RFA-05A-202606105 | Maine Healthcare Careers Exploration Program

The Maine Healthcare Careers Exploration Program is a $500,000 state-funded initiative issued through Request for Application RFA-05A-202606105 by the Maine Department of Education to develop and expand sustainable healthcare career pathways for rural high school students in grades 9 through 12. Applications are due by August 4, 2026, and must be submitted exclusively through the Vendor Self Service System with a single application form and up to six required attachments, including a proposed program narrative, detailed budget, certificate of insurance, letters of partnership support, responsible bidder certification, and eligibility attestation. Each attachment is limited to 15MB in size and must be in an unencrypted format such as PDF, DOCX, or XLSX. Up to four awards of up to $125,000 each will be made on a best-value basis, evaluated using a 100-point scoring system that prioritizes program design and quality (55 points), budget reasonableness and alignment (25 points), and the applicant’s qualifications and prior experience (20 points). The program must include age-appropriate career exploration, work-based learning, mentoring, after-school activities, advising, and wraparound services such as transportation, while explicitly excluding any activities aimed at granting initial industry credentials due to federal funding restrictions. All proposed activities must occur within Maine and align with the state’s Life and Career Ready Standards, HRSA’s Rural Health Transformation Program guidance, and Maine’s Economic Development Strategy. Contractors must ensure all personnel working with students undergo background checks, maintain written policies for such checks, and disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. The award will be administered through the Grants4ME system for invoicing, with no alternative payment platforms permitted. The contract period is anticipated to run from September 15, 2026, through August 31, 2027, and successful applicants will be required to submit quarterly and final reports with de-identified demographic and performance data. All submissions are public records unless protected by law, and the state retains full authority to terminate negotiations, reject all applications, or make multiple awards as it deems in the best interest of the program.