; demonstrate stakeholder engagement; align with whole-person health priorities; provide strong evaluation and dissemination plans