Note: I’m quoted in this article on Marketplace: “States bet big on rural health startups, with a Silicon Valley twist”. I’ve done a deep dive into Catalyst funds (and other tech investments) in every state. Look for more in 30 days in our next quarterly report, available to all paod subscribers. Meantime, peep previous:
2026 Q2 Newsletter Activity Index: state-by state, topic-by-topic deeplinks
Q2 RFP Review / Q3 RFP Watcher: Every procurement from Q2, near-term contracting outlook, and state-by-state analysis
The 50-State RHTP Field Guide: downloadable PDF with RHT personality, program maturity, federal outlays, open procurements, engagement activity, rural geography, and contacts
Rural Health Transformation Program State-by-State Reference Guide: an independent reference that collects scattered facts.
In this issue:
Minnesota opens the 2027 Community Clinic Grant at $561,000, down from $1.55 million, with no RHTP money in it
Montana swaps its homepage banner to the FY26 Community Integrated Health Pilot Site Grant, rural EMS only, due September 15
Utah opens RHTP Evaluation Contract Solicitation, $8.2 million for one monitoring and evaluation vendor, due September 15
Nebraska awards $5.5 million to 13 providers under Initiative 5.3, one day after applications closed
Montana publishes FY26 DPHHS Community Integrated Health Pilot Site Grant, rural EMS only, due September 15
The pilot grant runs on Submittable and closes September 15. Eligibility is narrow: emergency medical service agencies located in or serving rural areas in Montana, with priority to agencies already running a Community Integrated Health program that need funds to stay operational or expand. Applicants must show they can administratively manage a CIH program and secure medical director oversight. Urban and metro agencies qualify only if their service area reaches rural or frontier ground.
Equipment, vehicles, technology, and supplies purchased with grant funds must be used for the approved CIH scope of work and eligible rural or frontier service area.
No dollar figure, no award count, no per-award maximum is published anywhere on the application or the grants page. Questions go to Angie Brakefield at angela.brakefield@mt.gov.
This is Montana’s second EMS-facing line in six weeks, after the $4 million EMS Equipment Grant that closed August 15, and it sits alongside RHTP Emergency Medical Dispatch, DPHHS-RFP-2027-0692AB, whose Q&A closes September 9 and proposals September 23. Against $233 million, Montana is spending its first year on ambulances.
Utah opens the RHTP Evaluation Contract Solicitation, $8.2 million for one monitoring and evaluation vendor, due September 15
Utah is buying the firm that will grade Utah. Up to $1,668,126.29 in the first year and up to $8,243,892.29 across five, one award expected, applications open August 31 through September 15 at 10:00 a.m. MDT.
The purpose of this RFSQ is to obtain statements of qualifications from companies to provide monitoring and evaluation services for the Utah Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). ... The RHTP Monitoring and Evaluation Contract will provide critical analytical support, evaluating whether the program achieved the intended outcomes, assessing the impact of the seven initiatives...
Three mechanics that change how you bid this one. It is a Request for Statements of Qualifications under Utah Procurement Code 63G-6a Part 15, for Design Professional Service Providers and Consultants — the highest-ranked vendor wins and price is not the lever. Questions must be asked on Bonfire by September 11 at 10:30 a.m. MDT, and you have to be registered to ask one or to read anyone else’s. And the state states the clock outright: “Estimated start date: October 15, 2026. Funding must be obligated by October 30, 2026. An executed contract constitutes a funding obligation.”
For-profit, non-profit and government entities are all eligible, each with its own proof of standing and active Utah vendor registration.
Two other moves on the same page yesterday. SHIFT 3.4 New Models of Care closed September 1 at 5:00 p.m. MT — up to $10 million, 12 anticipated awards — and its RFGA packet came off the page. SHIFT 3.3 Rural EMS stays open, up to $12,500,000, due September 20 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
