Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Communication Technologies | HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121

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.

• 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.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0121

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