RFA 202606106 QA Summary_Part 2_FINAL.xlsx

This is a Questions and Answers summary document related to a Rural Health Transformation funding opportunity administered by the Maine Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The funding initiative seeks to initiate or expand Community Paramedicine services in rural areas of Maine, with applications due August 17, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. local time. The anticipated contract period runs from September 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Eligible applicants include all Maine EMS licensed agencies, including non-transporting and ground ambulance services, which may collaborate regionally. The lead agency must obtain or maintain a Community Paramedicine license throughout the contract period. Individual agencies may request up to $500,000 in funding, while regional groups may request up to $750,000 when including collaborative projects such as quality assurance, quality improvement, educational initiatives, or collaborative planning activities. Applicants will submit for one year and must reapply for each new project period.

The Department anticipates $4,964,064 in total available funding across all awards for FY2026. Allowable uses of funds include prevention and chronic disease management, provider payments, consumer technology solutions, training and technical assistance, workforce recruitment and retention, information technology advances, behavioral health services, innovative care models, capital expenditures and infrastructure improvements, and provider collaboration. Non-allowable uses include pre-award costs, new construction or building expansion, lobbying, and activities designed to supplant existing state or local funding. Notably, renovations or alterations are permitted if clearly linked to program goals. There is no specific cap on the amount that can be used for salaries or other categories. The Department will evaluate applications on a 100-point scale weighted across Organization Qualifications and Experience (10 points), Rurality (20 points), Proposed Project (45 points), and Budget (25 points). Awarded applicants must provide quarterly updates, project deliverables, and case studies documenting lessons learned. Questions regarding the opportunity were due August 4, 2026.