Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Communication Technologies is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under NIDILRR, focused on advanced engineering research and development that strengthens rehabilitation outcomes and reduces environmental barriers for people with disabilities. The core aim of the broader RERC program is to improve the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by investing in innovative technology development, rigorous demonstration and evaluation of those technologies, and practical efforts that help new tools actually reach users through changes in service delivery systems and stronger private-sector production and distribution. A key expectation is that funded centers do not stop at basic research; they also help move solutions toward adoption through testing, dissemination, training, and collaboration with relevant systems and markets.
This specific RERC priority targets communication technologies for people with disabilities who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood. In practical terms, the funded project is expected to conduct research and development that leads to new or improved technologies and products that support communication access and effectiveness for individuals with complex communication needs. That can include technology intended to remove barriers to expressive communication (being understood), receptive communication (understanding others), or interactive communication (two-way participation) in settings like school, work, healthcare, community life, and public services. The focus is on innovation and applied outcomes: designing, prototyping, refining, and evaluating tools that make communication more reliable, faster, more natural, more accessible, and more usable across contexts, especially for people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or other non-speech methods.
The award is structured as a 60-month project period, divided into five separate 12-month budget periods, which typically means annual continuation funding tied to performance and compliance. The maximum award amount listed is an award ceiling of $975,000, and the opportunity anticipates making a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), indicating a competitive process where one applicant will be selected to operate this RERC.
Eligibility is broad across government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations within the United States. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities consistent with the announcement. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to compete for or receive awards under this funding opportunity.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121, with CFDA number 93.433, and it falls under the activity category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The original application closing date is 2025-04-04, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2025-01-07. Overall, the grant is designed for an organization capable of running a multi-year, research-to-practice center that can develop and validate next-generation communication technologies, demonstrate their impact, support training and knowledge transfer, and help accelerate availability and uptake through partnerships and system-level engagement.Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121
- The Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Communication Technologies" 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 2025-01-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-04. (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 $975,000.00 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, 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, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program?
The RERC Program is a discretionary federal grant program under the Administration for Community Living (ACL), through NIDILRR. It supports advanced engineering research and development intended to strengthen rehabilitation outcomes and reduce environmental barriers for people with disabilities.
What is the specific focus of this funding opportunity?
This specific priority is for an RERC on Communication Technologies. The project is expected to conduct research and development that leads to new or improved technologies and products that support communication access and effectiveness for individuals with complex communication needs, especially for people who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood.
What kinds of communication challenges are in scope?
The opportunity includes technologies intended to reduce barriers to:
- Expressive communication (being understood by others)
- Receptive communication (understanding others)
- Interactive communication (two-way participation in conversations and exchanges)
Which settings or contexts does the RERC expect to address?
The communication technology focus may apply across everyday settings, including school, work, healthcare, community life, and public services.
What is the overarching goal of the broader RERC program beyond research?
A central expectation is that the funded center does not stop at basic research. The broader program goal is to improve the real-world effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by investing in innovative technology development and also supporting demonstration, evaluation, and practical efforts that help tools reach users through service delivery changes and strengthened private-sector production and distribution.
What kinds of project activities are expected from the funded center?
Based on the opportunity description, the funded project is expected to engage in research-to-practice activities such as designing, prototyping, refining, and evaluating tools, along with efforts that support adoption and uptake. These can include testing, dissemination, training, and collaboration with relevant systems and markets.
Is this opportunity focused on innovation and applied outcomes?
Yes. The description emphasizes innovation and applied outcomes, including developing next-generation communication technologies and evaluating them to improve reliability, speed, naturalness, accessibility, and usability across contexts.
Does the opportunity mention augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?
Yes. The opportunity specifically highlights people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or other non-speech methods as part of the target population for communication technology improvements.
How long is the project period?
The award is structured as a 60-month project period (5 years), divided into five separate 12-month budget periods.
What does it mean that the project is divided into five 12-month budget periods?
This structure typically implies annual continuation funding decisions that are tied to performance and compliance, rather than a single lump-sum budget period for the full 60 months.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is an award ceiling of $975,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning one applicant is expected to be selected to operate this RERC.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. 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 Native American tribal organizations
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities consistent with the announcement
Are faith-based and community organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply or receive an award?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to compete for or receive awards under this funding opportunity.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under NIDILRR.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.433.
What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2025-04-04.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2025-01-07.
What type of organization is this grant designed to support?
The grant is designed for an organization capable of running a multi-year, research-to-practice center that can develop and validate next-generation communication technologies, demonstrate their impact, support training and knowledge transfer, and help accelerate availability and uptake through partnerships and system-level engagement.
What does the opportunity mean by helping technologies reach users?
The description emphasizes moving solutions toward adoption through activities like testing and evaluation, dissemination, training, and collaboration. It also highlights the importance of changes in service delivery systems and strengthening private-sector production and distribution so that technologies are more likely to be available and used in real-world settings.
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