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Field Initiated Projects Program: Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) -Research

Agency: Administration for Community Living

Assistance Listings: 93.433 -- ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Description

The purpose of the Field Initiated Projects (FIP) program is to generate new knowledge through reseach or to develop methods, products, procedures, or rehabilitation technologies -- to maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family/caregiver support, and economic and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, especially people with disabilities who have the greatest support needs. Another purpose of this grant opportunity is to improve the capacity of minority serving institutions (MSI) to conduct high-quality disability and rehabilitaiton research and development. In carrying out a research project under a Field Initiated Projects research grant, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and, based on the hypotheses or research questions identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward producing (1) new scientific knowledge, or (2) better understanding of the subject, problem studied, or body of knowledge. Please note that this will be the funding opportunity for FIP-MSI Research proposals. We will invite FIP-MSI Development proposals under a separate announcement. NIDILRR plans to make three FIP-MSI awards.  NIDILRR's FIP-MSI grants will include a combination of research applications and development applications, depending on the combined ranking of individual research and development applications by the peer review panel. Grants will have a 36-month project period, with three 12-month budget periods.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Education

  • Public and state institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education

Additional information

Parties eligible to apply for MSI FI grants are limited to minority entities and Indian Tribes as authorized by Section 21 (b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. A minority entity is defined as a Historically Black College or University (HCBU) (a part B institution, as defined in Section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended), a Hispanic-serving institution of higher education, an American Indian tribal college or university, or another IHE whose minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent. NIDILRR is especially interested in applications from individual minority entities that have historically been underrepresented in the Federal research arena. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Grantor contact information

Description

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Email

shelley.reeves@acl.hhs.gov

shelley.reeves@acl.hhs.gov

Documents

No documents are currently available.

Link to additional information

https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants

Forecasted

Estimated Post Date:

January 15, 2026

Estimated Application Due Date:

March 16, 2026

Estimated Due Date Description:

Not available

Estimated Award Date:

September 1, 2026

Estimated Project Start Date:

September 1, 2026

Fiscal Year:

2026

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$500,000

Program Funding

2

Expected awards

$245,000

Award Minimum

$250,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-IFST-0205

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

No

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

--

Category of Funding Activity:

Science technology and other research and development

Category Explanation:

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History

Version:

1

Forecast posted date:

September 5, 2025

Archive date:

September 30, 2026

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