Rural Regional Planning for Perinatal Care D6&7

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA #202603044) for Rural Regional Planning for Perinatal Care in Public Health Districts 6 and 7, representing a community-based planning and coordination procurement. The state seeks qualified organizations to establish and lead Rural Planning Groups focused on expanding access to high-quality perinatal care services in Penobscot County (excluding Southern Penobscot) and Piscataquis County (District 6), and Washington and Hancock Counties (District 7). Applicants must conduct comprehensive regional planning over a two-year contract period (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028) with key deliverables including a regional inventory of perinatal services within three months, identification of regional overarching goals within eight months, completion of a SWOT analysis within twelve months, and development of a model for regional continuity of perinatal care within eighteen months. Organizations must facilitate a minimum of four in-person regional planning sessions, conduct on-site visits to perinatal care facilities, submit quarterly progress reports, and present findings to the Department at least annually. Required qualifications include demonstrated organizational experience, healthcare and community partnership capabilities, ability to engage persons with lived experience through a Family Leadership Development process, and a comprehensive workplan addressing outreach efforts and facilitation strategies. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale based on Organization Qualifications and Experience (30 points), Proposed Project (40 points), and Budget (30 points). Applications must be submitted through the Vendor Self Service System (VSS) by April 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time, with questions due by April 3, 2026. Applicants may submit separate applications for each district if seeking to serve both regions.

The procurement imposes responsible applicant certification requirements, mandating that organizations and their principals are not debarred, suspended, or ineligible; have not been convicted of fraud or related offenses within three years; are not presently indicted; and are not foreign adversary entities or on prohibited company lists. No specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises are indicated in the available documentation. There are no incumbent vendors or existing contractors referenced in the RFA materials provided. The Department anticipates making two awards total, one for each district, with funding not to exceed $60,000 per application, subject to CMS approval and availability of funds. Allowable use of funds includes Rural Planning Group participant compensation, facilitator payments, data analysis and personnel time, meeting expenses, regional lead and administrative support staffing, and support for the Family Leadership Development process to engage persons with lived experience. Non-allowable costs are restricted per the CMS-2N2-25-001 Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model Grant Funding Opportunity guidelines. The application and proposed pricing structure must remain firm for 180 days from the bid opening date.