Rural Texas Strong — RHTP Sub-Grantee Solicitations Framework
Texas
Eligible Entity Types
Funding
Tribal Provisions
Texas has three federally recognized tribes — the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua), and Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas — with a combined enrolled membership of approximately 6,500 people. No tribal set-aside or dedicated tribal application track has been published in HHSC's RHTP materials as of March 22, 2026. Tribal health programs are likely eligible as rural health clinics or under general "rural entity" eligibility language, but the specific eligibility determination for 638 contractors and tribal health departments has not been addressed in HHSC's published guidance. The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe operates under Title I self-determination contracts with IHS — whether that status affects RHTP eligibility has not been addressed. Contact HHSC Provider Finance for eligibility clarification; note that HHSC has stated it is not meeting with potential applicants during the solicitation process to maintain procurement fairness.
Application Guide
Texas received $281,319,361 in Year 1 RHTP funding — the largest single-state award nationally, representing over $1.4 billion across the five-year program period. The lead agency is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Provider Finance Department. Texas brands the program as "Rural Texas Strong: Supporting Health and Wellness."
Texas distributes funds through a county-by-county competitive model using the state's Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) procurement system. HHSC has committed to at least one award per rural county. Counties with a single eligible applicant receive awards directly; counties with multiple eligible applicants proceed to an oral presentation process scored by a reviewer panel. This guarantees geographic reach across rural Texas but means competition intensity varies significantly by county.
Each of the six initiatives uses a different procurement instrument — organizations must track their applicable instrument type separately. HHSC has issued a procurement fairness statement: no meetings with potential vendors or applicants will be held during the solicitation process. All information must be obtained from published ESBD solicitations.
October 30, 2026 is the confirmed Year 1 obligation deadline (award period December 29, 2025 – October 30, 2026). Year 1 federal expenditure deadline is September 30, 2027.
Confirmed eligible entity types from HHSC published guidance include Critical Access Hospitals (91 in Texas — highest count nationally), rural hospitals and Rural Hospital Districts (Initiative 1 — direct awards), FQHCs and FQHC look-alikes (225 sites), Rural Health Clinics (368 RHCs), clinically integrated networks with at least 60% rural provider membership, and tribal organizations (specific eligibility determination for 638 contractors not yet addressed).
Active — multiple solicitations released across 6 initiatives via ESBD. HHSC is NOT meeting with potential applicants during active solicitations. Award period: December 29, 2025 – October 30, 2026. Subscribe to GovDelivery and monitor ESBD (txsmartbuy.gov/esbd) weekly. Contact (non-solicitation period only): RuralTexasStrong@hhs.texas.gov.