The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has opened the Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Innovative Maternal Care Request for Applications, reference VDH-26-705-0387. The RFA was issued September 4, 2026 and supports community-driven projects that improve prenatal, postpartum and related maternal healthcare access for rural Virginians.
Funding and Deadline
VDH anticipates approximately $11.6 million in funding during the initial performance period, with individual competitive organizational awards ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. Applications are due October 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST through the eVA procurement portal. Questions are due September 25, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, and VDH will post responses as an addendum after the Q&A period. VDH held the pre-application webinar on September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET; the Q&A period closed September 25, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET; applicants should review the resulting eVA addendum when posted.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be legally organized entities in good standing capable of receiving and administering federal subaward funding. Named eligible types include licensed EMS agencies, nonprofits, state/local/Tribal governmental entities, hospitals and health systems, FQHCs, primary care clinics, Rural Health Clinics and institutions of higher education. Applicants must hold active SAM.gov registration with a current UEI, have no active exclusions/debarments/suspensions, demonstrate 2 CFR Part 200 federal grant-management capacity, and operate in or directly serve one or more FORHP-designated rural Virginia localities.
No cost sharing or matching is required. The initial subaward period runs from execution through September 30, 2027. VDH indicates minimal availability for direct administrative costs and no availability for indirect costs. Awards are cost-reimbursement based and continuation may be available subject to performance and federal funding.
Technology, Equipment and N9+ Fit
The RFA expressly supports telehealth or virtual maternal health services, mobile maternal health, technology-enabled maternal care, prenatal and postpartum access, integrated behavioral health, substance-use treatment integration, care coordination, patient navigation, home visiting and other community-based models. Budget instructions expressly contemplate contractual or consultant services and equipment purchases when reasonable, necessary, allowable and directly related to the approved project.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 98/100. N9+ Fit Score: 93/100 — HIGH FIT. N9+ is a legitimate fit when an eligible maternal-health lead uses clinician-guided remote physical examination and connected vitals to expand prenatal/postpartum access, mobile maternal services, rural specialty access, virtual follow-up or technology-enabled care. The strongest Dr. Miltie capture path is as a technology vendor or implementation partner supporting an eligible maternal-health lead. A Dr. Miltie direct subrecipient application should not be treated as TRUE at this stage because the applicant must demonstrate maternal/rural healthcare delivery experience, federal subaward capacity, community relationships and implementation readiness that have not been verified for Dr. Miltie as lead applicant.
Rural Geography and Collaboration
Projects must benefit FORHP-designated rural Virginia communities identified in Appendix A. VDH strongly encourages collaborative applications, with one eligible lead applicant responsible for programmatic, financial, contractual and reporting requirements.
Application Operations
VDH identifies Brandon Rivenbark, Rural Hospital Program Manager, as the program contact. Applicants should use the controlling RFA, eVA posting and all future addenda. eVA has a scheduled blackout from September 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET through September 14, 2026 at 7:00 AM ET; VDH states that RFA materials will remain available on its Rural Health Transformation resource page during that period.