AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services

Sourcewell, a Minnesota local government unit and service cooperative, is requesting proposals for the AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services, with proposals due October 6, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Central Time. The resulting procurement solution will be available to Sourcewell Participating Entities — thousands of governmental, higher education, K-12 education, nonprofit, tribal government, and other public agencies across the United States.

The solicitation seeks technology-enabled solutions addressing one or more of five problem areas: transportation access and coordination; local access to primary, specialty, and oral care; managing chronic conditions; last-mile delivery of essentials; and strengthening the business of rural access. The scope is innovation and problem-solving capability rather than supply of standardized goods or conventional services.

Sourcewell Participating Entities span the nation and include state agencies, county and municipal governments, school districts, higher education institutions, tribal governments, and nonprofits. Proposals must be submitted through the Sourcewell Procurement Portal at https://proportal.sourcewell-mn.gov; submissions via other channels will not be considered. Late proposals will not be accepted. No incumbent is identified, and no business enterprise has held an identical or substantially similar contract with Sourcewell within the past five years.