HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-SIMS-0217: Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is forecast: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC): National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities (HHS-2027-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0315). Status: Expected deadline March 26, 2027. It is in our archive of Administration for Community Living notices from 2026.
Administration for Community Living offered grants of up to $640,000 (at least $560,000) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make about 14 awards worth $8.4 million in total. Applications closed on July 29, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 22, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$640,000
- Award floor$560,000
- Total funding$8.4 million
- Expected awards14
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | June 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 29, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | September 30, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 13 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations. To be eligible for a SCI Model Systems grant, an applicant institution must provide a continuum of care for people with SCI, including emergency medical services, acute care services, acute medical rehabilitation services, and post-acute services. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research awards averaged $983,065; this notice allows up to $640,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (64% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The SCIMS program is designed to provide research-based knowledge to support a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). For purposes of this program, SCI is defined as a clinically discernible degree of neurologic impairment of the spinal cord. SCIMS Centers must conduct site-specific and collaborative research. SCIMS Centers must also collect and contribute data to the SCIMS longitudinal database. SCIMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the maximum award based on the numbers of database participants eligible for follow-up in the SCIMS longitudinal database. Existing centers with significantly larger numbers of database participants will receive higher funding within the specified range, as determined by NIDILRR after the applicants are selected for funding. The grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.
Who has won ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (93.433) awarded $553 million across 563 grant awards, an average of $983,065 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago | Illinois | 13 | $24.7 million |
| University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education | Pennsylvania | 14 | $23.5 million |
| University of Washington | Washington | 12 | $20.5 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 15 | $18.7 million |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Alabama | 13 | $16.7 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, HHS-2027-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0315, which is forecast.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-SIMS-0217 still open?
No. It closed on July 29, 2026. A newer notice is forecast: HHS-2027-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0315, expected deadline March 26, 2027.
Who can apply for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers?
Administration for Community Living accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers?
Closed July 29, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $640,000 each. About $8.4 million in total across about 14 awards.
Who has won ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, University of Washington. The program made 563 awards worth $553 million in that time.