Rural Ambulance Modernization Grant Program

The Rural Ambulance Modernization funding opportunity is part of the broader Rural Health Transformation Program administered by North Dakota Health and Human Services under federal authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This program was established through federal legislation to address longstanding healthcare challenges in rural communities by investing in infrastructure, workforce, and care delivery systems. Within this framework, North Dakota has prioritized initiatives that expand access to care, modernize service delivery, and strengthen coordination among providers. The Rural Ambulance Modernization initiative specifically supports efforts to bring high quality emergency care closer to rural residents, including tribal populations, by upgrading ambulance systems and associated technologies. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to strengthen rural emergency medical services through strategic investments in modern equipment and digital infrastructure. Eligible projects focus on enhancing ambulance capabilities through telehealth technologies, electronic medical record connectivity, communications systems, and other equipment that improves patient care and coordination. The funding supports acquisition, installation, and implementation of technology such as telemedicine enabled monitoring devices, communication routers, interoperable reporting systems, and patient care equipment. Projects must integrate these technologies into existing workflows and demonstrate how they will improve communication between emergency responders and healthcare facilities. Funding is available through a competitive application process with approximately 22 million dollars allocated for this opportunity. The program anticipates awarding about 110 grants, with an estimated award amount of around 200000 dollars per recipient. Funds must be used within the defined operating period, which begins upon execution of the agreement and ends on August 31, 2027. All purchased goods must be delivered and funds fully expended by that date. Allowable costs include equipment, information technology, professional services, training, and related project expenses, while unallowable costs include new construction, vehicle purchases, and supplanting existing funding sources. Eligibility is limited to entities that provide licensed ground ambulance services in North Dakota and serve rural populations. This includes ambulance districts and licensed service providers, including certain tribal services. Applicants must be in good standing with state licensing requirements, serve rural residents including Medicaid populations, and demonstrate that the project benefits rural communities. Urban areas such as Fargo and Bismarck are generally excluded unless the applicant primarily serves rural populations. The program emphasizes equitable access and may prioritize projects serving underserved, frontier, or tribal communities. The application process requires submission through a Qualtrics system and includes detailed components such as organizational background, project narrative, and a completed budget template. Applicants must clearly describe their current capabilities, identified needs, proposed strategies, expected outcomes, and implementation timeline. The narrative must address how the proposed investments will improve emergency medical response, care coordination, and patient outcomes. Applications are evaluated based solely on the submitted materials using a defined scoring tool, and the agency may request additional information or modifications before awarding funds. The application deadline is August 9, 2026, and submissions must be completed before 11:59 pm Central Time. A technical assistance call was offered prior to the deadline to support applicants, and additional guidance is provided through frequently asked questions and regional support organizations. Successful applicants will be required to submit progress reports, reimbursement documentation, and impact narratives throughout the project period, with reporting potentially extending up to five years depending on federal requirements. This funding opportunity is part of a multi year initiative, and future application rounds are expected as part of the ongoing Rural Health Transformation Program. The program is designed to support sustainable improvements in rural healthcare systems by fostering innovation, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring long term viability of emergency medical services in underserved communities.

Clearly align proposed equipment with identified needs and demonstrate measurable impact on patient care coordination and response times while ensuring feasibility within the project period