Education Research, Development and Dissemination

To support research activities that improve the quality of education and, thereby, increase student academic achievement, reduce the achievement gap between high-performing and low-performing students, and increase access to and completion of postsec

The Research, Development, and Dissemination (RDD) program funds core activities of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which is authorized by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA). IES activities help expand knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood through the postsecondary education level, as well as career and technical and adult education. IES's programs and products provide parents, caregivers, educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and communities with reliable information about the condition and performance of our education system, educational practices that support learning, increase educational opportunities, and improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of Federal education programs and related interventions.

Applicants that have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities. SBIR contract awards are limited to eligible small businesses.

U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, or consortia of institutions of higher education will benefit.

Grants support basic and applied research, development, dissemination, evaluations, and research training in education. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts are awarded to qualified small businesses to conduct innovative research and development projects focused on education technology. Funds also support the What Works Clearinghouse, the Education Resources Information Center, the National Library of Education, and a variety of other dissemination and support activities that are supported by contracts.

Projects generally may be supported for 1 to 5 years. Funds are granted on a 12-month basis. All grantee obligations shall be liquidated within 90 days following the end of the award period. Payments may be made according to a predetermined schedule or by way of reimbursement.

The criteria for selecting applications are contained in the Request for Applications that announces the competition. Each request for Applications is posted on the Funding Opportunities home page of the Institute web site: http://ies.ed.gov/funding/.

Grant applications that are responsive and compliant to the Requests for Applications are evaluated by expert reviewers for scientific and technical merit. Scientific reviews are conducted in accordance with the review criteria stated in the Request for Applications and the review procedures posted on the IES website, http://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp, by a panel of scientists who have substantive and methodological expertise appropriate to the program of research and Request for Applications. Awards are competitive, with the following criteria considered in making award decisions for responsive and compliant applications: Scientific merit as determined by peer review, performance and use of funds under a previous federal award, contribution to the overall program of research described in the Request for Applications, and availability of funds. For contracts, the Department reviews offers and makes awards to those companies that are determined to provide the value to the government.

From 210 to 240 days.

Renewals are based on the review of annual performance reports and the recommendation of the project officer. All renewals are subject to the availability of funds.