Collaborative Aging (in Place) Research Using Technology (CART) (U2C) | RFA AG 16 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 16 021

The Collaborative Aging (in Place) Research Using Technology (CART) (U2C) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-16-021) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) inter-agency announcement designed to build and prove out the kind of shared research infrastructure needed to run future studies quickly and effectively. The central idea is to create a strong, validated platform for research that uses technology to help older adults remain safely and independently in their homes and communities, rather than having to move into institutional care. A major emphasis is placed on ensuring this infrastructure is suited to, and actively supports, research involving people from underrepresented groups, reflecting a priority on equity, access, and relevance across diverse populations.

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U2C), which typically means NIH expects substantial involvement during the project, often through close collaboration, coordination, and milestone-based progress. Instead of primarily funding a single, stand-alone research study, the aim here is to establish the backbone for multiple future studies by developing processes, partnerships, tools, and operational capacity that can support rapid launch and execution of technology-enabled aging-in-place research. In practice, that kind of infrastructure can include coordinated networks, standardized recruitment and consent approaches, shared data systems, governance and oversight structures, and validated methods for deploying and evaluating technology in real-world home settings. The technology focus is broad by design and can encompass tools that facilitate monitoring, communication, safety, mobility, social connection, or support for caregivers, as long as the resulting infrastructure enables rigorous future research in aging-in-place contexts.

Eligibility is wide and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants span state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and sits within the education and health activity area. It lists multiple CFDA numbers (93.286, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866), indicating involvement across NIH programs or institutes and signaling that the scope touches several related federal health research domains. The posted award ceiling is $1,000,000, and the expected number of awards is one, which suggests NIH intended to support a single, major coordinating effort rather than several smaller, independent projects. The opportunity was created on October 21, 2015, with an original closing date of January 28, 2016, indicating it was a time-limited competition.

Overall, CART (U2C) is best understood as an NIH-backed effort to stand up a proven, scalable research infrastructure that can speed the pace of technology-based aging-in-place research, while deliberately embedding the capacity to include and serve underrepresented populations. The outcome NIH appears to be seeking is a ready-to-use, well-governed, and field-tested platform that can support future studies more efficiently, consistently, and inclusively than would be possible through isolated, one-off research projects.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Aging (in Place) Research Using Technology (CART) (U2C)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.286, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-01-28. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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.

Apply for RFA AG 16 021

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