Rural Health Network Development Program

The Rural Health Network Development Program is a forecasted federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The opportunity number is HRSA-27-051, and the associated Assistance Listing is 93.912, Rural Healthcare Services Programs. The program is intended to support integrated health care networks that address the health care needs of targeted rural communities. HRSA forecasts approximately 23 awards with estimated total program funding of $9,000,000. Individual awards are expected to range from $300,000 to $500,000. No cost sharing or matching requirement applies to this opportunity. Applicants may choose between two funding tracts. The Network Advancement Tract supports networks composed of independent rural hospitals and clinics working through integrated network collaboration. This tract is intended to address small-scale structural barriers that can make it difficult for rural providers to compete in an increasingly consolidated health care system. It is designed to help small independent rural entities achieve economic efficiencies, strengthen operations, preserve existing services, and build new lines of care through collaboration while preserving local autonomy. The Network Development Tract supports nascent or early-stage integrated rural health care networks and provides funding to plan, develop, and carry out targeted operational or clinical service expansion activities. Across both tracts, the program aims to expand access to health care, improve coordination and quality, strengthen health outcomes, increase efficiency, and support a stronger rural health care system. The forecast does not provide a detailed list of allowable and prohibited expenditures, indirect cost restrictions, subaward limitations, or a defined period of performance. Applicants should therefore rely on the future published notice of funding opportunity and application package for detailed spending requirements and restrictions. The forecast expressly states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit entities. Grants.gov specifically identifies public and state controlled institutions of higher education, city or township governments, Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, small businesses, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, independent school districts, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, state governments, public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities, and special district governments. Additional eligible organizations include domestic faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Community Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals. An applicant may be located in either a rural or an urban area but must demonstrate experience serving, or capacity to serve, populations in rural areas. This opportunity is currently in the forecast stage rather than open for application. HRSA forecasts publication of the opportunity on January 14, 2027, with an estimated application deadline of March 16, 2027. Electronically submitted applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application due date. The provided forecast does not identify a letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement. It also does not provide application questions, required uploads, evaluation criteria, scoring factors, or other detailed application components. Those requirements are expected to become available when the full opportunity and application package are posted. The estimated award date is June 1, 2027, and the estimated project start date is July 1, 2027. The Grants.gov record lists an archive date of July 1, 2028. The source does not state that this funding opportunity recurs annually, biennially, quarterly, or according to another recurring schedule, so no recurrence is established from the available information. Questions about the program may be directed to Andrew Park at 301-443-6849 or to the program email address RHND@hrsa.gov. Because the opportunity is forecasted, dates, award information, application requirements, and other program details remain subject to the subsequently published funding notice.

Select the tract that aligns with the network's stage and proposed activities. Demonstrate how the integrated network will address health care needs of rural communities and advance access to care, coordination and quality, health outcomes, efficiency, and rural health system strength. Network Advancement applicants should align proposed work with collaboration among independent rural hospitals and clinics, operational strengthening, preservation of services, new lines of care, economic efficiencies, and preservation of local autonomy. Network Development applicants should align proposed work with nascent or early-stage network planning, development, and targeted operational or clinical service expansion.