685542 - RFP COMPADM26007 Healthy Hometowns Cardiovascular Health Hub Program
Funding Opportunity Details
HHS - Healthy Hometowns
Final Application Deadline: Nov 17, 2026 12:00 PM
Status Posted
Posted Date Sep 21, 2026 9:00 AM
Award Amount RangeNot Applicable
Project Dates 01/29/2027 - 09/30/2031
Award Announcement Date
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity No
Program Officer Jennifer Zepeda
Phone (515) 377-0198
Email [email protected]
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.
Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # COMPADM26007 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 serve as cardiovascular health Hub and Spoke sites in a “Network”. The purpose of developing Hub and Spoke sites to form a Network is to sustain and expand access to high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics, interventional procedures, disease management, rehabilitation, and tele-cardiology for rural Iowans. It is also to promote chronic disease prevention and management in rural Iowa (option 3 below). Through the Healthy Hometowns Rural Health Transformation Program, Iowa seeks innovative models to address persistent gaps in cardiovascular care, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for patients with heart disease, vascular disease, and other conditions.
Hub and Spoke sites will work collaboratively to build Networks that increase access to advanced cardiac care, such as percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), cardiac catheterization, advanced imaging, and cardiac rehabilitation. Local rural providers are to be supported and care should be delivered as close to home as possible when clinically appropriate. This procurement offers three flexible options for organizations to participate in a cardiovascular or chronic disease Hub and Spoke Network, with more details below:
- Option 1 – Regional Hub and Spoke Network: Apply as a regional Hub and Spoke Network for advanced cardiovascular services. The Hub organization should be able to provide access to emergency services, cardiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac and vascular surgery, heart failure specialists, and electrophysiologists. At least two Spoke facilities must be included in the application that can provide or begin providing local access to diagnostics, disease management, rehabilitation, and leverage tele-cardiology and virtual consultations with the regional Hub.
- Option 2 – Expand Iowa’s Hub Capacity in Rural Areas: Apply as a single organization committing to becoming a regional cardiovascular Hub in any region of Iowa that lacks access to advanced cardiovascular services. Organizations should make a significant investment to increase access to advanced cardiovascular services in areas that currently lack access. For example, this may include increasing access to interventional cardiology, cardiac and vascular surgery, or electrophysiology studies. Spoke facilities must be identified and formal referral and legal agreements executed by December 2028 to provide local rural access to diagnostics, disease management, rehabilitation, and leverage tele-cardiology and virtual consultations as clinically appropriate.
- Option 3 – Support and Sustain Iowa’s Spokes: Apply as a network of primary and secondary cardiovascular care organizations that focus on preventive care, chronic disease management, diagnostics, outpatient and/or lower-level therapeutics, rehabilitation, and participate in tele-cardiology and virtual consultations with advanced cardiovascular care teams. A Hub organization must be identified for each Spoke facility and need not be the same for each. For example, organizations may choose to offer separate but complementary sets of services that together increase access to chronic disease prevention and management for rural Iowans.
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 $209,040,063.71 in the first year of a potential five-year period 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.
Iowa’s year two award for this program is anticipated by October 15, 2026 and budget amounts could change at that time. All activities presented within this RFP, including access to funds, are subject to CMS approval of the Agency’s year 2 budget.
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 following dates are set forth for informational purposes. The Agency reserves the right to change them.
EVENT
DATE
RFP Issued
September 21, 2026
Letter of Intent (Mandatory)
October 19, 2026
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
October 5, 2026, by 12:00 PM (noon)
October 12, 2026
Round 2 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
October 30, 2026, by 12:00 PM (noon)
November 6, 2026
Applications Due
November 17, 2026, by 12:00 PM (noon)
Applicant’s Oral Presentations, if requested by the Agency
On or around January 11, 2027
Post Notice of Intent to Award
On or around January 19, 2027
Attachments
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A - RFP # COMPADM26007 Cardiovascular Health Hub Program | A - RFP COMPADM26007 Cardiovascular Health Hub Program.pdf | 574 KB | 09/17/2026 04:20 PM | |
| B - Work Plan Formatting Specifications for RFP COMPADM26007 | B - Work Plan Formatting Specifications for RFP COMPADM26007.pdf | 142 KB | 09/17/2026 04:20 PM | |
| C - HHS Application Forms Instruction Guidance (IowaGrants) | C - HHS Application Forms Instruction Guidance IowaGrants.pdf | 2 MB | 09/17/2026 04:21 PM | |
| D - Sample Draft Contract Cardiovascular Health Hub and Spoke | D - Sample Draft Contract Cardiovascular Health Hub and Spoke.pdf | 336 KB | 09/17/2026 04:21 PM |
Website links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| A. IowaGrants Registration and Login Instructions | https://dom.iowa.gov/state-government/grant-management |
| B. HHS General Terms and Contingent Terms for Contracts | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/contract-terms |
| C. Iowa HHS Rural Health Transformation (RHT) | Health & Human Services | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/rural-health-transformation-rht |
| D. CMS Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program | CMS | https://www.cms.gov/priorities/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/overview |
| Submitted Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 9:08 AM | Would proposals focusing on stroke be considered? One-third of stroke events are caused by cardiac sources and most strokes have similar risk factors. Many of the same hubs and spokes that need cardiovascular capabilities also need stroke care especially on an acute basis. Thanks for the response. Jim Torner | Please refer to RFP section 1.01: "The purpose of this RFP is s 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 serve as cardiovascular health Hub and Spoke sites in a “Network”. The purpose of developing Hub and Spoke sites to form a Network is to sustain and expand access to high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics, interventional procedures, disease management, rehabilitation, and tele-cardiology for rural Iowans. It is also to promote chronic disease prevention and management in rural Iowa (option 3 below). Through the Healthy Hometowns Rural Health Transformation Program, Iowa seeks innovative models to address persistent gaps in cardiovascular care, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for patients with heart disease, vascular disease, and other conditions." While stroke care, screening, prevention, and treatment may possibly be a component of an applicant's proposal; the applicant should ensure all requirements of the Scope of Work are met (refer to RFP section 2.03). |
| Sep 30, 2026 3:59 PM | Are you concerned that your requirement of all hub applicants to also be rural will limit the ability of that hub to provide the specialty services enumerated in your solicitation? Most rural sites/patients disproportionately vs. urban centers/patients suffer precisely because they do not have the same level of service, expertise, capabilities, technology, or training as those counterparts in an urban center. This is why most successful hub/spoke arrangements in the field involve connecting those rural sites to their counterparts which do have the needed services in urban centers. In fact, Iowa very likely already has urban resources available to be extended into its rural communities. This is what needs to be accomplished with any hub/spoke program related to subspecialty care like cardiovascular services. Please advise. | Iowa HHS refers potential applicants to review RFP Section 1.01 Purpose and Section 1.03 Eligibility Requirements. |
| Oct 1, 2026 8:16 AM | Will a proposal to address disparities in care for stroke be eligible for the RFP? Cardiovascular disease contributes to 1/3rd of stroke cases and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are the same for cerebrovascular disease. This RFP would address the system in Iowa for STEMI but also for acute stroke care of thrombolysis and thrombectomy. | Please refer to RFP section 1.01: "The purpose of this RFP is s 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 serve as cardiovascular health Hub and Spoke sites in a “Network”. The purpose of developing Hub and Spoke sites to form a Network is to sustain and expand access to high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics, interventional procedures, disease management, rehabilitation, and tele-cardiology for rural Iowans. It is also to promote chronic disease prevention and management in rural Iowa (option 3 below). Through the Healthy Hometowns Rural Health Transformation Program, Iowa seeks innovative models to address persistent gaps in cardiovascular care, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for patients with heart disease, vascular disease, and other conditions." While stroke care, screening, prevention, and treatment may possibly be a component of an applicant's proposal; the applicant should ensure all requirements of the Scope of Work are met (refer to RFP section 2.03). |
| Oct 1, 2026 2:35 PM | Does Option 1 require a Hub to have established interventional cardiology capabilities at the time of application, or would an applicant that plans to establish this capability during Year 1 be eligible? | For Option 1, the Hub is not required to have established interventional cardiology capabilities at the time of application. It would be recommended that applicants address how establishing interventional cardiology capabilities would be accomplished in their application. |
| Oct 1, 2026 2:36 PM | Does Option 1 require a Hub to have established interventional cardiology capabilities at the time of application, or would an applicant that plans to establish this capability during Year 1 be eligible? | For Option 1, the Hub is not required to have established interventional cardiology capabilities at the time of application. It would be recommended that applicants address how establishing interventional cardiology capabilities would be accomplished in their application. |
| Oct 2, 2026 5:05 PM | Reference: Section 1.03, Eligibility Criteria Option 1 – Regional Hub and Spoke Network, which requires the applicant "Hub" site to be physically located in a rural area of Iowa as defined by the HRSA Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. Question: Will the Agency consider amending Option 1's eligibility criteria to permit a Hub site located outside a HRSA-designated rural area, provided that a defined minimum percentage of the total award (for example, no less than 50%) is contractually subcontracted to and allocated among the Network's Rural Spoke members? We ask because many rural facilities best positioned to serve as Spokes lack the administrative infrastructure — grants management, compliance reporting, HIE integration, and 24/7 interventional or emergency cardiology staffing — to independently sustain a Hub-level role, even where clinical need is clear. Pairing an established regional Hub with a mandated minimum Spoke-funding allocation would preserve the program's rural-access intent while improving Networks' odds of meeting the RFP's full deliverable set. We appreciate the Agency's consideration and welcome the opportunity to discuss further. | Iowa HHS refers potential applicants to review RFP Section 1.03 Eligibility Requirements. |
| Oct 5, 2026 10:54 AM | 1. Can Rural Health Clinics owned by the applicant serve as Network Members/Spokes for Option 3, and will such arrangements be scored equally to networks composed of unaffiliated organizations? 2. Are existing cardiology services, EKGs, echocardiography, cardiac rehabilitation equipment, AEDs, and telehealth equipment eligible for replacement if the replacement increases reliability, quality, or access? 3. How does the Agency define "advanced diagnostics" for Option 3? | 1. Hub and Spokes in Option 3 must be separate organizations, but they may be affiliated organizations. Affiliated and unaffiliated Hub and Spoke network applicants will be scored with the same scoring criteria (refer to RFP section 4.02). 2. Replacement equipment is a potentially allowable cost (refer to RFP section 2.04(D). The Agency will review all line-item budgets for allowable costs and request CMS pre-approval of all Equipment items. 3. The Agency does not have a definition for advanced diagnostics. Please refer to RFP Section 2.01 for possible examples that are not an all-inclusive list, "Improving Rural access to advanced diagnostics and imaging, such as calcium scoring and CT angiography." |