RHTP Support of Community & Clinical Linkages

The Minnesota Department of Health is requesting proposals for statewide technical assistance to rural healthcare providers participating in the Rural Health Transformation Program, with responses due August 7, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time and questions due July 27, 2026. Minnesota-based vendors and small businesses are preferred; businesses majority owned and operated by racial minorities, women, persons with substantial physical disabilities, veterans, or service-disabled veterans, or those located in economically disadvantaged counties may pursue certification through Minnesota's Small Business Procurement Program.

The selected vendor(s) will provide coordinated technical assistance to approximately 125 rural healthcare organizations statewide—including hospitals, clinics, Tribal Nations, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics—in two focus areas: Community-Based Preventive Care and Chronic Disease Management, and Sustain Access to Services to Keep Care Closer to Home. Key deliverables include a one-to-one technical assistance provision plan within the first three months, collaborative networking opportunities, written technical assistance materials, identification of existing tools and best practices, culturally relevant implementation materials, and bimonthly progress summaries to MDH. The vendor must provide technical assistance to a minimum of 125 grantees at least once monthly per organization, participate in monthly meetings with MDH staff, engage in quarterly collaborative partnerships with other RHTP technical assistance vendors, and submit an annual progress report. Technical assistance will be delivered in both virtual and in-person formats. All costs—including compensation, travel, equipment, supplies, and administrative expenses—must be incorporated into hourly rates with no separate travel reimbursement provided.

The contract runs from August 2026 through October 2028, with potential extension until October 2030 in increments determined by the State. The State reserves the right to award to single or multiple vendors based on best value. Funding is entirely from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The evaluation will occur in three phases: responsiveness review, scoring across five factors (understanding of goals, work plan, methodology, qualifications and experience, and cost), and finalist selection. Responses must be submitted through the SWIFT Supplier Portal with cost proposals as separate documents. The contract is subject to federal compliance requirements under 2 CFR 200, including HIPAA protections, SAM.gov subcontractor verification, and mandatory insurance coverage ($2 million Commercial General Liability, Professional/Technical Errors and Omissions, and Network Security and Privacy Liability).