# Iowa Rural Residency Program Development (RFP PHTHORC27001) The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting applications through RFP PHTHORC27001 for the Iowa Rural Residency Program. This initiative, with up to $10.5 million available statewide, aims to support the planning, design, and initial implementation of new or expanded ACGME-accredited rural residency programs or rural training tracks in Internal Medicine or Obstetrics/Gynecology. 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. ## Key facts - Status: Closed - Type: RFP - Issued by: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa) - Posted: 2026-06-03 - Questions due: 2026-07-15 - Application due: 2026-08-24 - Eligible applicants: Hospitals, Health systems, Graduate Medical Education (GME) consortia, Non-profit organizations - How to apply: Applications must be submitted online via IowaGrants.gov by 4:00 p.m. (local Iowa time) on August 24, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted by the system. - Funding source: state-funded, not RHTP - Official source: https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/19083/download ## 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 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. ## Required attachments - Itemized budget for contract year 1 - All required application forms via IowaGrants.gov ## Application package and source documents - [IA - 2026 - Notice of Intent to Release RFP for Iowa Rural Residency Program (Notice of Intent to Release — Iowa Rural Residency Program (RFP PHTHORC27001))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/73be73fc-7b84-446f-acdc-3d66a21f2d57/file) (primary) — official: https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/18747/download - [IA - 2026 - Request For Proposal Phthorc27002](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/a9dfe25f-0324-45c1-82a1-27bc9fa9300d/file) — official: https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/19083/download More Iowa RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ia (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ia.md) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-rural-residency-program-development-rfp-phthorc27001--c3bf7d707a — data as of 2026-10-24. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.