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

Overview

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 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. 

The purpose of the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program is to develop knowledge, methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially those with the highest support needs. 

Another purpose of this particular opportunity is to improve the capacity of minority entities to conduct high quality disability and rehabilitation research. Minority entities may apply, consistent with section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Act. Section 21 of the Act authorizes NIDILRR to make awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry out authorized activities under Title II of the Act. 

In carrying out a development activity under a FI Projects 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.

Invitational Priority: In FY 2026, there are eight invitational priorities of interest to the agency (see below). NIDILRR does not give applications that address these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. 

1. Development projects that address chronic conditions, and promote healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and physical activity among people with disabilities. This invitational priority corresponds with Executive Order 14212, on Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission.
2. Development projects that address family caregiving as a factor that shapes the experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities.
3. Development projects that address the experiences and outcomes of people who are aging with disability, or aging into disability.
4. Development projects that focus on making airline travel accessible for people with disabilities.
5. Development projects that focus on improving the extent to which emergency and disaster preparedness plans and systems are accessible to, and responsive to the needs of, people with disabilities.
6. Development projects that focus on social and built environments that facilitate full inclusion and community participation among people with disabilities.
7. Development projects that focus on school experiences among children with disabilities.
8. Development projects that focus on workplace experiences, including skills development and job training, among adults with disabilities. 

FI Projects development applicants must define the stage or stages of development that they propose to conduct. Any rigorous development activities can be appropriate, depending on the development aims being addressed by the applicant. NIDILRR does not have an absolute preference for any one development stage over others. If the FI Projects grant is to conduct development that can be categorized under more than one stage, those stages must be clearly specified. These stages are: proof of concept, proof of product, and proof of adoption.

Parties eligible to apply for FIP-MSI Projects grants are limited to minority entities and Indian tribes as authorized by section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Act. A minority entity is defined as a historically black college or university (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. In addition, NIDILRR is particularly interested in receiving applications from Indian tribes, or American Indian tribal colleges or universities.

Due Date for Letter of Intent: 03/17/2026 
Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review.

Length of Project Period: 36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods.