National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (84.133)

Program

84.133 National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Special Education And Rehabilitative Services

Authorization

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II.

Program Number

84.133

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To support and coordinate research and its utilization in order to improve the lives of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities, especially persons with severe disabilities, through: (1) identifying and eliminating causes and consequences of disability; (2) maximizing the health, physical, and emotional status of persons with disabilities and their functional ability, self- sufficiency, self-development and personal autonomy; (3) preventing or minimizing personal and family, physical, mental, social, educational, vocational, and economic effects of disability; and (4) reducing and eliminating physical, social, educational, vocational, and environmental barriers to permit access to services and assistance and to use their abilities in daily life.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts are awarded for research, demonstration, dissemination/utilization projects of national significance, and career training projects. All applications must meet standards of excellence in research and evaluation design. Fellowships support individual investigators in pursuing research in rehabilitation.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, public, private, or nonprofit agencies and organizations, institutions of higher education, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations are eligible for research projects and specialized research activities related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities; fellowships may be awarded to individuals.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Individuals with disabilities may benefit directly or indirectly from research and other activities conducted by grantees, such as technical assistance and dissemination.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should present written evidence of other agencies' willingness to cooperate when the project involves their acceptance or the utilization of their facilities or services. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The NIDRR long-range research plan serves as the basis for program announcements that are published in the Federal Register and Requests for Proposals that are published in the Commerce Business Daily. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Official notice of approved applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Grant Award or an official letter of fellowship award. Grants and fellowships are awarded by the Secretary, Department of Education.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Ranges from 30 to 120 days. Generally, solicited grants, fellowships, and contracts will be acted upon within 120 days.

Appeals

There are no formal appeal procedures. If an application is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval will be fully stated in the notice issued by the Department of Education. Applicants will be sent copies of the reviewers' comments appraising their applications.

Renewals

Grantees must submit annual progress reports in order to receive continuation funding. Awards may be renewed annually for up to five years throughout the project period of the award. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Grantees funded under Sections 204(a) and 202(k) of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, are required to share in the cost of projects. The amount of cost-sharing is negotiable. Cost-sharing for other grantees is at the Secretary's option.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are awarded in 12 month budget periods. Support beyond the first 12 month budget period is contingent upon evidence that the grantee has made substantial progress toward achieving the objectives and outcomes for a project, and availability of funds. Awards may be made for a maximum of five years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual reports of progress and annual expenditures are required on all projects. Comprehensive final reports are due 90 days after the end of the project. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant or contract number including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for three years. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 235 new and continuation awards. Fiscal Year 2009: Est. 238 new and continuation awards. Fiscal Year 2010: Est. 230 new and continuation awards.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0301-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $105,740,861; FY 09 est $107,741,000; FY 10 est $107,741,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The range and average vary greatly according to the competition.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Grant administrative policies for programs and fellowships may be obtained from the program office. NIDRR program regulations are contained in 34 CFR 350-359.

Related Programs

64.007 Blind Rehabilitation Centers; 84.129 Rehabilitation Long-Term Training; 84.224 Assistive Technology

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Contact Headquarters Office.

Headquarters Office

Donna Nagle Department of Education, OSERS National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: donna.nangle@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7462

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Research and Training Centers with emphasis on vocational rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation, rehabilitation of persons with mental retardation, deafness rehabilitation, rehabilitation of persons with mental illness, and rehabilitation of those with severe visual disabilities; (2) Rehabilitation Engineering Centers with the application of engineering advances as applied to rehabilitation of persons with physical disabilities; special activities in prosthetics, orthotics, and rehabilitation aids and devices for various handicapping conditions; (3) specific research and demonstration projects concerned with medical, psychosocial, sensory, psychiatric, and vocational rehabilitation; (4) research utilization and dissemination of research findings; (5) field initiated projects in rehabilitation research; (6) innovation grants for conferences, testing of devices and curriculum development; (7) grants for advanced training in research related to disability; and (8) grants for projects to facilitate implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Objectives of projects and programs must be in consonance with and should contribute to achievement of the goals and objectives of the Institute. Adequate facilities must be available or planned to carry out the specific project or program. Personnel must be trained and qualified to carry out the proposed programs, and staffing patterns must be appropriate. Demonstrations of adequate plans and procedures for ensuring the relevance to current needs in rehabilitation and the potential for project results must be effectively utilized. Commitment of available resources on the part of the applicant and evidence that the applicant has knowledge of rehabilitation issues as well as knowledge of past and present related research activities. A statement showing that the estimated cost to the government is reasonable in relation to anticipated project results. Demonstrate the ability and capacity to achieve stated goals. Demonstrate, coordinate and cooperate with regional programs, State agency programs, and private rehabilitation facilities. Specific weighted selection criteria are contained in program regulations. For fellowships, criteria are specified in program regulations, 34 CFR 356. These criteria include the education and experience of the individual and the quality of the fellowship proposal.