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

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

Agency: Administration for Community Living

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

Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Description

The purpose of the Field Initiated Projects (FIP) program is to generate new knowledge through research 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 rehabilitation research...

and development. In carrying out a development project under a FIP development grant, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, methods, measures, techniques, tools, prototypes, processes, or intervention protocols that are beneficial to the target population of people with disabilities. Please note that this will be the funding opportunity for FIP-MSI Development proposals. We will invite FIP-MSI Research 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

Education

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

Government

Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Miscellaneous

Other

Additional information

Parties eligible to apply for FIP - MSI grants are limited to minority entities and Indian Tribes as authorized by Section 21 (b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act. 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

Shelley Reeves shelley.reeves@acl.hhs.gov

Email

shelley.reeves@acl.hhs.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
Foa_Content_of_HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-IFST-0206.pdf	Foa_Content_of_HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-IFST-0206.pdf	Feb 10, 2026 04:12 PM UTC

Link to additional information

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

Closing: April 13, 2026

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.

Application process

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

Award

$250,000

Program Funding

Expected awards

$245,000

Award Minimum

$250,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-IFST-0206

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Science technology and other research and development

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

February 10, 2026

Archive date:

September 30, 2026