Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) On Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes Among People With Disabilities

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes Among People With Disabilities is a federal grant opportunity funded by the Administration for Community Living under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with a total funding ceiling of $925,000 per year for a five-year project period spanning September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2031. The grant will support one recipient to conduct research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities aimed at identifying and promoting effective employer practices that improve hiring, retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities. The project must include at least one research project at the intervention efficacy or scale-up evaluation stage and require active engagement of people with disabilities and employers in all phases of the work. The recipient is expected to hold a State-of-the-Science conference no later than the fourth year and publish a comprehensive report on its outcomes by the end of the fifth year. All work must align with the statutory authority of Title II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and comply with federal anti-discrimination laws, Section 508 accessibility standards for digital content (meeting WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA), protections for human subjects, and the ACL Public Access Policy. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 29, 2026, and require full compliance with 2 CFR 200 uniform administrative requirements effective October 1, 2025, replacing 45 CFR 75, with specific exceptions outlined in 2 CFR 300. Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), maintain it throughout the award lifecycle, and comply with Grants.gov and Login.gov requirements. Budgets cannot exceed $925,000 in any single year, and indirect cost rates are capped at 15%. Cost-sharing is neither required nor considered during review. The proposal must include required forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and certifications related to lobbying and financial assistance. Evaluation will occur in two stages: first, a pass/fail screen for responsiveness and compliance with mandatory requirements, followed by a merit review weighted toward the design of research activities (40 points), importance of the problem (10 points), qualifications of project staff (10 points), and plan of operation (10 points), with additional points