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

The Field Initiated Projects Program for Minority-Serving Institutions (FIP-MSI) - Research, issued by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living, supports high-quality disability and rehabilitation research led by institutions that primarily serve minority populations. This program aligns with NIDILRR’s statutory authority under 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a), as well as Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act, which authorizes awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry out projects under Title II. The grant targets expanding the capacity of minority-serving institutions to engage in rigorous research that enhances inclusion, independence, and societal participation for individuals with disabilities. FIP-MSI Research projects must pose a clear hypothesis or research question and implement an intensive, systematic study aimed at generating new scientific knowledge or deepening understanding of disability and rehabilitation issues. Proposals should align with one of NIDILRR’s three outcome domains: community living and participation, health and function, or employment. Although a project may address multiple domains, applicants must indicate a primary focus. The research may occur at any stage of the research continuum, from exploration and discovery to scale-up evaluation, and the chosen stage must be explicitly identified and justified. Eight invitational priorities are outlined, including chronic conditions, family caregiving, aging with disabilities, accessible air travel, disaster preparedness, inclusive environments, school experiences, and workplace development, though no competitive preference is given. Eligible applicants are limited to minority entities and Indian tribes, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, and institutions with at least 50% minority enrollment. Cost-sharing or matching is not required, although voluntary contributions are allowed and, if accepted, become binding. Applications that exceed the maximum budget ($250,000/year) or duration (36 months), or come from ineligible applicants, will be rejected during the screening phase. The anticipated total funding for the program is $500,000, with an expected two awards in this cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent (LOI) by March 17, 2026, though it is not mandatory. The final application deadline is April 13, 2026. Submissions must be made electronically via Grants.gov, and all applicants must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). Key required components of the application include the SF-424 forms, project narrative, budget justification, vitae of key personnel, letters of commitment, and a data management plan, among others. The project narrative is capped at 40 double-spaced pages. A one-page abstract is also required. Review and selection will be based on four primary criteria: importance of the problem (20 points), design of research activities (60 points), project staff (15 points), and adequacy and accessibility of resources (5 points), as per 45 CFR 1330.24. Applications will be evaluated by a peer review panel of experts. Final award decisions rest with the ACL Administrator and will be influenced by reviewer recommendations, programmatic priorities, and the likelihood of achieving expected outcomes. Awards are expected to be announced before the project start date of September 1, 2026. All awarded projects must comply with ACL’s Public Access Plan, nondiscrimination requirements, and data transparency policies.

Clearly define your research stage and link to one primary outcome domain; avoid exceeding page limits or budget caps.