Montana American Indian AHEC Request for Proposal

The Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program is a federally funded initiative that aims to enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals through community and academic educational partnerships. 

The organization selected to host a Montana American Indian AHEC Center will lead the collaborative effort to join the other Montana regional entities to develop new and enhance existing programs while furthering state, education, and community interests addressing healthcare workforce concerns. This proposal seeks to allow candidates to apply to be the American Indian AHEC Center in Montana.                                                                                       

Award of the host agency resulting from this RFP will be based upon the most responsive applicant whose proposal meets the criteria of sponsoring the Montana American Indian AHEC in terms of collaboration, functionality, feasibility, and other factors as specified in this RFP, in addition to a full selection committee review.  

All organizations committed to supporting statewide healthcare workforce relationships with tribal nations and communities across the Montana are welcome to apply.

Please submit a Letter of Intent by 11:59 PM MT on October 31, 2024 to Kailyn Mock kailyn.mock@montana.edu.

Per HRSA guidelines (HRSA-22-053), the AHEC center shall meet the following requirements:  

• The center is a public or private organization whose structure, governance, and operation is independent from the recipient and the parent institution of the recipient (Montana State University); 
• The center is not a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, the parent institution of such a school, or a branch campus or other subunit of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine or its parent institution, or a consortium of such entities;
• The center fosters networking and collaboration among communities and between healthcare organizations; 
• The center serves communities with a demonstrated need of health professionals in partnership with healthcare organizations;
• The center addresses the health care workforce needs of the communities served in coordination with the public workforce investment system;  
• The center has a community-based governing or advisory board that reflects the diversity of the communities involved; 
• The center will support student enrollment into the Montana AHEC Scholars Interprofessional Education Program; and  
• The center provides quarterly updates during the project period and complies with all HRSA and AHEC program reporting requirements. 

Funding for the American Indian AHEC Center is as follows:  

Years 1 & 2 Start Up (2024-25 & 2025-26): $187,500* 

Year 3 Maintain (2026-27): $110,693* 

*Unless funding disbursement is changed by HRSA.  

Each fiscal year for the AHEC center is September 1 – August 31.  

In 2027, Montana AHEC will apply for the next competitive funding application for the five-year HRSA AHEC grant. 

Requirements of the federal grant include a 1:1 cost match for grant awardees. Direct support should be at least 25% of this match.  Funds used for matching may not be Federal.  

Through their commitment to supporting diversity and fostering inclusivity, the Montana State University’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing will be covering the match requirement for the Montana American Indian AHEC, provided that the eligible applicant can demonstrate financial need.

Would your organization be able to meet the 1:1 cost match with 25% of the funds being cash match each fiscal year?