# Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4 (Round 2): The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is accepting applications for Rural Texas Strong Initiative 4 (Round 2): The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team. The program is supported by CMS as part of Texas's Rural Health Transformation Program award (100% CMS/USDHHS funded). Purpose: assist eligible rural healthcare providers with recruiting and training healthcare professionals in rural Texas communities by building local education/training pipelines and developing retention strategies for providers practicing in rural areas.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Office of Rural Hospital Finance (Texas)
- Posted: 2026-07-15
- Application due: 2026-08-26
- Eligible applicants: State Agency, Rural Healthcare Provider
- How to apply: Online via Grants Portal
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://resources.hhs.texas.gov/rfa/hhs0017618

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants are rural healthcare providers located in the State of Texas. Additional organizational and geographic eligibility criteria may be specified in the full solicitation document.

## Requirements

Applicants must propose projects that support recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare professionals in rural Texas communities. Detailed requirements are described in the full RFA.

## Application package and source documents

- [TX - 2026 - The Rural Texas Strong Program - Initiative 4 (Round 2): The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/4f01153b-1621-41a9-a1c4-0a932dad31af/file) (primary) — official: https://resources.hhs.texas.gov/rfa/hhs0017618
- [TX - 2026 - Exhibit G, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Certification (RFA No. HHS0017618) (Exhibit G, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Certification)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/93c71e92-4ccf-4ecb-adb7-460f569211de/file) — official: https://grants.hhs.texas.gov/vforcesite/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000uYp3DAAS
- [TX - 2026 - Exhibit I, Grants Management System (GMS) External Portal Information (RFA No. HHS0017618) (Exhibit I, Grants Management System (GMS) External Portal Information)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/d0895fdb-671d-40d3-bfae-dbd9eae102e2/file) — official: https://grants.hhs.texas.gov/vforcesite/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000uYT12AAG
- [TX - 2026 - Exhibit J, Texas Uniform General Conditions for Construction Contracts and 2025 Supplemental General Conditions (RFA No. HHS0017618) (Exhibit J, Texas Uniform General Conditions for Construction Contracts and 2025 Supplemental General Conditions)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/80667d88-ae84-4124-a4f2-d22339456750/file) — official: https://grants.hhs.texas.gov/vforcesite/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000uYDKOAA4
- [TX - 2026 - Exhibit L, Solicitation Form - Questions and Requests for Clarification (RFA No. HHS0017618) (Exhibit L, Solicitation Form - Questions and Requests for Clarification)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c47e1871-4835-4097-b929-d78f64c39298/file) — official: https://grants.hhs.texas.gov/vforcesite/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000uYw1MAAS
- [TX - 2024 - Rural Texas Strong Initiative 4, Round 2 Posting (Round 2 posting notification)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/2ae539de-f69b-4bab-8022-63e7363048e4/file)
- [TX - 2026 - HHSC Grant Agreement, Contract No. HHS00999999](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c82fe513-747e-4a35-bb28-6a09edda232d/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip#zip-entry=Rural%20Texas%20Strong%20_%20Grant%20Agreement%20Sample_2026.pdf&sha256=50d0fce0364a
- [Texas Initiative 4.2 Att B Categorical Budgets SAMPLE RHTP 2026 Document (Sample grant agreement - Attachment B, Categorical Budgets (Initiative 4.2, HHS0017618))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8f4d6b4f-d370-45f4-82de-c9f9021c046e/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip#zip-entry=Initiative%204.2_%20Att%20B%20Categorical%20Budgets%20SAMPLE.pdf&sha256=f1cba1f01886
- [TX - 2031 - Attachment A - Scope of Grant Project for Rural Texas Strong Program Initiative 4 (Sample grant agreement - Attachment A, Scope of Grant Project (Initiative 4.2, HHS0017618))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/0f3d8e41-86ff-4604-9bb7-10d352d816bc/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip#zip-entry=Initiative%204.2_%20Att%20A%20Scope%20of%20Grant%20Project%20SAMPLE.pdf&sha256=df74fd3b4a1c
- [TX - 2026 - Contract Routing and Execution Instructions for Awardees (Awardee contract execution - Contract Routing and Execution Instructions (HHSC))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c8d67dac-b0ac-4f49-a136-395f9c2c9245/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/cntrct-rout-exec.pdf
- [TX - 2026 - Docusign Grant Agreement Example (Awardee contract execution - Docusign grant agreement example (HHSC))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/fdc4ceee-8954-4163-9c6f-25c67bedb797/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/docusign-grant-agree-exmple.pdf
- [TX - 2026 - Sample Contract_Initiatives Att A and B (Awardee contract execution - Sample contract, Initiatives Attachments A and B (ZIP))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e42a43f6-b98a-4fce-8e3d-6d0fec6a09cf/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip
- [TX - 2026 - Sample Initiatives_Att C to J (Awardee contract execution - Sample contract, Attachments C to J (ZIP))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e5d74e27-7b38-4172-bddf-7edd52b4e748/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-c-j.zip

More Texas RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tx (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tx.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-texas-strong-program-initiative-4-round-2-the-next-generation-of-the-small--5b3c5db951 — data as of 2026-09-02.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.