Iowa Rural Residency Program Development (RFP PHTHORC27001)

Summary

The program is intended to strengthen Iowa’s rural healthcare workforce by enhancing physician training opportunities in areas meeting federal rural criteria. Individual awards will not exceed $750,000 for the initial three-year base term (September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2029), with up to three additional one-year extensions possible for a maximum six-year contract term (ending no later than October 31, 2032). At least 50% of resident training must take place at sites meeting the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy definition of rural. Eligible applicants include Iowa-based hospitals, health systems, graduate medical education consortia, and non-profit organizations targeting counties with populations under 150,000 and not including university main campuses. Applications must include a detailed budget for the first contract year and be submitted via IowaGrants.gov. Only one application per service area is permitted per organization.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are Iowa hospitals, health systems, graduate medical education (GME) consortia, and non-profit organizations developing or expanding an ACGME-accredited rural residency program in Internal Medicine or Obstetrics/Gynecology. Programs must operate in Iowa counties with populations under 150,000, excluding university main campuses. At least 50% of residency training must occur at sites that meet the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy rural definition.

Requirements Checklist

• Applicants must propose the planning, design, and/or initial implementation of an ACGME-accredited rural residency program (Internal Medicine or Obstetrics/Gynecology), with at least half of resident training at federally defined rural sites. The submission must include a first-year itemized budget and all required forms via IowaGrants.gov. Only one application per service area is permitted. The base award cap is $750,000 for the initial three-year term. All applications are due by 4:00 p.m. (local Iowa time) on August 24, 2026. Contracts may be extended annually at the Agency’s discretion, not to exceed a total of six years.