Information about Massachusetts Rural Health Transformation Program Application
Applications are now open for the Massachusetts Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Rural Partner - Request for Applications (RFA).
Through this procurement, eligible entities will be able to apply for a range of supports across RTHP activities.
RHTP is a five-year federal investment designed to strengthen rural health across Massachusetts. The program has three goals:
- Ensure rural residents can access needed health care services
- Generate opportunities to improve the health and well-being of rural residents
- Scale systems, policies, and investments to meet the unique needs of rural communities
RHTP is organized across seven Initiatives and 34 Activities designed to address priority needs in rural healthcare access, population health, workforce, technology, community health, emergency medical services, and facility modernization. This RFA provides eligible applicants with the opportunity to seek support for activities across six of the seven RHTP Initiatives.
One application process for multiple activities
Instead of asking organizations to navigate several separate funding opportunities, the Rural Partner Request for Applications provides one starting point for many of the RHTP activities. Organizations can identify their local needs and current work, align those to activities they are eligible for, and apply for supports from that activity.
Depending on the activity, support available to selected applicants may include:
- Organizational assessments
- Planning and design input
- Implementation and program administration support
- Technical assistance
- Local capacity building to increase access
- Direct funding
- Equipment
- Consulting supports
- Recruitment and testing for pilots
Eligible entities include:
- Rural hospitals
- Rural health clinics (RHCs)
- Rural-located or rural-serving federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)
- Rural-located health care providers or practices
- Rural-located nursing facilities
- Rural-located community-based organizations (CBOs) / social service organizations (SSOs)
- Rural municipalities
- Emergency medical services (EMS) / ambulance providers
Eligible Entity Definitions are included in the RFA. Eligibility varies by activity area. Organizations should review the specific requirements for each activity before applying.
Applications close Monday, October 26 at 5:00 PM ET. Questions regarding this application may be submitted by email to EOHHS-Procurement@mass.gov until Wednesday, October 14 at 5:00 PM ET.
To access application materials, please visit the RHTP Rural Partners RFA page on COMMBUYS.
The Rural Partner Application must be submitted through COMMBUYS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ procurement system. Because RHTP is funded with federal dollars and has specific oversight and accountability requirements, Massachusetts must administer these funds in accordance with 801 CMR 21.00 and Office of the Comptroller policies. Using COMMBUYS helps us meet these requirements while providing a consistent and transparent process for receiving and reviewing applications. We want to support you in your use of COMMBUYS. Please see below for guidance on how to use COMMBUYS.
There is also a longer-term benefit to registering: once your organization is registered in COMMBUYS, you can use that account to respond to future Commonwealth opportunities, including opportunities outside of RHTP.
COMMBUYS registration tips and direct links to resources
If your organization is new to COMMBUYS, we strongly recommend starting the registration process early. The following resources and tips may help:
- Start with the registration video and job aid.
The Commonwealth provides step-by-step instructions for registering an organization:
- You only need to complete the mandatory fields to register.
You do not need to complete every field in COMMBUYS—focus on the fields marked as mandatory. This is especially helpful to know when completing the Categories and Certifications tab, where the only required items are:
- Business Structure
- Agreements
- Business Type
- You only need one Commodity/Service Code to register.
For organizations registering to apply for this opportunity, we recommend adding:
00-00-00 – Grant Opportunity
The code you select does not determine which opportunities your organization is eligible to apply for. Commodity/service codes are also used to help COMMBUYS identify opportunities about which your organization may wish to receive notifications.
- If your organization already has a COMMBUYS account, you cannot create a duplicate account.
If the Tax ID you enter is already in COMMBUYS, your organization has an existing account. If you do not know who has access to the account or need assistance gaining access, contact the OSD Help Desk (email and phone number listed below.
- Organizations applying through a fiscal agent should review the instructions for how the fiscal agent can add an associated organization.
COMMBUYS provides guidance for adding an organization associated with an already registered vendor:
Add an Associated Organization – COMMBUYS Job Aid
- The OSD Help Desk can assist with COMMBUYS registration and account issues.
Applicants should not hesitate to contact the Help Desk if they encounter difficulty with registration or accessing an existing organizational account.
OSD Help Desk
Email: OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov
Phone: 888-627-8283
Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Additional resources:
- Locating a Grant Posting (Public View) | Mass.gov
- Locating and Responding to Grant Postings in COMMBUYS | Mass.gov
To learn more about RHTP in Massachusetts, please visit Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) | Mass.gov.
For additional information on the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program, please visit: Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program | CMS
Signed,
The Massachusetts Rural Health Transformation Program Team
This RFA is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $162,005,238.13, 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.