Healthcare Infrastructure Support Grant

The Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding opportunity is administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare under the State of Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program. The federal agency is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Federal Award No. RHTCMS332084 and ALN 93.798. Idaho's Rural Health Transformation Program is intended to strengthen rural health systems, increase access to care, improve quality outcomes, expand workforce capacity, and promote financial sustainability. This specific funding opportunity focuses on expanding healthcare capacity in rural and frontier Idaho communities by addressing facility and infrastructure gaps that impede delivery of healthcare to existing and expanded populations. Funding may support cybersecurity remediation and advisory consulting, technology, equipment, minor renovations, vehicles, and practice transformation, consultation, and training. Eligible activities include cybersecurity systems and planning; EHR and EMR upgrades and enhancements; patient portals; telehealth platforms; remote patient monitoring; computer hardware; interoperability and analytics tools; clinical and telehealth equipment; laboratory and other healthcare equipment; patient transport vehicles and mobile health units; minor facility renovations and safety improvements; and consultation or staff training associated with healthcare administration, technology, security, compliance, and related practice transformation. Renovation funding is limited to minor renovations, alterations, and safety or readiness improvements. New construction, building expansion, significant retrofits, and cosmetic upgrades are not allowed. Administrative costs, including indirect costs, are limited so that indirect and direct administrative costs together do not exceed 10 percent of the total approved subaward budget. No cost share or match is required. Eligible applicants include public and private healthcare clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, local public health districts and agencies, tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations including 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, and other healthcare or human service organizations. Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov registration, possess a valid UEI, have no active federal exclusions, provide a current Single Audit when applicable, demonstrate relevant public health experience, and have organizational capacity to comply with 2 CFR 200. Individuals applying in a personal capacity are ineligible. Projects must serve rural and frontier Idaho communities. Applicants must define the geographic area served and support the request with local data or a qualifying assessment of need. The documented needs assessment generally must have been completed within the prior 36 months, while an IT or cybersecurity assessment used for this purpose must be within 12 months. Applicants must also complete the required Non-Duplication Assessment because RHTP funding cannot replace state, other federal, local, or private funds already set aside for the proposed work. Applications follow a two-stage process. Stage 1 applications must be submitted by email to IdahoRHTP@dhw.idaho.gov as one consolidated application package. Required Stage 1 materials include the Cover Page/Application Face Sheet, Project Narrative, Stage 1 Work Plan, Stage 1 Budget, proof of SAM.gov registration and UEI, Pre-Award Financial Questionnaire, Required Certifications and Assurances, and Assurance of Non-Duplication, plus a current indirect cost rate agreement and most recent Single Audit when applicable. The Project Narrative is limited to 10 pages and must address organizational reach and impact, statement of community need, feasibility and operational readiness, approach, methods and innovation, and sustainability and budget reasonableness. Applicants receiving a conditional Stage 1 award must subsequently provide a detailed Stage 2 workplan with milestones and timeline and a detailed budget and budget justification within 45 days of the subgrant start date. No RHTP funds may be spent and no costs may be incurred until Stage 2 documentation is approved and a revised subgrant releasing the funds is issued. Applications are evaluated on Organization Reach and Impact for 15 points, Justification of Need for 20 points, Feasibility and Operational Readiness for 15 points, Approach, Methods and Innovation for 25 points, Sustainability for 10 points, and Budget Reasonability for 15 points, for a total of 100 points. Complete and eligible applications are independently scored by at least three qualified reviewers. Final decisions are made by the RHTP Program Director based on review panel scores, geographic distribution, and programmatic priorities. For tied scores, priority is given to Critical Access Hospitals, facilities serving the highest proportion of Medicaid and uninsured patients, or applicants in counties with the fewest existing healthcare resources. Recommended applicants also undergo a pre-award risk assessment addressing federal award experience, audit results, financial stability, financial management systems, required policies, and prior award performance. The solicitation was issued August 18, 2026, and applications are due September 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM MDT. Late applications will not be reviewed. The deadline for questions was August 28, 2026, with Q&A responses scheduled for publication by September 4, 2026. Informational webinars were scheduled for August 24 and August 31, 2026. The review period is September 14 through October 2, 2026, with Stage 1 award notifications expected on or about October 9, 2026 and an anticipated subgrant start date of October 26, 2026. The solicitation identifies the period of performance as extending from the date of award through September 30, 2027. Stage 2 revised workplans and budgets are due 45 days after the subgrant start date, and spending can begin following Stage 2 approval and issuance of the revised subgrant. The opportunity provides $97,213,653 in total available funding, anticipates multiple awards, and establishes no individual award limit or range. Funding is reimbursement-based and continuation funding is not provided. Questions and applications are directed to IdahoRHTP@dhw.idaho.gov.

Ground the request in a qualifying documented assessment and clearly connect the identified need to improved rural healthcare access. Define measurable SMART outcomes and demonstrate staffing, workforce, timeline, and operational readiness. Give particular attention to Approach, Methods and Innovation because it carries 25 of 100 evaluation points. Demonstrate that requested items are allowable, data-driven, reasonable, and aligned with RHTP goals. Present a realistic sustainability strategy that does not depend on new state or federal funding after the funding period and, where applicable, supports ongoing revenue generation. Ensure the budget is reasonable, allowable, aligned with the project timeline, and compliant with the administrative-cost limitation. Complete the Non-Duplication Assessment and avoid proposing costs already supported by state, federal, local, or private funds.