University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service | HHS 2024 ACL AOD DDUC 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACL AOD DDUC 0007

This grant opportunity, titled University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD), is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) and its Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD). The program forecasts FY 2024 funding to support up to three awards, each structured as a five-year grant. The purpose is to fund entities that are formally designated as UCEDDs so they can operate university-linked centers that strengthen services, systems, and outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.

The funded UCEDDs are expected to carry out four core functions that define the program. First, they must provide interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education, meaning they train future and current professionals across relevant disciplines (for example, health, education, social services, and related fields) to improve competency in supporting people with IDD. Second, they must deliver community services, which can include training and technical assistance to agencies and communities as well as demonstration or model programs that test and show effective approaches in real-world settings. Third, they must conduct research that contributes practical knowledge and evidence to improve policy and practice related to developmental disabilities. Fourth, they must disseminate information, ensuring that what they learn and develop is shared broadly with stakeholders such as individuals with disabilities, families, service providers, policymakers, and community organizations.

UCEDDs are described as interdisciplinary education, research, and public service units housed within universities, or as public or nonprofit entities that are associated with universities. Their work is intended to address, either directly or indirectly, one or more common areas of emphasis that affect quality of life for people with disabilities. The notice lists examples such as quality assurance, education and early intervention, child care, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, and other formal and informal community supports. In practice, this means the centers are meant to be active partners in improving how communities support people with IDD across major life domains, not just through academic work but through applied service, training, and systems change.

Funding under this opportunity is intended to cover the federal share of costs for administering and operating UCEDD programs, consistent with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (the DD Act). The announcement references Section 151(a) of the DD Act, which directs that appropriations be used to make five-year grants to UCEDDs so they can carry out the four core functions described above. This signals that the grant is part of an established national UCEDD network structure created under the DD Act, with expectations tied to statutory roles and responsibilities.

Eligibility is narrowly limited. Only the grantees that were awarded UCEDD funding in FY 2019 are eligible to apply under this specific competition, and foreign entities are explicitly ineligible. The opportunity is identified as HHS 2024 ACL AOD DDUC 0007, associated with CFDA 93.632, and categorized under Income Security and Social Services. The posted award ceiling is $618,758, with an expected number of awards of three. The original application closing date listed is February 26, 2024, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of November 21, 2023.

• The Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.632.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $618,758.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACL AOD DDUC 0007

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