Overview
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCDD) is accepting applications for RFA 7571, the NCDD Opportunity Subaward. The program supports innovative projects intended to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or their family and community members. Applicants should explain how the project advances inclusion and self-direction and how the work can be sustained beyond the one-year subaward period.
Funding
The controlling RFA identifies $40,000 in total anticipated funding. DHHS expects to make a maximum of two subawards, with a $20,000 cap per applicant. Awards remain subject to applications received, available federal funding, and DHHS discretion.
Deadline and Key Dates
- Application deadline: October 26, 2026. The RFA does not publish a closing clock time or time zone.
- Written questions due: September 25, 2026.
- Scheduled DHHS written response/addendum or amendment: October 2, 2026.
- Anticipated intent to award: November 30, 2026.
- Initial project period: January 1 through December 31, 2027.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit entities. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate working knowledge of issues affecting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, experience working with or advocating on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, and a history of education in the proposed activity area. NCDD strongly encourages applications from organizations in rural or urban poverty areas, organizations employing staff with disabilities, and organizations representing linguistic and cultural minorities.
Match Requirement
The standard match is 25% of total project costs. For projects targeted solely to individuals with developmental disabilities living in qualifying federally designated poverty areas, the match may be reduced to 10% of total project costs. Federal funds may not be used as match. Allowable cash and in-kind contributions may be used consistent with the RFA.
Allowable and Restricted Costs
Potentially allowable costs include project-specific employee compensation, advertising and public relations, audit services, printing and publication, rental costs such as computer equipment and office space, supplies, telecommunications, and project travel. The RFA restricts or prohibits costs including building or land capital expenditures, construction or renovation, ongoing organizational activities, supplanting existing funding, duplicating or replacing existing services, fundraising, lobbying, entertainment, gift cards and trinkets, and equipment used to support entrepreneurship or launch a small business. Applicants should rely on the controlling RFA and later addenda for final allowability determinations.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must complete Form 1 Cover Sheet, Form 2 Organizational Overview, Form 3 Work Plan Template and Narrative, and Form 4 Budget Template and Narrative. Form 5 is an optional submission checklist. Applicants should also review the RFA for organizational, financial, support-letter, and other documentation requirements that apply to their entity and project.
Submission
Applications are submitted electronically to DHHS.DDCouncil@nebraska.gov. Written questions use the same address and should be clearly identified for RFA 7571.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 85/100. This is a strong Atlas fit for qualified Nebraska disability-serving nonprofits, tribal entities, institutions of higher education, and local governments with credible innovative advocacy, capacity-building, education, or systems-change projects. N9+ Fit: 0/100. N9+ is not a defensible fit for this broad advocacy/capacity-building subaward. QC Healthcare direct fit: 0/100. For-profit organizations are not eligible direct applicants and no direct-vendor pathway is established by the RFA.
Verification Notes
This opportunity was verified against the current Nebraska DHHS Grant Funding Opportunities page and the controlling RFA. Applicants should monitor DHHS for the scheduled October 2, 2026 response/addendum or amendment and any later updates before submission.