Assistance Listings

Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support

Objectives

This Program supports activities to: provide information and education on autism and other developmental disabilities (DD) to increase public awareness; promote research into the development and validation of reliable screening tools and interventions for autism and other developmental disabilities and disseminate information; promote early screening of individuals with increased likelihood for autism and other developmental disabilities as early as practicable, given evidence-based screening techniques and interventions; increase the number of professionals who are able to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism and other developmental disabilities; and increase the number of professionals able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism or other developmental disabilities. The Autism Research Portfolio includes the Autism Research Network Program (Autism RN) Program, Autism Single Investigator Innovation Program (Autism SIIP), Autism Field-Initiated Innovative Research Studies (Autism FIRST) Program, and the Autism Secondary Data Analysis Research (Autism SDAR) Program. The Autism RNs establish and maintain an interdisciplinary, multicenter research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure building. They provide national leadership in research to advance the evidence base on effective interventions for children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) across the lifespan. The Research Networks develop guidelines for those interventions and disseminate information related to such research and guidelines as authorized by the Autism CARES Act of 2019 (Autism CARES Act). The Autism SIIP Program supports focused research on priority, emerging, and underdeveloped research areas in autism and other development disabilities (DD), with a special focus on addressing the needs of underserved populations. The Autism FIRST Program supports research studies testing the implementation of new/innovative strategies that address critical issues surrounding the health of children and adolescents with autism. These studies collect primary data to analyze public health trends in their chosen area of focus within the Autism/DD, with awardees typically implementing randomized control trials. The Autism SDAR Program supports secondary data analysis of existing publicly available and accessible national databases and/or administrative records to determine the evidence-based practices for interventions that improve the physical and behavioral health of children and adolescents with autism/DD, with a particular focus on addressing barriers to identification, diagnosis, interventions and services among underserved populations and for whom there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of interventions, and limited access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment for autism/DD.

Examples of Funded Projects

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

(Project Grants) FY 23 act. $93,089 to $788,000; $518,286 FY 24 est. $119,035 to $738,000; $535,327; FY 25 est. $60,000 to $788,466; $500,190 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 23 act. $250,000 to $3,139,000; $1,100,805 FY 24 est. $285,000 to $3,110,000; $1,131,299 FY 25 est. $250,000 to $5,100,000; $1,299,834

Accomplishments

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550

Types of Assistance

B - Project Grants, B - Cooperative Agreements

Credentials and Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) issued under this Assistance Listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Applicant Eligibility

For training grants: eligible applicants include public or nonprofit agencies, including institutions of higher education. For research grants: eligible applicants include any public or private nonprofit entity, including research centers or networks. Faith-based and community-based organizations, Tribes, and tribal organizations are eligible to apply. Any public or private entity is eligible for other project grants.

Beneficiary Eligibility

For training grants: (1) Trainees in the health professions related to MCH; and (2) mothers and children who receive services through training programs. For research grants: public or private nonprofit entities, including research centers or networks. For other projects: (1) Public or private agencies, organizations and institutions; and (2) mothers and children, and persons who receive services through the programs.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Refer to the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Awards are made annually, in accordance with the project period method of awarding grants. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Grantee drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards. Payments are made through a Letter-of-Credit or Cash Demand System.

Use of Assistance

Training grants provide interdisciplinary training to prepare future leaders to improve the health of children who have or have increased likelihood of developing autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD). Research grants advance the knowledge base pertaining to ASD/DDs, leading to improvements in interventions for children and adolescents with ASD/DDs and improve the early identification and treatment for ASD/DDs. State systems grants support States in improving access to comprehensive, coordinated healthcare and related services for children and youth with ASD and other DDs. Indirect costs that are allowed for administrative costs incurred as a result of training grants, are limited to 8 percent of direct costs.Indirect costs that are allowed for administrative costs incurred as a result of training grants, are limited to 8 percent of direct costs.

Deadlines

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov (opens in new window) (opens in new window).

HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Evaluation criteria vary based on the grant/cooperative agreement program. Refer to criteria included in the notice of funding opportunity for each specific program. Based on the recommendations of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Award Procedure

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Award.

Date Range for Approval/Disapproval

From 120 to 180 days. Final decisions are made 4 to 6 months after receipt of applications.

Renewals

Not Applicable. Competitive awards are typically made for up to 2 to 5 years, subject to the availability of funds. After initial awards, annual noncompetitive awards may be made contingent upon the submission of noncompetitive applications/progress reports and availability of funds and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Policy Requirements

Reports

Audits

Records

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

All HRSA awards are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 45 CFR part 75. HRSA awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-grants-policy-statement-october-2024.pdf.

Formula and Matching Requirements

Regional or Local Locations:

Headquarters Office: