Digital Health Modernization and Technology Grant Program Consultant

The State of South Dakota Department of Health, through South Dakota Health Link (SDHL), is soliciting consultant services via Request for Proposal (RFP #26-09RHT-005) to manage the Digital Health Modernization and Technology Grant Program, a component of the statewide Rural Health Transformation initiative. The consultant will provide comprehensive grant program management services encompassing program planning and design, grant solicitation and applicant support, application review and award processes, grant monitoring and compliance, financial management, and program reporting across a five-year funding cycle. Primary objectives include establishing a clear, transparent, and compliant grant application and review process; successfully soliciting, evaluating, and assisting the State in awarding funds to eligible healthcare entities; ensuring grant recipients comply with technical, financial, and reporting requirements; and tracking measurable outcomes related to Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Information Exchange (HIE), Technology, and Equipment adoption. Key deliverables include a comprehensive statewide EHR adoption assessment (due within 120 days of contract start), finalized program guidelines and grant application materials, grant review committee training and scoring rubrics, a grant recipient performance tracking system, and monthly progress reports. The cost proposal must include consultant staffing costs, detailed budgets for three separate periods (April 1, 2026 through October 31, 2028), and travel expenses for 12 monthly in-person meetings in Madison or Sioux Falls, South Dakota, plus attendance at up to 10 community engagement events and 10 statewide conferences, with travel reimbursed at South Dakota state rates. A Letter of Intent is due March 5, 2026, with proposals due March 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT, and an anticipated award decision scheduled for April 14, 2026; inquiries must be submitted by the deadline to Kevin DeWald at kevin.dewald@state.sd.us.

The RFP does not identify set-aside designations, restrictions on respondent types, disadvantaged enterprise requirements, or incumbent vendors. Proposals must not exceed 50 pages and should be submitted electronically; the State reserves the right to negotiate all components with the highest-ranked offeror and may continue negotiations with successive offerors until an agreement is reached. The contract term is up to 31 months with an option to renew for an additional 12 to 24 months at the State's discretion based on future funding levels. Standard contract provisions require commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, and workers' compensation insurance as required by state law. While a specific award value or budget range is not explicitly stated in the available documentation, the consultant must provide a detailed cost proposal covering staffing, operational expenses, and travel for the specified contract periods. The program is designed to strengthen rural healthcare systems and improve access to quality care across South Dakota through strategic investments in HIT, HIE, cyber technology, and equipment, particularly among healthcare providers serving underserved populations and rural counties.