# Delaware Medical School Partnership – Rural Health Transformation Program Delaware seeks a visionary partner to establish the State’s first in-state, four-year medical school, with operations based in converted or renovated facilities (not new construction) and a strong rural health focus. The opportunity is driven by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funded by CMS, with up to $100 million available over five years to support launch costs, faculty and staff recruitment, curriculum establishment, and rural site partnerships. The overarching goal is to create a sustainable 'Train Here, Stay Here' pipeline of locally trained primary care physicians—addressing critical shortages in rural Sussex and Kent Counties—and to expand rural clinical and graduate medical education opportunities statewide. The selected partner must demonstrate capacity for sustainable governance, academic leadership, and financial planning beyond the initial federal investment. Partnerships with at least five rural health care facilities and formalization of at least three rural GME agreements are required, as are plans for program evaluation, compliance with CMS requirements, and a clear sustainability and fundraising strategy. The first student cohort (minimum 40 students) is expected to enroll by Fall 2028. Both accredited allopathic and osteopathic (LCME or COCA) medical schools—either as branch campuses or single institutions—are eligible. ## Key facts - Status: Closed - Type: RFP - Issued by: Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health (Delaware) - Posted: 2026-02-09 - Questions due: 2026-02-27 - Application due: 2026-03-27 - Funding: $100.0M - Eligible applicants: Accredited allopathic medical schools (LCME), Accredited osteopathic medical schools (COCA), Eligible branch campuses of accredited medical schools - How to apply: Electronic submission via Euna Procurement Portal (https://dhss.bonfirehub.com) by March 27, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT, following instructions in RFP HSS-26-061. - Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS) - Official source: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_rfp.pdf ## Eligibility Eligible applicants are accredited allopathic (LCME) or osteopathic (COCA) medical schools—either single institutions or branch campuses—with demonstrated experience in rural health workforce development. Preference is given to those able to address Delaware's workforce needs in primary care and with capacity to engage Kent and Sussex County partners. Institutions must meet accreditation and licensure requirements and demonstrate the ability to lead sustainable program operations. ## Requirements Applicants must: (1) Provide proof of LCME or COCA institutional accreditation; (2) Submit Delaware business licensure or application in progress; (3) Demonstrate plans for governance, leadership recruitment, faculty/staff hiring, curriculum development, and sustainable operations; (4) Commit to recruiting at least 10 full-time core faculty/administrators by Sep 2027 and enrolling minimum 40 students by Fall 2028; (5) Engage at least five rural healthcare facilities (with site preference in Kent/Sussex) by Fall 2027 and formalize at least three rural GME agreements by Fall 2028; (6) Demonstrate a fundraising and financial sustainability strategy for operations beyond the five-year RHTP period; (7) Complete and submit all required forms: Vendor Information Form, Non-Collusion Statement, Exception Form, Confidentiality Form, Business References, Subcontractor Form (if applicable), Detailed Project Cost Template. Applicants must use the Euna Procurement Portal (formerly Bonfire) for submission. ## Required attachments - Vendor Information Form - Non-Collusion Statement - Exception Form - Confidentiality Form - Business References - Subcontractor Form (if applicable) - Project Cost Template ## Application package and source documents - [DE - 2026 - DSBF: Mike Franks scores fifth straight win (state-of-delaware-opens-initial-rfps-to-transform-rural-health-care)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/ab52b025-b58b-4d5d-a3e5-b36e421fabe7/file) — official: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/02/09/state-of-delaware-opens-initial-rfps-to-transform-rural-health-care - [DE - 2026 - State of Delaware Medical School Partnership Request for Proposal HSS 26-061 (RFP - Professional Services)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/5017e4d0-6d70-49e9-b1d7-21e572ee6520/file) (primary) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_rfp.pdf - [Professional Services Agreement Template (Delaware Department of Health and Social Services) (Appendix D)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/ef561712-13e1-4da7-aca7-1d63653ff32c/file) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_AppD.pdf - [DE - 2026 - Delaware RHT Plan Application (Appendix E)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/fbec03cb-e27b-4b05-a795-4061647dbfec/file) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_AppE.pdf - [Project Cost Template Appendix F - Delaware Department of Social Services (Appendix F)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/bed555aa-b0a0-48d8-9fb9-1cdd296e52c2/file) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_AppF.pdf - [DE - 2026 - ADDENDUM #1 – HSS 26-061 Medical School Partnership (Addendum 1 - Q&A)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/aac7ff0c-dcb7-4140-9e1d-3b912d7042a9/file) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_qa.pdf - [HSS-26-061 - Medical School Partnership Closed on 3/27/2026 @ 1 PM EDT (Press Release)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/1ea96d95-0aec-4425-9119-e6b7e9491800/file) — official: https://bidcondocs.delaware.gov/HSS/HSS26061-MEDSCHPSHP_pr.pdf - [DE - 2026 - Delaware Announces RHT Funding to Strengthen Physician Workforce (Official Delaware physician workforce award announcement)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/168102e7-be76-4373-98df-09ff8f352352/file) — official: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/10/14/delaware-announces-rural-health-transformation-funding-to-strengthen-physician-workforce More Delaware RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/de (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/de.md) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/delaware-medical-school-partnership-rural-health-transformation-program--70e2ea51a4 — data as of 2026-10-15. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.