Rural Health Transformation Program Grant Management and Compliance Services

The State of Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services (SAS), Office of State Procurement, is seeking a single contractor to provide Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant management and compliance services. The solicitation targets a firm with extensive experience in federal grant management, specifically focusing on administering RHTP grants in compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance). Qualified contractors must demonstrate at least ten years of experience managing federal grants, particularly multi-year programs exceeding $1 billion, and possess specific expertise in rural healthcare. Key deliverables include end-to-end grant management, subrecipient monitoring, financial and compliance reporting, pre-award and post-award requirements, and technical assistance to rural healthcare stakeholders. The evaluation process will utilize a comprehensive scoring method, with 700 points allocated to the technical proposal and 300 points to the cost proposal, for a total possible 1,000 points. Proposals are due December 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM Central Time through the ARBuy eProcurement system, with interviews scheduled for December 10-11, 2025, and anticipated contract award in January 2026. The initial contract term is three years, with options to renew for up to four additional one-year terms, for a maximum aggregate term of seven years.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Administrative fees for grant management are capped at ten percent of total grant awards, with the contractor required to have certified professionals on staff, including a CPA, JD, and grant management specialist. The contractor must maintain a physical presence in Arkansas for 15% of the contract term and assign specific key personnel. The total proposed budget for the Rural Health Transformation Program is $1,000,000,000 across five fiscal years, with administrative costs capped at 2.82% of total funding. The program aims to strengthen rural healthcare delivery across Arkansas's 63 fully rural counties, targeting approximately 1.3 million residents and addressing challenges in rural healthcare access, including support for 30 of 47 rural hospitals at risk of closure. Contractors must comply with various state procurement requirements, including certifications regarding boycotts of Israel, illegal immigration, and foreign adversary industries. The successful contractor will be responsible for managing four integrated initiatives: Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART); Promoting Access, Coordination, and Transformation (PACT); Recruitment, Innovation, Skills, and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR); and Telehealth, Health-Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE).