Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program

Background
The purpose of the Assistive Technology (AT) Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is to support programs that provide for the purchase of AT devices and services, such as a low-interest loan fund, an interest buy-down program, a revolving loan fund, a loan guarantee, or an insurance program, that results in the acquisition of AT devices and services. Applicants for the AT AFP grant awards are required to provide an assurance that, and information describing the manner in which, the AT AFP will expand and emphasize consumer choice and control. Successful applicants must emphasize consumer choice and control and build programs that will provide financing for the full array of AT devices and services and ensure that all people with disabilities, regardless of type of disability or health condition, age, level of income, and residence, have access to the program.

Grant Details
Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), applicants must establish or expand one or more of the following types of AFPs: A low-interest loan fund; An interest buy-down program; A revolving loan fund; A loan guarantee or insurance program; A program operated for the purchase, lease, or other acquisition of assistive technology devices or assistive technology services; Another mechanism that provides financing and is approved by the Secretary. Applicants must submit administrative policies and procedures, fiscal and reporting assurances, and information on previous grant recipients. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL) to fund one-year grant awards to support Assistive Technology (AT) Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs) that assist individuals with disabilities of any age to obtain services, financial assistance, and additional activities for the acquisition of AT devices and services.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Period of Performance
The length of project period is 12 months with an expected number of awards being 3. Once a grant award is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by ACL or the awardee at any time as long as it stays within the original confines of the proposed project description.

Grant Value
$1,970,000 is the estimated total funding with an award ceiling of $700,000 per budget period and an award floor of $100,000 per budget period.