Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning opportunity is a federal grant program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed to support rural communities that are seeking to establish or strengthen systems of care related to substance use disorder services, particularly those involving opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. The opportunity is forecasted under opportunity number HRSA-26-036 and is categorized as a discretionary grant program within the Health funding activity category. RCORP-Planning is intended to help communities that may not yet have the infrastructure or experience necessary to compete for larger federal implementation grants. Through planning support, HRSA aims to help rural organizations build coordinated partnerships and develop sustainable service delivery systems before moving into implementation activities. The purpose of RCORP-Planning is to assist rural communities in building the foundational capacity necessary to develop and sustain comprehensive prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services related to substance use disorders. The program specifically recognizes the impact of opioid misuse in rural America while also acknowledging that substance use disorders frequently involve additional substances such as alcohol. The grant opportunity emphasizes the importance of integrating behavioral health, mental health, and psychosocial support services into a coordinated continuum of care. Applicants are expected to use funding to establish community partnerships, assess needs, identify service gaps, coordinate stakeholders, and prepare for future implementation activities that improve rural behavioral health systems and access to care. Funding through this opportunity is strictly limited to planning activities. HRSA explicitly states that awarded funds may not be used for direct service delivery. Instead, funds are intended to support planning infrastructure, community coordination, workforce preparation, and systems development activities that position communities for long-term sustainability. The estimated total program funding for this opportunity is $4,000,000, with an anticipated 40 awards. Each award is expected to provide up to $100,000, and the award floor and ceiling are both listed as $100,000, indicating a fixed award structure. The program does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. Applicants may use funds to support planning initiatives that improve prevention efforts, reduce substance misuse initiation, strengthen behavioral health workforce systems, and reduce disease and mortality associated with opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders in high-risk rural communities. Eligibility for the RCORP-Planning program is broad and includes domestic public and private organizations operating within eligible United States jurisdictions and territories. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities, tribal governments, tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, and small businesses. HRSA defines domestic entities to include organizations located within the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The opportunity is therefore nationwide in scope and does not limit eligibility to a single state or region. The opportunity is currently forecasted and not yet open for applications. The forecast date and last updated date are both May 6, 2026. HRSA estimates that the funding opportunity announcement will officially post on May 15, 2026. Applications are expected to be due on May 29, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The estimated award date is August 1, 2026, and the estimated project start date is September 1, 2026. No letters of intent, concept papers, or other pre-application requirements are currently identified in the forecast notice. The opportunity appears to follow an annual federal funding cycle under the RCORP initiative, suggesting the possibility of future recurring opportunities, although recurrence is not explicitly stated within the notice itself. Applicants are expected to monitor Grants.gov and HRSA program materials for the full notice of funding opportunity once released. The forecast information references HRSA's Rural Health Opioid Response webpage as the primary source for additional details. The notice does not yet provide detailed evaluation criteria, application narrative instructions, or submission components because the complete funding announcement has not yet been posted. However, organizations interested in applying should anticipate federal application requirements such as project narratives, work plans, partnership descriptions, budgets, and organizational capability documentation once the formal notice becomes available. Questions regarding the program may be directed to Lynlee Tanner Stapleton at ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov or by phone at 301-443-5764. The opportunity forecast was published on Grants.gov and serves as an advance notice for organizations seeking to prepare applications ahead of the official opening date.

Emphasize strong rural community partnerships sustainable planning activities workforce development and comprehensive substance use disorder response systems because the program prioritizes foundational capacity building rather than direct service delivery.