Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Planning grant is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. This program is part of a broader federal initiative to address substance use disorder, particularly opioid use disorder, in rural communities across the United States. The program is designed to support early-stage planning and capacity-building efforts that lay the foundation for sustainable, community-driven systems of care. By focusing on network development and strategic planning, the program enables rural communities to prepare for future implementation funding and long-term service delivery. The primary purpose of the grant is to help rural organizations establish and strengthen partnerships, assess local substance use needs, and develop coordinated action plans. The program emphasizes a systems-level approach, recognizing that substance use disorder intersects with mental health, social services, and community infrastructure. Applicants are expected to build or expand a network of partners representing healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, local governments, schools, law enforcement, and community groups. These partnerships are essential for conducting comprehensive assessments and designing effective, locally tailored responses. Funding supports planning and preparation activities only and explicitly does not allow direct service delivery. Allowable uses include conducting community needs assessments, developing strategic action plans, strengthening provider capacity, training stakeholders, and building infrastructure for future service delivery. In the second year of the project, limited funding may be used for equipment, supplies, or minor renovations that support future service implementation, subject to approval and cost limitations. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, though voluntary contributions are permitted but not considered during application review. Eligibility for the program is broad and includes domestic public and private entities such as state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, tribal organizations, and for-profit entities. However, individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must propose projects that exclusively serve HRSA-designated rural areas and must demonstrate the ability to engage a network of at least four organizations. The program requires submission of letters of support from at least two network partners and mandates that at least half of the network be physically located within the target rural service area. The application process is conducted through Grants.gov and requires completion of standard federal forms along with several narrative and attachment components. Key elements include a project narrative, work plan, staffing plan, budget and budget narrative, and letters of support. Applicants must also provide detailed descriptions of their target rural service area, planned activities aligned with three core objectives, and strategies for sustainability. Evaluation criteria include need, response, performance evaluation, impact, organizational capacity, and budget justification, with a total score of 100 points. The application deadline is July 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to begin on September 1, 2026, with a two-year period of performance ending August 31, 2028. The program anticipates making approximately 40 awards, each providing up to 100,000 dollars per year. Applicants are encouraged to participate in an informational webinar and must ensure that all registrations, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, are completed prior to submission. This funding opportunity is part of an ongoing federal effort and is typically released on an annual basis, making it a recurring opportunity for organizations seeking to build rural substance use response systems. Successful applicants will be required to participate in a learning collaborative, submit annual progress reports, and develop a final strategic action plan to guide future service delivery. The program provides not only financial support but also technical assistance and evaluation resources to help communities build sustainable and effective systems of care.

Ensure strong rural eligibility alignment; build a diverse partner network early; clearly address all three core objectives; avoid proposing direct service delivery; provide strong data-driven need justification