Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) · Posted July 20, 2026
Application Due
August 26, 2026
Q&A Deadline
July 28, 2026
the Rural Health Transformation – OTP Workforce Incentive Program, RFA #2026HCA9. The program aims to stabilize, expand, and sustain the rural WA OTP workforce through financial incentives such as recruitment and retention bonuses, relocation assistance, childcare stipends, workforce training, capacity payments, infrastructure support for flexible work arrangements, clinician licensure expenses, and other approved incentives associated with a five-year rural service commitment. Incentives must directly support workforce retention for clinicians and positions defined by WA DOH—including SUDP counselors, mental health professionals, nurses, medical prescribers, certified SUD peers, pharmacists, perinatal providers, and related multidisciplinary roles—serving rural populations. Urban applicants are eligible if rural clients are demonstrably served per CMS/HRSA/OFM definitions. Applicants are responsible for tracking and reporting rural service and workforce obligations, and hardship waivers and prorated repayment formulas are permitted for incomplete service commitments (see RFA and Fact Sheet guidance). The contract structure uses a Professional Services Contract for the program term (through September 30, 2031), with annual Work Orders for funding and deliverables. Awards for Budget Period #1 range from $100,000–$500,000 per organization (total available: $6.2 million), with funds required to be expended by September 30, 2027. Budget Period #2 (pending CMS approval) similarly offers $100,000–$500,000 per organization with a requirement to expend funds by September 30, 2028. Each OTP site may submit only one application per location. All funds are 100% federal (CFDA RHTCMS332044), and compliance with federal/state regulations is required. Indirect costs are allowed with documentation of a current federally approved rate. Selected applicants must accept contract terms as provided; exceptions require submission of a redlined Word version of the Sample Draft Contract. See RFA for full program details, scoring, required documentation, eligibility exceptions, and reporting requirements.
Applicants must: (A) be licensed to do business in Washington or provide a commitment to obtain WA licensure within 30 days of selection; (B) be a Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) licensed by WA Department of Health and also a licensed WA Opioid Treatment Program currently providing OUD services meeting Chapter 18.205 RCW and 246-811 WAC requirements; (C) employ at least one clinician (SUDP counselor, mental health professional, nurse, medical prescriber, pharmacist, perinatal provider, or certified SUD peer) properly licensed by WA DOH; (D) accept and offer services to Medicare and Medicaid patients; (E) serve Washington rural health clients (site may be urban if rural populations are demonstrably served per HRSA/OFM/CMS definitions).
Required attachments
Applications must be submitted electronically via email to HCAProcurements@hca.wa.gov, using required attachment formats: Exhibit A (Word/PDF), Exhibit B (Word/PDF), Exhibit D (Excel), Exhibit C (Word, only if requesting contract changes). No zipped files. Authorized representative signature is required. Late or incomplete submissions are disqualified unless substantiated HCA email outage occurs.
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Application Prep
Application #: 2026HCA9
Reference: RFA #2026HCA9
Program: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT), CFDA RHTCMS332044, Initiative 6.4
Match: None required
Performance: Performance Period #1: Date of Execution (Sept-Oct 2026) – September 30, 2027 (Budget Period #1 funds must be expended by Sept 30, 2027) | Performance Period #2: October 31, 2026 – September 30, 2028 (Budget Period #2 funds must be expended by Sept 30, 2028; CMS approval required)
Key Dates:
Review Criteria:
Budget Range
Contact
RFA Coordinator
Megan Clark
HCAProcurements@hca.wa.gov
Date of Issue
July 20, 2026
Applicant Questions Due
July 28, 2026, 2:00 PM PST
HCA Response to Questions
August 4, 2026
Application Due
August 26, 2026, 2:00 PM PST
Award Notification begins
September 16, 2026