657614 - FY26 RFP #PHTHORC26012 for Best and Brightest Rural Healthcare Workforce Recruitment
Funding Opportunity Details
Healthy Hometowns
Final Application Deadline: Apr 9, 2026 12:00 PM
Status Posted
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) # PHTHORC260120 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicants to recruit highly skilled Healthcare Providers in Rural Iowa by offering competitive incentives that make rural practice both attractive and sustainable. Funds through this RFP shall be used for recruitment bonuses, relocation costs, or other provider incentives for Healthcare Providers providing In-Person, Full-Time care in Rural Iowa. 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 # PHTHORC26012 Best and Brightest Workforce | A. RFP PHTHORC26012 Best and Brightest Workforce.pdf | 357 KB | 02/26/2026 01:58 PM | |
| B. HHS Application Instructions Guidance New IG.pdf | B. HHS Application Instructions_Guidance New IG.pdf | 2 MB | 02/26/2026 01:57 PM | |
| C. FY26 Best and Brightest Workforce Sample Draft Contract Terms | C. FY26 Best and Brightest Workforce Sample Draft Contract Terms.pdf | 255 KB | 02/26/2026 02:05 PM |
Website links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| A. IowaGrants Registration and Login Instructions | https://dom.iowa.gov/state-government/grant-management |
| B. IowaGrants External User Training | https://rise.articulate.com/share/pfFxFFDRfA9505WWZycgael8XercrRZs#/ |
| C. IowaGrants Application Guide | https://iowadhs.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/ContractsData/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B85309CD4-FA1D-495E-BA2D-07BEEF707C5E%7D&file=d%20-%20Application%20Process%20(External%20User%20Guide).docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true |
| D. General Terms and Contingent Terms | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/contract-terms |
| E. Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer)? to determine rurality for the purpose of this funding opportunity | https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/rural-health/rural-health-eligibility |
| F. Additional information on determining rural eligibility (How We Define Rural | HRSA) | https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/about-us/what-is-rural |