Field Initiated Projects Program: Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) - Development | HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR IFST 0107

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR IFST 0107

The Field Initiated Projects Program: Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) - Development is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), through NIDILRR, aimed at advancing disability and rehabilitation outcomes while also strengthening the ability of minority-serving institutions to carry out high-quality research and development. The program focuses on improving real-world inclusion and participation for people with disabilities, particularly individuals with the greatest support needs. In practical terms, the work supported under this announcement is meant to contribute to better integration into community life, employment, independent living, family and caregiver support, and long-term economic self-sufficiency.

This specific announcement is for development projects, meaning applicants are expected to translate existing research knowledge into usable, tangible outputs. Rather than purely studying a problem, a development award should produce something that can be applied or tested in practice, such as materials, devices, systems, methods, measurement tools, techniques, prototypes, processes, or intervention protocols that directly benefit a defined target population. The emphasis is on using what is already understood from research to build, refine, and validate practical solutions and tools in rehabilitation and disability contexts. A separate funding announcement will be used to solicit FIP-MSI research proposals, so applicants should align their approach with development-oriented deliverables for this competition.

Eligibility is intentionally limited to minority entities and Indian Tribes, as authorized by Section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act. A minority entity includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, American Indian tribal colleges or universities, and other institutions of higher education where minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent. The program explicitly encourages applications from minority entities that have been historically underrepresented in the federal research space, reflecting the dual aim of producing impactful rehabilitation innovations and expanding institutional research capacity within MSIs. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this opportunity.

From a funding and administration standpoint, the opportunity is listed as HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR IFST 0107 under CFDA 93.433, categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and uses the grant funding instrument. The original application closing date is March 17, 2025. The project period is 36 months total, structured as three 12-month budget periods. The notice indicates an award ceiling of $250,000 and an expectation of two awards under this listing, while also noting that NIDILRR plans to make four FIP-MSI awards overall, with the final mix of research and development awards determined by peer review rankings across the combined pool of applications. Eligible applicant types include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as long as they meet the minority entity or tribal eligibility requirements described in the announcement.

• The Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Field Initiated Projects Program: Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) - Development" 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 2024-12-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-17. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR IFST 0107

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