Emergency Medical Service and Community Paramedicine Vehicles Grant Program

The Emergency Medical Service and Community Paramedicine Vehicles funding opportunity is offered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health under the Rural Health Transformation Program. This program is supported through federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and represents part of a broader statewide initiative to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities. The program is designed to address systemic gaps identified during stakeholder engagement, including long ambulance turnaround times, aging emergency vehicles, and limited capacity to expand community paramedicine services. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to acquire vehicles that support emergency medical services and community paramedicine programs. These vehicles are intended to improve both emergent and non-emergent healthcare delivery in rural Oklahoma communities. Funding may be used exclusively for the purchase of ambulances, community paramedicine-specific SUVs, or other EMS-related vehicles. The program explicitly prohibits the use of funds for any non-vehicle-related expenses and restricts supplanting existing federal, state, or local funding sources. The total estimated funding available for this program is approximately $3.675 million, with up to 20 awards anticipated. Individual award amounts may reach up to $350,000. The funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to cover upfront costs and submit documentation for repayment. Awardees must demonstrate procurement compliance, including obtaining multiple vendor quotes where applicable, and must submit a signed vendor contract by December 31, 2026. All awarded funds must be expended, and reimbursement requests submitted, by July 31, 2027. Eligibility is limited to organizations currently providing emergency medical services, mobile integrated healthcare, or community paramedicine services within rural Oklahoma communities. These communities are defined as having populations of 55,000 or fewer and being located outside of Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. Applicants must maintain active registration in SAM.gov, possess a Unique Entity Identifier, and hold a valid Certificate of Insurance. Entities must not be suspended or debarred from federal funding programs. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted, provided the sponsor meets all eligibility criteria and submits the application. The application process requires submission through a designated online form and includes multiple components such as organizational capacity, proposed use of funds, evidence of need, and sustainability planning. Applicants must also upload supporting documentation including a budget template, grants management materials, subrecipient questionnaire, and insurance documentation. The application review process consists of a basic eligibility screening followed by a merit-based evaluation. Scoring criteria include organizational readiness, demonstrated need, proposed use of funds, sustainability planning, and budget reasonableness. The application deadline is July 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time. Questions from applicants must be submitted through a designated form by June 19, 2026, with responses published publicly. Award notifications are expected in August following the review process. Successful applicants will be required to participate in post-award activities, including reporting and compliance with all program requirements, as well as tracking utilization metrics for a period of five years to demonstrate the impact of the funded vehicles on community health outcomes.

Demonstrate clear rural need with quantitative data; show immediate readiness to deploy vehicle; align proposal with measurable health outcomes; provide strong sustainability and maintenance plan