If you are already a WebGrants user you can login to apply for this opportunity. If you are not a registered user you can register to apply for an account.
645599 - FY26 RFP PHTHOCC26755 for Combat Cancer Prevention and Screening
Funding Opportunity Details
Healthy Hometowns
Final Application Deadline: Jan 5, 2026 4:00 PM
Status Closed
Posted Date Dec 19, 2025 7:16 AM
Award Amount RangeNot Applicable
Project Dates 02/15/2026 - 09/30/2031
Award Announcement Date 01/27/2026
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity No
Program Officer Julie Jones
Phone (515) 242-5934 x
Email julie.jones@hhs.iowa.gov
Description
-
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to review all Attachments listed below for additional details regarding this Funding Opportunity.
The issuance of this Funding Opportunity in no way constitutes a commitment by Iowa HHS to award a contract.
Excerpts from the RFP:
Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # PHTHOCC26755 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicant to (1) improve the health of rural Iowans through the purchase and distribution of screening test kits, consumer facing telehealth equipment, and tools and training for health care professionals for early detection of colorectal and skin cancers; (2) increase awareness of the risk factors and preventative behaviors that can help protect rural Iowans from developing cancers by planning and implementing a media outreach campaign; and (3) decrease exposure to radon gas for rural Iowans through the purchase and distribution of home radon test kits, financial reimbursement to rural Iowans for home radon mitigation, and increase the number of trained and certified radon mitigation measurement specialists and radon mitigation installers operating in rural Iowa counties. This work implements a portion of the Agency Combat Cancer: Prevent and Treat initiative of the Iowa Healthy Hometowns Project, funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001.
Schedule of Important Dates (All times and dates listed are local Iowa time.
The table below lists critical dates in the application and contract award process. Contractors are encouraged to review the entire RFP for detailed information about events, dates, times and sites.
EVENT
DATE
RFP Issued
December 8, 2025
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
December 10, 2025
December 12, 2025
Final Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
December 17, 2025
December 19, 2025
Applications Due
January 5, 2026
by 4:00 PM Local Iowa Time
Post Notice of Intent to Award
On or around January 27, 2026
-
Attachments
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Request for Proposal (RFP) #PHTHOCC26755 for Combat Cancer Prevention and Screening | A. Request for Proposal RFP PHTHOCC26755 for Combat Cancer Prevention and Screening.pdf | 466 KB | 12/08/2025 01:21 PM | |
| B. Attachment B Work Plan Formatting Specifications | B. Attachment B Work Plan Formatting Specifications.pdf | 164 KB | 12/08/2025 01:21 PM | |
| C. HHS Application Instructions Guidance (IowaGrants) | C. HHS Application Instructions Guidance IowaGrants.pdf | 2 MB | 12/05/2025 01:18 PM | |
| D. Sample Draft Contract | D. Sample Draft Contract.pdf | 360 KB | 12/08/2025 01:22 PM |
Website links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| A. IowaGrants Registration and Login Instructions | https://dom.iowa.gov/state-government/grant-management |
| B. General Terms and Contingent Terms | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/contract-terms |
| C. Randon Testing & Lab Certification and Mitigation Credentialing | https://hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/providers-professionals/radiological-health/radon/radon-testing-lab-certification-and-mitigation-credentialing |
| D. Approved Radon Test Kit List: National Radon Proficiency Program | https://nrpp.info/devices/approved-devices/ |
| E. Approved Radon Test Kit List: National Radon Safety Board | https://nrsb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NRSB-Approved-Devices-FINAL-15Sept2025.pdf |
| F. Evidence Based and Evidence Informed Telehealth Resources - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Telehealth Best Practices guides: Best practice guides | Telehealth.HHS.gov | https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides |
| G. Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Library: Telehealth 101: What libraries need to know | NNLM | https://www.nnlm.gov/training/class-catalog/telehealth-101-what-libraries-need-know |
| H. Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM): Library Telehealth 101 A Getting Started Guide | https://libraries.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/Library-Telehealth-101-Getting-Started.pdf |
| Submitted Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2025 9:41 AM | If we are working on the RFP for Combat cancer prevention and screenings does our RFP have to include all services outlined or for example can we do skin, colorectal and awareness but not the lung. | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". |
| Dec 10, 2025 9:49 AM | If we are choosing to do Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection as a deliverable do we need to purchase 3,000 FIT kits? | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". |
| Dec 10, 2025 9:59 AM | If we are awarded the RFP are we responsible to disseminate the 3,000 FIT kits statewide or can we have a less amount for our county or all surrounding counties as well? | See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". The total number of 3000 FIT tests is the target goal and the number of FIT tests distributed at the county level is a performance metric (see page 32). See page 47 for evaluation criteria. The Agency anticipates the successful applicant distributing kits throughout Rural Iowa. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:39 PM | Section 1.16(B)(2) states that an applicant may submit only one application for this opportunity. To confirm our understanding: if our proposed model includes subcontractors or partner entities within a Hub-and-Spoke implementation approach, those subcontractors may participate under our application but may not submit separate or partial applications for any of the deliverables outlined in Section 2.03. Is this correct? | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". Proposed subcontractors would not submit separate applications for portions of this RFP. Partners and subcontractors that will be utilized must be outlined in the single application; no partial applications shall be considered by the Agency. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:42 PM | Sections covering Required Reporting (pp. 30–32) and the Work Plan instructions (p. 47) outline reporting requirements related to distribution, completion, and activity metrics. To confirm our interpretation: does the Scope of Work include any expectations for the Contractor to detect, diagnose, treat, or report clinical cancer cases (lung, colorectal, or skin), or are all performance and reporting requirements limited to educational outreach, risk reduction activities, distribution of test kits, and activity-based metrics? | Refer to Section 1.01. The Purpose of this RFP is for the successful applicant to (1) improve the health of rural Iowans through the purchase and distribution of screening test kits, consumer facing telehealth equipment, and tools and training for health care professionals for early detection of colorectal and skin cancers; (2) increase awareness of the risk factors and preventative behaviors that can help protect rural Iowans from developing cancers by planning and implementing a media outreach campaign; and (3) decrease exposure to radon gas for rural Iowans through the purchase and distribution of home radon test kits, financial reimbursement to rural Iowans for home radon mitigation, and increase the number of trained and certified radon mitigation measurement specialists and radon mitigation installers operating in rural Iowa counties. Refer to Section 2.02 E for Reporting Requirements. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional information regarding performance measures will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:56 PM | Are FIT tests the only acceptable at home stool test to distribute for screening or can a stool DNA test like Cologuard be used? (2.03.B.3.a) | See Section 2.03.B.3. "Testing shall be done using fecal immunochemical tests (FIT)." |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:57 PM | Is the catchment area for the project deliverables the 87 rural counties, or statewide? (2.03.B) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). In partnership with CMS, the Agency may choose to broaden the service area, at the Agency's sole discretion. Refer to Section 4, application evaluation process and criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit robust coverage plans for services. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:57 PM | Is there an expectation that a certain percentage of the work will be completed in rural vs. urban communities for any of the deliverables around radon testing, mitigation, and training and licensing, colorectal cancer screening, or office reimbursement? (2.03.B.2 & 3) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). In partnership with CMS, the Agency may choose to broaden the service area, at the Agency's sole discretion. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:57 PM | Is the Dermatoscope distribution statewide or only to providers in the 87 rural counties? (2.03.B.4) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). In partnership with CMS, The Agency may choose to broaden the service area, at the Agency's sole discretion. Refer to Section 4, application evaluation process and criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit robust coverage plans for services. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:57 PM | For the telehealth-enabled tablets, is there a hosting agreement that has been developed, or will this be up to the chosen contractor to develop? (2.03.B.5) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. The Agency anticipates the Contractor selecting any necessary hosting agreements, submit to Agency approval. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:58 PM | Who is responsible for ordering and paying for the software for the telehealth tablets and for making sure software updates are completed? (2.03.B.5) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. The Agency anticipates the Contractor providing technical assistance for software updates during the term of the Contract. The contractor is responsible for purchasing the telehealth equipment and providing the software for the telehealth equipment. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:58 PM | Do tablets have to be hosted in libraries or pharmacies or could they be hosted in a local public health department? (2.03.B.5.a.ii) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. In partnership with CMS, The Agency may choose to broaden eligible service areas and sites, at the Agency's sole discretion. For the purposes of this Application, eligible sites are libraries and pharmacies in rural counties. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:58 PM | Are the tablets restricted to cancer-related appointments? (2.03.B.5.a.i) | Tablets must include, but are not limited to cancer-related appointments. 'The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:58 PM | Will the identified contractor be able to carryover funds from all prior years into the contract periods beyond Phase 2; 10/30/2027 through 9/30/31? (2.04.A) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. At the Agency’s discretion, the Agency anticipates having the ability to allow Contractors until September 30th of the following fiscal year to spend funds for each year of the Contract. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:58 PM | 1) For the training/licensing mitigation/ reimbursement can we use an already established company that meets the requirements? | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". See Section 7 - LINKS for reference documents on radon mitigation certification. |
| Dec 10, 2025 3:59 PM | Do people need to apply for financial assistance to receive the $2,000 towards radon home mitigation? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. See Section 2.03.B.2.b.i. "Develop or utilize an existing system for tracking financial assistance provided to at least 500 rural Iowa county homeowners who report positive radon test results from a test kit distributed through Section 2.a.i." The applicant will determine the process for applying for financial assistance, subject to Agency approval. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:00 PM | Can the colorectal screening kits only be given to those "uninsured"? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. 'See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables and Section 2.02, Definitions. Section 2.03.B.3.a.i. "Only Uninsured residents of rural Iowa counties are eligible." |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:19 PM | What specific types of “screening tests and equipment” will be eligible for purchase and distribution? Is this limited to radon kits, FIT kits for colorectal screening, dermatoscopes for skin-cancer screening, mammography services, or could it include more advanced screening tools (e.g., low-dose CT for lung cancer, mobile mammography vans, endoscopy equipment)? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. Purchasing low-dose CT for lung cancer, mobile mammography vans, and endoscopy equipment are not eligible expenses under this RFP. Please monitor Iowagrants.gov for potential additional funding opportunities. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:19 PM | For imaging equipment or high-cost screening modalities, is there a cap per facility or per contract? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. Imaging equipment and high cost screening modalities are not eligible expenses under this RFP. Please monitor Iowagrants.gov for potential additional funding opportunities. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:19 PM | Will there be reimbursement or separate funding for diagnostic follow-up (e.g., colonoscopies, biopsy, imaging) after initial positive screening — or is the contract limited to “screening only”? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. Please monitor Iowagrants.gov for potential additional funding opportunities. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:20 PM | Is the contractor expected to serve all rural counties in Iowa, or can the contract focus on specific regions or catchment areas? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). In partnership with CMS, the Agency may choose to broaden the service area, at the Agency's sole discretion. Refer to Section 4, application evaluation process and criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit robust coverage plans for services. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:20 PM | Can an AMC (which primarily serves urban/tertiary-care populations) realistically apply if we partner with rural hospitals/clinics — or is there a restriction that the “contractor” must operate in rural counties directly? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The Applicant may provide Services in Rural areas. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). Refer to Section 1.03, Eligibility Requirements. The Contractor does not need to be physically located in a Rural area. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:20 PM | For the “telehealth-enabled tablet placement” in rural libraries/pharmacies: Can an urban hospital be the implementing contractor, or is this limited to rural community-based organizations / local clinics / public health agencies? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 1.04. The service area for this project includes the locations designated as Rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are eligible geographic locations to apply for rural health grants. Applicants should use the “Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)” to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity (How We Define Rural | HRSA). Refer to Section 1.03, Eligibility Requirements. The Contractor does not need to be physically located in a Rural area. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:20 PM | The draft contract mentions 30,000 radon test kits and mitigation reimbursement for up to 500 homes. Does the contractor have to guarantee distribution & mitigation for all 30,000? Or is that an approximate goal? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. The total number of 30,000 radon test kits is the target goal and a performance metric (see page 32). See page 47 for evaluation criteria. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:20 PM | Who is responsible for follow-up with homeowners whose radon test is positive? Does the AMC have to coordinate with licensed radon mitigation specialists? | See Section 2.03. B.2.a.iv. The applicant will "track the distribution of each test kit and its test result as reported by the homeowner." See Section 2.03.B.2.b.v. Licensed mitigation service providers shall be used to perform mitigation services. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | Is there any expectation for long-term tracking (e.g., after mitigation, follow-up testing)? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 2.02 E for Reporting Requirements. Any additional information regarding performance measures will be provided at the time of contract issuance. There is no requirement within this RFP for long-term tracking following testing and mitigation completion. Per IAC 641-44 Post-mitigation testing is required by an independent specialist unless waived by the homeowner. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | What certification/licensure is required for radon testing/mitigation services under the contract (e.g., must the contractor be certified by a specific Iowa radon program)? | See Section 7 - LINKS, Item C. Radon Testing & Lab Certification and Mitigation Credentialing for requirements for radon mitigation in Iowa. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | What data-reporting requirements will be imposed? E.g., tracking individuals receiving tests, follow-ups, test results, demographic data, address, county, etc. The sample contract indicates the need to document name, address, county, dates, results. | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Refer to Section 2.02 E, page 30 for Reporting Requirements. Any additional information regarding performance measures will be provided at the time of contract issuance. Refer to Section 2.03.B.2 and Attachment D, Draft Contract, Section 1.3.1. B.2.a.iv. Contractor shall track the distribution of each test kit and its test result as reported by the homeowner. Documentation must include the home address where test was performed, the date of test, the date of test result, the test result and the county where home is located. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | What are the expectations around privacy / HIPAA / data sharing — particularly for screenings and diagnostic follow-up done by hospitals/AMCs? | Refer to Section 2.03 C, the Applicant shall protect confidential information and comply with all applicable data privacy and security laws, rules, and regulations when handling patient-level or protected information. Refer to Section 2.03 E, Required Reporting. The Agency does not anticipate the Contractor receiving HIPAA-covered data through this funding opportunity. Any additional information regarding performance measures, data reporting, and data sharing terms will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | Will there be expectations to integrate with state cancer registries, EHR systems, or public health databases? | Refer to Section 2.03 Scope of Work, G.7 The Contractor shall "Coordinate with the Agency’s Evaluator and the Iowa Health Information Exchange (HIE) for data alignment and reporting as requested." The Agency does not anticipate integration with additional state cancer registries, EHR systems or public health databases. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | Is there a requirement for reporting longitudinal outcomes (e.g., cancer incidence, mortality, screening adherence over time)? | There is no requirement to report longitudinal outcomes (e.g. cancer incidence, mortality, screening adherence over time.) |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:21 PM | How does this RFP intersect with other related initiatives under the broader Rural Health Transformation Grant / Healthy Hometowns initiative (e.g., hub-and-spoke health hubs, Centers of Excellence, workforce recruitment, equipment procurement)? The state’s plan describes a comprehensive approach to “Combat Cancer: Prevent & Treat” including screening, hubs, equipment, supportive care, and academic-partner studies. | Refer to Section 1.06C. This question is not pertinent to developing applications for this RFP. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:22 PM | If an urban hospital/system is also pursuing a “Center of Excellence” or/and “Health Hub Technical Assistance Provider” role, is there any limitation on multiple awards or “stacking” — i.e., can a single entity be awarded multiple RHT-funded roles? | Refer to Section 1.03, Eligibility Requirements for each RFP. Refer to iowagrants.gov for information regarding additional RFPs. A single entity could be awarded multiple RHT-funded roles. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:22 PM | For screening tests followed by treatment: will the contractor need to arrange for diagnostic follow-up and treatment, or is the scope strictly screening and referral? | See Section 2.03.B.3. The RFP addresses screening and office visit reimbursement. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:22 PM | For outreach/messaging: will messaging need to be co-branded with state public-health materials, or can the contractor leverage its own brand and provider network? The sample contract suggests state co-branding is required. | Yes, co-branding is required. Materials are subject to Agency review and approval. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | Given that an urban center likely provides specialized services (diagnostic imaging, oncology, pathology), does HHS expect the contractor to directly provide screening services — or is subcontracting permitted (e.g., partnering with local community clinics for screening, and referring complex cases to urban center)? | 'The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | If subcontracting is permitted, is there a limit on number of subcontractors, or requirements for their qualification? | Section 2.04 C Subcontract: If services performed for any activities outlined in this RFP are to be subcontracted, the applicant must detail the anticipated subcontract expenses in this category. There is no limit for number of subcontractors, but subcontractors are also limited to 10% administrative costs. Section 1.19 Reference Checks, "The Agency reserves the right to contact any reference to assist in the evaluation of the application, to verify information contained in the application and to discuss the applicant’s qualifications and the qualifications of any subcontractor identified in the application. " |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | What liability / indemnification responsibilities will the contractor have (especially related to radon mitigation, in-home testing, referral for diagnostic follow-up)? | Iowa HHS may take action against a contractor’s credential if they violate EPA, ASTM, or Agency rules, accept payment for ineffective radon mitigation, or install systems that don’t meet state standards. Post-mitigation radon testing is required and must be performed by an independent measurement specialist, unless waived by the homeowner using a Agency-approved form. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | For equipment purchased (if any), who owns it? The contractor or the State? What happens to equipment after contract end? | According to the Agency General Conditions Section 2: Title to equipment purchased with Agency funds resides with the Agency. Upon contract expiration or termination, the Agency may transfer title to the State, the contractor, or another contractor. Contractors must maintain records for each item, including State tag number (or contractor inventory number), Description and physical location, Contract name, Percentage of cost paid by Agency funds, Vendor name, serial number, purchase price, acquisition/disposition dates. The Agency does not anticipate equipment will be purchased through this RFP. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | For radon mitigation support: will follow-up / re-testing / maintenance be required beyond initial mitigation? This may affect long-term obligations. | Post-mitigation testing is required by an independent specialist unless waived by the homeowner. Iowa HHS does not mandate long-term maintenance, and responsibilities such as fan replacement or system checks generally fall to the homeowner, unless otherwise specified in a contract with the mitigation provider. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:23 PM | Does the Agency expect a single unified statewide approach, or can applicants propose region-specific strategies tailored to varying rural infrastructures? | The service area includes locations designated as Rural by HRSA (including rural census tracts in urban counties). The Agency will expect the Contractor to develop a workplan with the largest impact. County-level measures across the project deliverables are part of the performance measures of success (Section 2.03 Subsection F). |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | For Phase 1 implementation, what aspects of the scope are considered most critical, and what elements allow for staged ramp-up? | See Section 4.02 Scoring of Applications, "D. The overall ability of the applicant, as judged by the evaluation committee, to successfully complete the project within the proposed schedule…" |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | What level of coordination with existing Agency programs is expected? Informal alignment or formal shared workflows, shared materials, or co-review of processes? | The Contractor should expect to interact with multiple Agency contacts. Coordination and alignment of Agency programs will be determined at the beginning of the project period and identified in the final work plan. Reference the RFP for specific bureaus and programs and expectations of collaboration. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | Does the Agency anticipate providing any templates (agreements, data tracking forms, reporting formats), or is the Contractor expected to build all tools from scratch? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional information regarding performance measures will be provided at the time of contract issuance. The Contractor is responsible for collecting and reporting all required tracking information listed in the contract. The Agency anticipates that the Contractor will be required to create reports and forms according to requirements of the contract. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | When conflicts arise between Scope of Work requirements and practical limitations in the field (e.g., provider follow-up capacity, mitigation vendor availability), what is the escalation or decision-making process? | The Contractor should inform the Agency of any unexpected implementation challenges as soon as possible. In partnership with CMS, the Agency may choose to change the service area, performance measures, goals, and completion measures at the Agency's sole discretion. Refer to Section 4, application evaluation process and criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit robust plans for delivering the required services in the required timeframes. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | If the Contractor wishes to scale successful screening models after the grant, will HHS provide data access or permissions beyond the contract term? | Requests for access to Iowa HHS data will be considered on a case by case basis and be subject to all Agency data sharing policies and procedures. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | What happens if rural sites continue to rely on Contractor-provided infrastructure (telehealth, screening supplies, tablets) after contract expiration. Is ongoing support expected? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. Refer to Section 2.03, Scope of Work. The Agency does not anticipate Contractor involvement following contract expiration. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | If rural partners fail to meet required screening numbers or deliverables, is the Contractor fully responsible or accountable only for oversight? | The Contractor is responsible for all requirements of the contract. If the Contractor chooses to sub-contract, see section 1.19 Subcontracting, "The applicant is fully responsible for all work performed by subcontractors. No subcontract into which the applicant enters into with respect to performance under the contract will, in any way relieve the applicant of any responsibility for performance of its duties." |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:24 PM | If rural partners fail to meet required screening numbers or deliverables, is the Contractor fully responsible or accountable only for oversight? | The Contractor is responsible for all requirements of the contract. If the Contractor chooses to sub-contract, see section 1.19 Subcontracting, "The applicant is fully responsible for all work performed by subcontractors. No subcontract into which the applicant enters into with respect to performance under the contract will, in any way relieve the applicant of any responsibility for performance of its duties." |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | If tablets are used for telehealth visits, is remote prescribing or ordering allowed under this contract (e.g., orders placed by Contractor physicians)? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. Refer to Section 2.03, Scope of Work. The Agency anticipates this being allowable, pending appropriate privacy and security controls and following Agency approval. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | If the Contractor participates in multiple RHT-funded roles, will reporting systems be integrated, or must each role submit independent reports? | Refer to Section 2.02 E for Reporting Requirements. 'The Contractor must submit all required reports as determined by each individual contract. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | Sections 1.25 and E (Required Reporting, pp. 30–32) outline elements of the Agency’s review and monitoring responsibilities. Can the Agency provide additional detail on its internal review and approval processes for submitted Work Plans, progress reports, messaging materials, and implementation activities as the project progresses? | Review and approval of Contractor submitted documents will occur within 30 days of submission. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | How does the Agency anticipate handling amendments or modifications to the contract particularly given that no additional funding will be available for the final contract period (10/30/30 – 9/30/31)? | Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Agency anticipates up to $15,128,000 available for one award for the entire contract term. The Agency expects an amount of $5,725,600 to be available for the time period of 2/15/2026 through 10/30/2026. The Agency anticipates adding $2,350,000 to the Contract via amendment for the time period of 10/31/2026 through 10/30/2027. Additional funds will be made available to the Contractor via amendments throughout the term of the contract. Refer to section 2.04 for reimbursement details. Actual total awards and individual contract funding levels may vary from that listed or funding may be withdrawn completely, depending on availability of funding or any other grounds determined by the Agency to be in the Agency’s best interests. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | Section 1.07 establishes communication protocols during the RFP process, and Section E (Required Reporting) outlines ongoing oversight through the IowaGrants system. For project implementation, will the Contractor work primarily with a single designated Agency contact, or should we expect multiple contacts aligned to different deliverables and activity areas? Any clarity you can provide would be helpful for planning purposes. | The Contractor should expect to interact with multiple Agency contacts. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM | What flexibility will the Agency allow if the cost of goods or supplies, such as radon test kits, increases during the contract period? | The Agency realizes that the prices for goods and services may change during the contract period and these changes may increase or decrease the total number of distributed goods/services facilitated by the Contractor. The specified numbers in the RFP are approximate goals. The Contractor must stay within the approved budget of the contract. The Agency will consider Budget modifications when appropriate and at the Agency's sole discretion. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:32 PM | Is the 30-day material review period intended to apply to every iteration of campaign materials (e.g., optimization cycles of digital ads), or only to initial creative assets and foundational messaging? (See RFP Sections 2.03(A), 2.03(B), and Sample Contract Material Review provisions.) | The Contractor will be required to provide the final iteration of materials to the Agency at least 30 days prior to planned release for review and approval for every iteration. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:32 PM | Will the Agency provide standardized reporting templates for required deliverables, or should contractors develop program-specific reporting tools aligned to the Sample Contract structure? (See RFP Section 2.04 – Performance Measures and Sample Contract Reporting Requirements.) | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. 'The Contractor is responsible for collecting and reporting all required tracking information listed in the contract. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:32 PM | Can the Agency confirm whether subcontractor administrative fees must be included within the contractor’s 10% administrative cost cap, or if subcontractor admin costs are treated separately as part of contractual services? (See RFP Section 2.04 – Budget Requirements and Sample Contract Allowable Cost guidance.) | See page 38: Subcontracts are also limited to 10% administrative costs. In no case may the total value of all administrative costs, including the administrative costs of any subcontracts, exceed 10% of the total budget. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:33 PM | For planning purposes, does the Agency anticipate similar scopes and cost structures in Years 3–6, or should contractors expect changes tied to CMS program guidance or Agency evaluation outcomes? (See RFP Section 1.10 – Contract Term and Funding Notes on page 7.) | The contract amendments will depend on the availability of funds as determined by CMS and the performance of the contractor. |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:33 PM | Will the Agency provide standard referral pathways for positive FIT results, or should contractors propose a provider-driven referral framework within each rural county? (See RFP Sections 2.03(C)(1–3) and Performance Measures on pages 30–32.) | The Agency expects the contractors to work with healthcare professional or health systems on developing or using appropriate referral pathways. The RFP requires follow-up that includes referral to diagnostic services for patients with positive FIT tests (2.03(C)3) |
| Dec 10, 2025 4:33 PM | Can the Agency clarify whether contractors must receive laboratory-certified radon test results directly from the testing entity, or if homeowner-reported electronic submissions are permitted for official program data tracking? (See RFP Sections 2.03(B)(2)(a–d) and 2.04, and Sample Contract reporting requirements.) | Test results must be submitted by the certified radon measurement specialist or laboratory. Reporting results can come directly from the testing entity, lab or from the homeowner if certified and including all required data elements. |
| Dec 10, 2025 5:17 PM | After the period ending 10/30/27, the Agency anticipates up to $2.3 million per year to be available through contract amendments. How would those contract amendments be determined – both in amount, timing, and scope? | Contract amendments will depend on the availability of funds as determined by CMS and the performance of the contractor. Iowa HHS has not received the NOA from CMS. |
| Dec 10, 2025 5:17 PM | “Current individual employees of the state of Iowa may not act as subcontractors under this contract.” Can we contract with public agencies, but not in an individual capacity with individuals who are employed by them? | Not all public agencies are state agencies. This language applies only to individual employees of the State of Iowa. |
| Dec 10, 2025 5:17 PM | How were the interventions identified in the RFP each selected? | Refer to Section 1.06C. This question is not pertinent to developing applications for this RFP. |
| Dec 12, 2025 1:56 PM | We are wanting to provide cancer care infusions, etc at our CAH. This fund seems to be for one large cancer hub most likely located in an urban area. How is this helping provide cancer care in rural areas? | Refer to Section 1.06C. This question is not pertinent to developing applications for this RFP. |
| Dec 15, 2025 9:49 AM | Will the Combat Cancer Technical Assistance (TA) Provider offer support to the grant awardee responsible for implementing Combat Cancer prevention and screening? | No, the Combat Cancer Technical Assistance Provider described in RFP #PHTHOCC26755 will not provide technical assistance to the awardee of this RFP. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:28 AM | Hello! We are grateful for this opportunity to bid. The Agency reports in the draft contract that $1,920 is the estimated cost per dermatoscope (see #12 on page 22 of draft contract). Does this pricing suggest that the Agency already has a specific vendor or brand of dermatoscope in mind? (Please help confirm that this solicitation for dermatoscope is intended to befair and open competition for best price and/or best value.) | Refer to Section 2.03, Scope of Work. Contractors shall purchase and distribute dematoscopes. The Agency does not have a specific product or vendor already determined. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:29 AM | Is requirement #5 “Access to Cancer-Related Health Services” for Telehealth-Enabled Tablet Placement independent from Requirement #4 Skin Cancer Screening using Dermoscopy devices? In other words, do suppliers need to bid on both Requirements #4 and #5, or are they different requirements? | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work, subsection B. Deliverables. The Contractor shall perform all described services under Phase 1 and Phase 2. The applicant must describe in their application how all the requirements will be met. See 1.18 Use of Subcontractor and Section 2.03 Scope of Work stating, "the contractor may utilize subcontracts to accomplish various aspects of this work". Items 4 and 5 are independent requirements of this RFP. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:32 AM | Every dermatoscope comes with a 10mm ruler engraved on its lens, which providers can use to see size of the pigmented lesion. As part of skin cancer screening and tracking, would having an iOS/Android app measurement tool for the “ABCD” rule be welcomed for provider training and interpretation consistency? (A = asymmetry; B = Border; C = Color; D = Diameter size) | Section 2.03.B.4.a Dermatoscope Distribution. It is the intent of the RFP to distribute dermatoscopes. The applicant may propose additional software use to complement the tool's use. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:32 AM | Is the Agency more concerned about missed suspicious lesions, or about overwhelming dermatology services with referrals? | As stated in Section 1.01 Purpose, the purpose of this Request for Proposal includes"(1) improve the health of rural Iowans through the purchase and distribution of screening test kits, consumer facing telehealth equipment, and tools and training for health care professionals for early detection of colorectal and skin cancers." |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:33 AM | Is the intent for dermoscopy training to be primarily passive (recorded content), or would interactive, case-based learning be viewed as strengthening the program? | See Section 2.03.B.4.b Training on Tool Use and Referrals. The applicant will determine the type of virtual training provided, subject to Agency review and approval. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:33 AM | Beyond documenting training completion, are there expectations around demonstrating improvement in provider decision-making or confidence? | See Sections 2.03 Scope of Work for the required activities of this RFP. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:34 AM | Can suppliers of dermosocpy device and training service residing outside of Iowa bid on this grant? Or, do we need to be Iowa-based? | Currently there is no restriction as to the location of a supplier of devices or training services for this RFP. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:38 AM | Warranty: Dermatoscopes will break (dropped, ineffective battery, scratched); please confirm that the warranty for dermatscope replacement is valid for 5 years at no additional cost to the Agency. | Dermatoscope purchase, including warranty, if available, will be the responsibility of the Contractor. |
| Dec 16, 2025 10:40 AM | 1,475 providers site: where are they mainly located? This knowledge will help with work plan and optimal virtual and in-person training plans. Please provide a map if possible. | See Section 2.03.B.4.a Skin Cancer Screening (Phase 1 only). Dermatoscopes will be distributed to health care professionals who practice in rural Iowa. The plan for distribution of the dermatoscopes will be the responsibility of the Contractor, subject to Agency review and approval. See also 1.04 Service delivery Area. No map is available. |
| Dec 16, 2025 4:41 PM | Clinical images: Several skin cancers appear as “blind spot” under dermoscopy lens b/c the structures of the lesions are not available (ie, Merkel cell has no obvious vascular patterns), therefore making dermoscopy images somewhat ineffective to screen for skin cancer risk. To achieve comprehensive and effective skin cancer screening in rural health communities, would the Agency welcome vendors to include innovative app software to help providers assess clinical images taken from standard smartphones for skin cancer risk so long as the total cost does not exceed $1,920 per dermatoscope? | Section 2.03.B.4.a Dermatoscope Distribution. It is the intent of the RFP to distribute dermatoscopes. The applicant may propose additional software use to complement the tool's use. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 17, 2025 8:32 AM | As it stands, "The Agency anticipates up to $15,128,000 available for one award for the entire contract term." Since skin cancer screening technology is highly specialized -- especially with use of AI -- would the Agency consider separate awards for best-in-class services for each specialty? Or, will there be only 1 contract award for the entire solicitation? | Per Section 1.05 Available Funds, "The Agency anticipates up to $15,128,000 available for one award for the entire contract term." |
| Dec 17, 2025 8:47 AM | Would it be possible to have a list of partners for us to team? We specialize in technology for skin cancer screening... | Refer to Section 1.06C. This question is not pertinent to developing applications for this RFP. A list of partners will not be provided. |
| Dec 17, 2025 10:58 AM | It would be very helpful to have a list of possible consortium members so that we can team for this cancer screening solicitation. Our AI technology focuses on skin cancer screening. Thank you! | Refer to Section 1.06C. This question is not pertinent to developing applications for this RFP. A list of consortium members will not be provided. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:14 PM | In the event that the applicant identifies lower-cost options for providing the services and/or achieving the deliverable targets covered under the RFP, can the resulting savings be utilized to expand the scope of the service, or is the contractor limited to the targeted numbers listed in the RFP? Example: If radon test kits can be sourced for a 10% discount over the targeted value in the RFP, can the number of supplied test kits be increased 10% or is the contract limited to the specified deliverable number? | See Section 2.03 Scope of Work. Applicants must focus their proposal on achievement of stated performance measures and completion of stated deliverables. A Contractor may negotiate with The Agency post award to utilize unspent funds to expand the reach of required services described in the Scope of Work. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:14 PM | Is the data generated in the fulfillment of the contract considered for public use? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. Refer to Attachment D, Sample Draft Contract, Section 2.8.1, Any information, records, or data either supplied by the Agency to the Contractor, or collected by the Contractor, in the course of the performance of this Contract shall be considered the property of the Agency (“Agency Information”). The Agency will consider release of data according to existing data sharing and use policies. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:15 PM | Are providers for the services covered under this contract limited to domestic (Iowa-based) companies, or can providers be sourced from other locales? Example: Can a radon measurement or mitigation contractor be eligible for the reimbursement if they are located in an adjoining state but agree to provide the required services to the targeted rural Iowa counties? | A vendor's business location is not restricted to an in-state (Iowa) location. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:15 PM | For the services covered in the RFP, is the expectation to cover all rural counties in the state equally or equitably (i.e. equal in quantity or equal in per-capita population)? | See Section 1.04 Service Delivery Area. The RFP does not state whether services delivered should be equally or equitably distributed. Refer to Section 4 for evaluation process and criteria. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:15 PM | Are risk-based prioritization strategies for the services covered in the RFP permissible, even if they result in the quantities of goods and services covered in the RFP to be exhausted before all counties are served? | The applicant shall determine how to distribute and provide services according to guidance in Section 2.03 Scope of Work. Refer to Section 4 for evaluation process and criteria. |
| Dec 17, 2025 12:17 PM | Can you please identify who will be reviewing and scoring the proposal? | See Section 4.01 Overview of the Evaluation Process for an explanation of the review process. The members of the Agency-selected review committee will not be identified. |
| Dec 17, 2025 1:31 PM | Can you please confirm that respondents are not expected to upload a separate narrative proposal document, and that the required application inputs consist solely of the structured form fields within IowaGrants, the uploaded Work Plan, and (if desired) a non-scored transmittal letter, unless a Form 22 is being submitted? | See Section 3 Application Content |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:12 PM | Does Iowa HHS anticipate awarding this RFP to a Prime Contractor responsible for the full scope of work (with subcontractors as appropriate), or will applications that address only specific components of the scope be considered responsive? | Per Section 1.05 Available Funds, "The Agency anticipates up to $15,128,000 available for one award for the entire contract term." |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | Will Iowa HHS provide a data dictionary or database for the required reporting fields, such as radon kits/results, FIT distribution/results, office visits, dermatoscopes, and tablet use, including formats for county codes, dates, and identifiers? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. See Section 2.03 Scope of Work for the requirements related to the Contractor's development and use of systems for documenting and tracking distribution of items and services. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | Please confirm if Iowa HHS expects the contractor to collect any patient-level PHI related to FIT results and referrals. If so, clarify the minimum security controls required, such as encryption, access logging, and retention. | 'The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. See Section 2.03.B.3.a. At-home, Kit-based Colorectal Cancer Screening. That section details the collection and reporting of information by healthcare professionals to the Contractor. It also details the information that will be provided to the Agency in the FIT Kit Provider Distribution Report. Also see Section 2.03.B.3.b Financial Assistance - Office Visit Reimbursement. That section details what information shall be collected from the healthcare professional as documentation for the reimbursement of an office visit following a positive FIT test result. The Agency does not expect the collection of PHI. In the event that the Contractor does need to collect PHI, the Contractor will be required to follow all application law, including the HIPAA Security Rule. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | If software is acquired or developed for the purpose of centralizing data management, collection, reporting, etc., is this considered a non-admin expense? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. The 10% limit applies to administrative costs for the entire budget, including indirect and direct costs. The Agency anticipates that tasks such as compliance, evaluation, data collection, grant reporting, and fiscal management will be considered administrative. More details will be available at the time of contract issuance. The Agency anticipates that software for the purpose of data management would be considered an administrative expense. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | Please clarify the apparent contradiction between the equipment ownership terms and the statement in the Q&A that the Agency "does not anticipate equipment will be purchased through this RFP," especially considering that tablets, dermatoscopes, and kits are required. | See Section 2.02 Definitions. The definition of "Equipment" is provided. The purchase price of an individual tablet, dermatoscope or kit, based on the estimated costs of each, will not cause for them to be considered "Equipment." |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | Tablets: Are there any minimum technical requirements, such as MDM, camera resolution, accessibility features, kiosk mode, or HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform standards? Or can the contractor suggest their own specifications? | See Section 2.03.B.5 Access to Cancer-related Health Services. The RFP does not provide specifications on the minimum technical requirements for the tablet and telehealth platform. See Section 7 - Links for additional reference information. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:25 PM | Admin cost cap: Can Iowa HHS specify whether contractors should categorize campaign project management, analytics, and reporting work as administrative or programmatic? | The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. The 10% limit applies to administrative costs for the entire budget, including indirect and direct costs. The Agency anticipates that tasks such as compliance, evaluation, data collection, grant reporting, and fiscal management will be considered administrative. More details will be available at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:26 PM | Regarding the requirement to 'maintain access to telehealth services,' does the scope of the participation agreement cover only telehealth sessions related to the Combat Cancer: Prevention and Screening program, or is it meant for the hosting facility to offer access for general healthcare visits and consultations for rural Iowans across all medical specialties? | The RFP does not limit the use of the telehealth services to only services related to the services and activities described in the Combat Cancer: Prevention and Screening RFP #PHTHOCC26755. ''The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:26 PM | Is there an implicit expectation for minimum county coverage across all deliverables in Phase 1, or should effort be concentrated in high-burden counties? | Refer to Section 4, application evaluation process and criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit robust coverage plans for services. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:26 PM | FIT processing: is the contractor expected to contract with a lab for FIT processing, or do collaborating health systems bill/process tests via their existing clinical workflows? (This affects cost realism under the $180,000 cap.) | See Section 2.03.B.3 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection. There is no requirement for the Contractor to contract with a laboratory for FIT processing. |
| Dec 17, 2025 3:26 PM | Regarding radon mitigation reimbursement, is assistance limited to homeowners only (as described), and how should the program address renters, manufactured homes, or multi-unit residences? | See Section 2.03.B.2.b Financial Assistance for Radon Mitigation. Rural Iowa county homeowners who report positive radon test results from a test distributed through Section 2.03.B.2.a.i are eligible for financial assistance. The Agency will follow all funding restrictions and requirements provided from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001. The Agency anticipates receiving these terms on or around December 31, 2025. Continue to monitor Iowagrants.gov for any RFP amendments. Any additional requirements will be provided at the time of contract issuance. The Agency anticipates considering requests for use of funds to mitigate rentals, manufactured homes, or multi-user residences on a case by case basis. |
| Dec 17, 2025 4:20 PM | Is a particular type of dermatoscope that needs to be provided - for example, a standalone model or one that attaches to a smartphone or tablet? | The Agency has not specified a particular type of dermatoscope. |