Civil Money Penalty Grant Opportunity

The State of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Division, is issuing a Request for Proposal to award grants through the Civil Money Penalty Quality Improvement Initiative (CMPQII) Grant Program, which funds quality improvement projects in federally certified nursing facilities using civil money penalties collected from nursing home violations. Eligible applicants include certified nursing facilities, advocacy organizations, state agencies, educational institutions, and other qualified stakeholders seeking to implement projects that protect or improve quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents. Eligible project categories include resident and family councils, consumer information development, training to improve quality of care, activities to improve quality of life, mental and behavioral health services, and workforce enhancement initiatives. Deliverables include baseline reports within 30 days of contract start, quarterly interim reports, and final reports within 60 days of project completion that document outcomes, challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability plans. Key evaluation criteria require applicants to demonstrate organizational capability to implement projects effectively without conflicts of interest or duplication of existing federally funded services, submit complete application packets including state supplemental certifications, CMS CMPRP applications, CMS budget templates, and letters of support from participating nursing homes. The critical timeline includes written questions due by April 22, 2026, proposal responses due by May 29, 2026, project selection by July 22, 2026, CMS approval submission by July 22, 2026, award announcements by September 22, 2026, contract execution by November 2, 2026, and project start dates of January 1, 2027, with contract terms of one year extendable up to two additional one-year periods.

There are no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though applicants must complete minority impact statements assessing potential effects on minority populations. All applicants must meet federal certification requirements, comply with drug-free workplace standards, non-discrimination policies, and Pro-Children Act provisions, with certifications regarding debarment status and absence of conflicts of interest required from all proposed subcontractors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in this procurement. The Iowa CMP fund balance as of December 31, 2025, totals $21,298,291.96, with maximum funding amounts that are category-specific and range from $6,000 per nursing home for one-time resident and family council or consumer information projects to $18,000 maximum for three-year projects depending on project type. Award amounts vary by project category, with most training and quality of life improvement categories capped at $6,000 per nursing home per year, while multi-year projects may accumulate up to $18,000 over three years. All awards are subject to final approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and payment is made quarterly in arrears based on invoices documenting services rendered and compliance with deliverables and performance measures.