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657580 - FY26 RFP #PHTHORC26011 for Best and Brightest Medical Equipment Procurement
Funding Opportunity Details
Healthy Hometowns
Final Application Deadline: Apr 9, 2026 12:00 PM
Status Closed
Posted Date Feb 27, 2026 3:00 PM
Award Amount RangeNot Applicable
Project Dates 06/01/2026 - 09/30/2031
Award Announcement Date 05/22/2026
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity No
Program Officer Julie Jones
Phone (515) 242-5934 x
Email julie.jones@hhs.iowa.gov
Description
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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) # PHTHORC26011 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified Rural organizations in Iowa to receive funding support for medical equipment procurement and installation, including Minor Alterations and Renovations if needed. The goal of this opportunity is to provide new lines of service not currently available in the region, increase access to existing services, and/or increase the sustainability of providing high quality healthcare in Rural communities.
This procurement is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling approximately $50,000,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
This work implements a portion of the Hometown Connections 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
February 27, 2026
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
March 5, 2026
March 12, 2026
Final Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
March 26, 2026
April 2, 2026
Applications Due
April 9, 2026
by 12:00 PM (noon) Local Iowa Time
Post Notice of Intent to Award
On or around May 22, 2026
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Attachments
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. RFP #PHTHORC26011 Best and Brightest- Medical Equipment Procurement | A. RFP PHTHORC26011 Best and Brightest- Medical Equipment Procurement.pdf | 377 KB | 02/26/2026 01:33 PM | |
| B. HHS Application Forms Instruction Guidance (IowaGrants) | B. HHS Application Instructions_Guidance New IG.pdf | 2 MB | 02/26/2026 01:24 PM | |
| C. FY26 Best and Brightest- Medical Equipment Sample Draft Contract Terms | C. FY26 Best and Brightest- Medical Equipment Sample Draft Contract Terms.pdf | 278 KB | 02/26/2026 01:33 PM |
Website links
| Submitted Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026 10:17 AM | Does a MRI that goes into a Mobile Coach constitute one or two pieces of equipment? We utilize a full-time mobile coach parked by an exterior door to house our MRI due to lack of space in the facility. In addition, does the injector that is required to inject contrast constitute a third piece of equipment? | An MRI would be considered one piece of equipment. The mobile coach would not be an allowable piece of equipment under this funding opportunity. If the injector is a piece of the MRI that is provided by the same supplier and the MRI cannot operate with it, it would be considered part of the MRI and one piece of equipment. |
| Mar 2, 2026 10:17 AM | Does the grant cover maintenance agreements on the equipment, Shipping and any installation costs? | The grant will cover one piece of medical equipment along with the associated costs that are included by the same provider and quote if the equipment cannot operate without it. Installation costs may be included if they meet the requirements of minor modifications or alterations, as defined in the RFP. Ongoing maintenance if not an allowable cost. |
| Mar 2, 2026 10:18 AM | Is there any value to the application if pictures are included of the equipment that needs to be replaced? | Please see section 4 of the RFP for evaluation criteria. Pictures are not required but are allowable as part of an application submission. |
| Mar 2, 2026 11:40 AM | Could this grant include implementation of new EMR software? | No, this RFP does not cover electronic medical record purchase or implementation. |
| Mar 2, 2026 11:40 AM | Can we submit for funding for a project that is already in the works but not yet completed? | Funds through this grant cannot be used for any costs that started prior to contract execution. Additionally, funds cannot be used to supplant costs for in process or planned projects. |
| Mar 2, 2026 11:42 AM | Can this funding be used for multiple pieces of equipment that all work together for the same purpose? For example upgrading to fully automated vitals monitoring program for the whole campus, would encompass multiple pieces of vitals monitors. | Upgrading to fully automated vitals monitoring program for a whole campus would not be eligible for this funding opportunity. This funding is for one piece of large medical/surgical equipment. |
| Mar 2, 2026 11:52 AM | Can the equipment procurement grant cover oral health equipment? | The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # PHTHORC26011 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified Rural organizations in Iowa to receive funding support for medical equipment procurement and installation, including Minor Alterations and Renovations if needed. The goal of this opportunity is to provide new lines of service not currently available in the region, increase access to existing services, and/or increase the sustainability of providing high quality healthcare in Rural communities. Equipment must be at least $10,000 to qualify as a piece of equipment. If all other eligibility criteria are met, oral health equipment could be eligible. |
| Mar 2, 2026 11:57 AM | Would a mobile unit be eligible if serving qualified rural areas? Would it need to be stored in a rural qualified location? | One mobile unit could be an allowable cost as long as the equipment only serves rural areas. Vehicles are not an approved expense under this funding opportunity. |
| Mar 3, 2026 9:10 AM | What is the minimum and maximum award for this opportunity? | The equipment item must be, at minimum, $10,000. The maximum total award amount is $5 million. |
| Mar 3, 2026 9:10 AM | How many pieces of equipment can be included in a single application? | Only one piece of equipment can be included in an application. |
| Mar 3, 2026 10:59 AM | If a different organization within the county we are located received an award in round 1 can our organization apply in this round? | Yes, a different organization within a county that has already been awarded is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. |
| Mar 3, 2026 11:01 AM | If we are applying for an MRI can we include the cost of the trailer as both would be needed to offer services? | The cost of the trailer is not an allowable cost for this grant opportunity. Only one equipment item is allowable per application. |
| Mar 3, 2026 12:56 PM | Is a vehicle able to be purchased with these funds as equipment? Utilizing the vehicle to transport dental equipment for mobile clinics, which increases access to care in rural areas. | Vehicles are not allowable costs for this grant opportunity. |
| Mar 4, 2026 8:38 AM | Can the funding be used to replace outdated equipment that is currently available at the applicant's facility? | The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # PHTHORC26011 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified Rural organizations in Iowa to receive funding support for medical equipment procurement and installation, including Minor Alterations and Renovations if needed. The goal of this opportunity is to provide new lines of service not currently available in the region, increase access to existing services, and/or increase the sustainability of providing high quality healthcare in Rural communities. If all other eligibility criteria are met, the funding could be used to replace one equipment item that is currently available at the applicant's facility if the applicant can justify how this is necessary to continue providing care. |
| Mar 4, 2026 8:45 AM | Is the applicant limited to purchasing one piece of equipment or device, or may the applicant purchase multiple pieces of equipment or devices? | The applicant is limited to purchasing one piece of medical equipment per application. |
| Mar 4, 2026 8:51 AM | Can the funding be used to lease a piece of equipment that would be installed temporarily while the facility waits for the new and permanent piece of equipment to be procured? The leased equipment would allow the facility to minimize service disruption. | Only one piece of equipment can be included in an application, and leasing an additional equipment item during facility installation is unallowable. |
| Mar 4, 2026 10:41 AM | Can the funding be used to replace a piece of equipment and update another piece of equipment to allow them to integrate seamlessly? | The applicant is limited to purchasing one piece of medical equipment per application. |
| Mar 4, 2026 10:43 AM | Can the funding be used to upgrade a current piece of equipment for the purpose of enhancing the capability of said equipment? In this case, the upgrade may require improvements to both software and hardware. | No, the grant funds cannot be used to enhance current equipment items. The grant funds must be used to procure for and install one piece of new medical equipment. |
| Mar 4, 2026 11:47 AM | Will we be able to upload supporting documents to this application, such as vendor quotes or existing agreements? | There is an optional upload field in Part 3. Applicants may upload applicable supporting documentation as desired into this form. Applicants shall not include any additional narrative responses in attachment documents (any narrative addressing the specific application form included in an attachment will not be considered during scoring). |
| Mar 4, 2026 2:16 PM | Given that the Notice of Intent references procurement and installation of advanced medical technology equipment, we would appreciate clarification on whether distributed, home-based remote monitoring devices and the associated clinical infrastructure would be considered responsive under this RFP? | The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # PHTHORC26011 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified Rural organizations in Iowa to receive funding support for medical equipment procurement and installation, including Minor Alterations and Renovations if needed. The goal of this opportunity is to provide new lines of service not currently available in the region, increase access to existing services, and/or increase the sustainability of providing high quality healthcare in Rural communities. If all other eligibility criteria are met, the funding could be used to replace one equipment item that is currently available at the applicant's facility if the applicant can justify how this is necessary to continue providing care. Home-based remote monitoring devices and the associated clinical infrastructure are not eligible for this opportunity. |
| Mar 4, 2026 4:14 PM | Would an equipment procurement project with an existing purchase order be eligible for consideration under the terms of this funding opportunity? Installation is set to occur after June 1, 2026. | Funds through this grant cannot be used for any costs that started prior to contract execution. Additionally, funds cannot be used to supplant costs for in process or planned projects. If funds have already been identified for this equipment, it would not be eligible through this procurement. |
| Mar 4, 2026 7:02 PM | The RFP describes on page 23 the various costs to be included in the deliverable payment as: "The costs provided by the Agency for each deliverable shall be not to exceed amounts, presented in U.S. Dollars and shall be all-inclusive (comprise all necessary costs): all labor and materials, travel, mileage, meals, lodging, equipment, supplies, personnel, salaries, benefits, insurance, training, conferences, telephone, utilities, start-up costs, applicable taxes, duties, licensing and leasing fees, as well as indirect costs or administrative costs, and all other costs and expenses of applicant in order to fulfill the Services as specified in this RFP." However, the cost grid breakdown allows only for equipment and minor alterations. Should salaries for procurement/installation be rolled into the Equipment line item? | Budget categories within Iowagrants include "equipment", "minor alterations or modifications", and "administrative costs." Costs related to installation of the equipment could be included in the minor alterations or modifications line item or the administrative line item, depending on the exact nature of the staff time. |
| Mar 5, 2026 9:09 AM | Regarding the long-term outlook of this program, is there a projected timeline for how many years this funding will be available? Additionally, if an organization is successful in this round, what is the policy regarding eligibility for consecutive or future funding cycles? | See section 2.04 of the RFP. Funds for this opportunity are available through 9/30/2027. The Agency does not anticipate additional funds to be available beyond 9/30/2027. Future procurement decisions for potential future RFPs are not yet determined. |
| Mar 5, 2026 10:05 AM | For the HIE vendor section what will be accepted? We currently have CyncHealth as our HIE vendor but it is changing in May and changing to "Point Click Care" I believe. Will we be disqualified or will it be an added condition to update you when the changes occur? | ConvergeHealth Iowa will be the state approved HIE vendor. Recipients of funds through this funding opportunity will be required to participate in the state of Iowa HIE with Converge Health Iowa when this new vendor is ready to begin data exchange. The Agency is aware of this transition. Applicants may submit evidence of participation with either CyncHealth or Converge Health Iowa as a condition of applying for this RFP. As a condition of receiving funds through this procurement, successful applicants will be required to exchange data with Converge Health Iowa. |
| Mar 5, 2026 10:12 AM | In the minority section, could you elaborate on what your expectations and definitions are. Are you looking for impacts based on insurance? | Section 3 of the RFP describes the requirements of the minority impact statement. The Agency does not have any specific requirements for these sections beyond the question prompts listed with Iowagrants.gov for this application item. |
| Mar 5, 2026 5:48 PM | Do minor alterations allow for relocating walls, creating new rooms; Electrical system upgrades and power source installation (often 480V, 3-phase service); and HVAC system modifications for climate control and heat dissipation for the MRI Machine? Additionally, are items like Radiofrequency Shielding and a Quench Pipe to be itemized separately or included in the overall cost of the MRI machine? Thank you! | 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. All minor alterations will require prior approval from the Agency and CMS. Minor Alterations and Renovations projects include small modifications aimed at enhancing the functionality of the facility where the project will take place. In general, minor modifications to an existing building footprint, existing infrastructure, and existing rooms within a facility would be considered minor building alterations or renovations. For example, renovations or retrofitting to convert underutilized cost intensive spaces within existing health care facilities to a space for equipment may be considered minor renovations. Minor renovations cannot be capital expenditures or items that the applicant will claim depretiation on. The Agency anticipates that if the following are not capital expenditures, they would be eligible: relocating walls, electrical system upgrades and power source installation (often 480V, 3-phase service); and HVAC system modifications for climate control and heat dissipation for the MRI Machine. Minor alterations and renovations should be no more than 20% of the budget submitted via this application. If radiofrequency shielding and quench pipe are pieces of the MRI that is provided by the same supplier and the MRI cannot operate with it, it would be considered part of the MRI and one piece of equipment. |
| Mar 6, 2026 12:56 PM | Would this funding opportunity pertain to ambulance services? If so, what kind of projects would be most likely to be supported with this program? (i.e. New Ambulance, Cardiac Monitor, Power Load/Cot, Mechanical CPR Device, Stair Chair? | Purchasing ambulances is not an eligible cost for this program. These funds are intended to be used for the acquisition and installation of advanced medical technologies, such as (but not limited to) robotic surgical systems, low-dose CT scans, radiotherapy units, CT/PET scanners, and cardiac catheterization equipment. Equipment must have a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the recipient or subrecipient for financial statement purposes, or $10,000. |
| Mar 10, 2026 12:25 PM | Would a small remodel of adding a room for telehealth visits qualify for this funding opportunity? We are in the behavioral health category/substance use disorder treatment facility who has recently begun the switch to a primarily telehealth model for psych evals. We are in need of a more private space for these visits and would like to add an office/room in an already existing space. | These funds are intended to be used for the acquisition and installation of advanced medical technologies, such as (but not limited to) robotic surgical systems, low-dose CT scans, radiotherapy units, CT/PET scanners, and cardiac catheterization equipment. Equipment must have a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the recipient or subrecipient for financial statement purposes, or $10,000. Applicants cannot submit applications for minor alterations without a request for equipment. |
| Mar 10, 2026 1:21 PM | Question: On the Healthy Hometown Grants can a company that is a home grown, Iowa based teleconference company, with a Hipaa compliant teleconference tool, apply for any of these grants? And if so, which one? Thank you. | Per Section 1.06 of the RFP, the Agency will prepare written responses to all pertinent, timely and properly submitted questions according to the schedule of events table above. The Agency’s written responses will be considered part of the RFP. This question is not pertinent to this RFP. |
| Mar 11, 2026 8:25 AM | The RFP indicates that payment is for the time period of 6/1/26-9/30/27. Are we able to include administrative costs incurred for managing the grant requirements and deliverables for the 5 years required in our request, or are those restricted to only the 6/1/26-9/30/27 time period? Thank you! | Administrative costs are limited to the 6/1/2026 - 9/30/2027 time period. Funds through this procurement cannot be spent beyond 9/30/2027 for any purpose. |
| Mar 11, 2026 10:47 AM | Are Iowa EMS services encouraged to apply for this funding or is the funding mainly for rural hospitals/clinics? (If no disregard further questions) Is the EMS Community Care Mobile more focused on community paramedicine programs or does it also apply to every day EMS operations? If EMS services are encouraged to apply, what kind of equipment would be favorable to be selected for funding? (i.e. New Ambulance/Response Vehicle, Cardiac Monitor, Vent, Stair Chair, Cot/Powerload) Are we encouraged to submit multiple projects? Or are we limited to a certain number of projects? Would it be more beneficial to apply through our county agency, Kossuth County EMS, or our 501c3 organization, Algona EMS Association? Or is there no difference? Is there anything specifically that the committee would be looking for in these projects that aren’t outlined in the application itself? | Per Section 1.03 of the RFP, public, private, non-profit, academic, community-based or governmental healthcare facilities that provide in-person healthcare services in a Rural area, as defined in this RFP, are eligible to apply. Facilities eligible for application include hospitals, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care providers, behavioral health centers, and other organizations delivering direct healthcare services in the areas of maternal/child health, cancer, cardiovascular health, mental/behavioral health, and chronic disease prevention and management. Per Section 1.14, an applicant may submit one application per county within the eligible service area covered to address the equipment needs identified by the applicant’s needs assessment outlined in this opportunity. |
| Mar 11, 2026 3:50 PM | On many of the hometown RFPs Teleconferences are requested, would a HIPAA Compliant teleconferencing tool, manufactured by an Iowa company be considered equipment? | These funds are intended to be used for the acquisition and installation of advanced medical technologies, such as (but not limited to) robotic surgical systems, low-dose CT scans, radiotherapy units, CT/PET scanners, and cardiac catheterization equipment. Equipment must have a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the recipient or subrecipient for financial statement purposes, or $10,000. |
| Mar 13, 2026 8:26 AM | Is this grant money able to be used to purchase equipment that is currently being rented? | Successful applicants are not allowed to supplant existing sources of funds. If the rented equipment is currently budgeted, the funds provided through this procurement could not be used to supplant the funds already used to provide these services. |
| Mar 16, 2026 1:09 PM | Will there be another Medical Equipment procurement opportunity for FY2027 or is this FY2026 RFP the only opportunity that extends in to 2027? | The Agency does not anticipate another Best and Brightest Equipment RFP in FY2027. The Agency reserves the right to post another RFP if funding allows. |
| Mar 17, 2026 10:42 AM | We are almost ready to submit our application, but on the Organization information for Pocahontas Community Hospital it lists us as a County Government, and we should be City Government. It also has the wrong address there. We looked several times and can’t find a place where we can edit this. Can you help with this change? | 'Please send technical questions like this to iowagrants.helpdesk@hhs.iowa.gov. |
| Mar 17, 2026 7:02 PM | Does the grant cover costs to train staff to use the equipment, and are there any timeframes for the training to be completed as the new equipment would not be able to be used until the training was completed? | Costs to train staff may be included in allowable administrative costs of the grant. There is a 10% cap for all administrative costs, including both indirect and direct costs. Contractors will be required to track and report to the Agency the total amount spent on administrative costs and these costs shall not exceed 10% of the funds received. |
| Mar 19, 2026 12:17 PM | We currently operate a GE CT scanner acquired through a lease agreement in 2018; the lease expired in 2023, and we now rent the equipment for a high monthly cost. Given the ongoing expense and limitations of our current system, we are exploring the possibility of securing this funding to purchase our own CT scanner. This would significantly enhance our ability to serve our community by expanding services to accommodate higher BMI and higher-weight patients, provide improved image quality for more accurate diagnostics, and incorporate Lung CAD, an AI -supported tool that assists radiologists in identifying lung nodules. Owning our own equipment would not only reduce long-term costs but also improve patient access, diagnostic accuracy, and overall quality of care. Could you please advise whether this type of capital equipment purchase aligns with your funding priorities and eligibility guidelines? | The Agency does not have enough information to determine if this would be allowable. It may be allowable as long as all CMS terms are met. CMS terms require that all funds for this project must not supplant funds that have been budgeted for the same purpose through non-federal sources. Award recipients may be required to demonstrate and document that a reduction in non-federal resources occurred for reasons other than the receipt or expected receipt of federal funds. In this situation, the applicant would need to explain and justify why funds budgeted for renting equipment could not be used to purchase equipment. By signing the contract, your organization would be legally signing your agreement that no funds have been supplanted. The contract will also require that if CMS determines supplanting has occurred, your organization must pay back the grant amount in full. |
| Mar 23, 2026 9:49 AM | Could renovating an existing bathroom to be handicap accessible on the shared hallway where the MRI installation is intended be included under the "minor renovation" expenses for a MRI application? | No, this would not be considered an allowable expense under this grant opportunity. |
| Mar 24, 2026 4:35 PM | Would a GE-VScan (portable ultrasound device) which is priced under $10,000 along with the iPad's needed for providers to operate this, which would put the total over $10,000 qualify? Thank you. | No, this would not be considered an allowable expense under this grant opportunity. |
| Mar 25, 2026 4:37 PM | Can we add education & training expenses for certifications needed to oversee the new equipment. | Costs to train staff may be included in allowable administrative costs of the grant. There is a 10% cap for all administrative costs, including both indirect and direct costs. Contractors will be required to track and report to the Agency the total amount spent on administrative costs and these costs shall not exceed 10% of the funds received. |
| Mar 25, 2026 4:50 PM | If we need a nurse practitioner to oversee the equipment & treatments, can we allocate funds from the grant to cover the cost of continued education from a registered nurse to a nurse practitioner to oversee the new equipment and treatment. | No, funds may not be used to pay education expenses for a registered nurse to receive a degree as a nurse practitioner through this opportunity. Funds may only be used for up to 10% of the total budget towards administrative costs that are related to the costs of procuring, installing, and using the equipment (example may include staff training to learn how to use the equipment). |
| Mar 26, 2026 12:05 PM | If we wanted to add a lab outreach service that would require several pieces of equipment, ranging from 15-30,000 a piece, could we use this grant to purchase all of the equipment and put it under lab equipment or does it have to be only one piece of equipment. | No, this would not be allowable under this procurement. Only one piece of medical equipment is allowed for this funding opportunity. |
| Mar 26, 2026 2:13 PM | If our renovation costs needed for equipment functionality exceed 20% may we ask for up to 20% of the costs in our application? | 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. All minor alterations will require prior approval from the Agency and CMS. Minor Alterations and Renovations projects include small modifications aimed at enhancing the functionality of the facility where the project will take place. In general, minor modifications to an existing building footprint, existing infrastructure, and existing rooms within a facility would be considered minor building alterations or renovations. For example, renovations or retrofitting to convert underutilized cost intensive spaces within existing health care facilities to a space for equipment may be considered minor renovations. Minor renovations cannot be capital expenditures or items that the applicant will claim depreciation on. Minor alterations and renovations should be no more than 20% of the budget submitted via this application. Applicants will need to describe the minor alterations that will be needed and cannot simply estimate renovation costs at 20% of the award amount. If minor alterations and renovations exceed 20% of the total budget amount, the Applicant may pay for those costs with other funds. |
| Mar 31, 2026 3:11 PM | I am trying to make changes to content in the application but it isn't saving. I am in the sustainability section. I have tried to log in and log out and redo, however it isn't saving changes. Is there something I should be doing differently? | I have forwarded your issue to the IowaGrants Helpdesk. Please reach out to iowagrants.helpdesk@hhs.iowa.gov for assistance if you don't hear back from them. |