The National Rural Health Information Clearinghouse Program, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), aims to serve as a national resource hub for information on rural health issues. This program offers essential data, tools, and news to help rural communities improve healthcare access and outcomes. It focuses on bridging gaps in healthcare knowledge and best practices for the more than 60 million Americans living in rural areas. The program will support healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers through freely accessible information and resources.

The opportunity will award one five-year cooperative agreement for a total funding amount of $3.5 million, subject to federal appropriations. The project is set to begin on June 1, 2025, with an expected award date of May 1, 2025. Applicants must submit their applications by December 9, 2024, through Grants.gov. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions, non-profits, government agencies, independent school districts, and Native American tribal organizations. Individual applicants are not eligible. The program does not require cost-sharing.

The primary goals of the clearinghouse are to provide timely rural health updates, share policy analyses, and disseminate best practices and innovations from rural healthcare initiatives. This information will be accessible via a centralized web platform. The recipient organization will be responsible for operating and maintaining this resource hub, offering technical assistance, and ensuring that key stakeholders remain informed of the latest developments. The scope of work includes activities such as producing newsletters, hosting webinars, and curating online toolkits.

The program emphasizes collaboration and expects the awardee to work closely with national, state, and local stakeholders, as well as rural community-based organizations. The recipient will be required to respond to inquiries via multiple channels, maintain a directory of rural health funding opportunities, and track relevant policy documents. HRSA will provide oversight and technical assistance, sharing information about emerging rural health challenges and reviewing work products such as articles, guides, and webinars.

To ensure compliance, applicants must adhere to all federal guidelines, including accessibility requirements under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. A successful application will demonstrate experience in rural health communication, program management, and web-based information dissemination. Additionally, the applicant must have a partnership with a health sciences-focused academic library and sufficient technical infrastructure to host large volumes of data online.

The review process for this cooperative agreement includes both an initial eligibility check and a merit review. Evaluation criteria include the applicant’s understanding of rural health needs (10 points), their approach to addressing these needs (30 points), the ability to track performance outcomes (5 points), the expected impact of the project (10 points), organizational capacity and resources (40 points), and the appropriateness of the requested budget (5 points). The grant encourages innovation in information-sharing and technical assistance, along with flexibility in responding to evolving rural healthcare challenges.

Following the award, the recipient must submit annual progress reports and maintain financial accountability throughout the grant’s duration. HRSA will monitor the project’s compliance with federal policies and assess risks associated with the management of federal funds. The program offers a comprehensive support framework, including technical assistance from HRSA’s Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as cybersecurity guidance to protect any personal information collected during the project.

This funding opportunity represents a key effort by the federal government to close the healthcare gap between rural and urban areas by providing timely, high-quality information and facilitating best practices for rural health professionals and communities.