Opportunity Overview
The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission administers the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program using funds collected from federally certified nursing facilities that did not maintain compliance with federal requirements. Tennessee reinvests a portion of those funds in projects that directly improve nursing-home residents’ quality of care or quality of life.
Current 2026 RFA
The current competitive round is RFA 31607-27502 with an application deadline of September 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The controlling RFA states that deadlines are critical and that the online submission clock determines timeliness. Written-question deadlines and any remaining procurement milestones should be checked in the current RFA materials.
Who Can Apply
Tennessee encourages nursing homes, healthcare systems, state agencies, universities, provider associations, nonprofit organizations, and other qualified organizations to propose projects that benefit residents of Tennessee nursing homes. Projects led by an organization other than the participating nursing home should include the required facility support and participation documentation.
Allowable Project Strategy
The strongest proposals are resident-centered quality-improvement, education, training, engagement, or quality-of-life initiatives that are clearly outside routine nursing-home operating obligations. CMP funds may not be used to pay for ordinary nursing-home services or supplies already required of the facility, to expand existing statutory programs, or to finance capital improvements or construction.
N9+ / Dr. Miltie Strategic Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. The program is valuable to skilled nursing facilities because it provides a recurring federal-state quality-improvement funding pathway with a direct resident-benefit test.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. The current CMP rules are not a defensible equipment or telemedicine purchasing pathway. Atlas should not position N9+, QC Healthcare, complex technology, medical equipment, routine staffing, or telemedicine service costs as eligible unless Tennessee provides explicit written approval for a specific project.
2026 RFA Controls and Scoring
The August 24, 2026 RFA permits one proposal per applicant for this RFA and limits each grant project to 36 months. Non-nursing-home applicants must provide a signed letter of support from every participating nursing home, including facility letterhead and contact information, the CMS Certification Number, exact project title and timeframe, acknowledgement that funding counts against the facility category cap, a full-duration project commitment, and an authorized signature. Tennessee states that applications will not be approved when an applicant plans to recruit nursing homes only after funding is awarded.
Tier-two scoring totals 100 points: Organizational Capabilities 10; Expected Outcomes 40; Results Measurement 20; Benefits to Nursing Home Residents 20; and Funding/Budget 10. Applications that advance through State review are then submitted to CMS for final approval.
Application Strategy
Applicants should define the measurable resident outcome first, map every cost to that outcome, document why the activity is not a routine facility responsibility, secure all participating-facility commitments, complete the Tennessee CMP application and budget templates, and submit through the state’s online CMP submission process by the controlling deadline.
Verified source: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program and current How to Apply page for RFA 31607-27502.