Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning grant supports organizations in rural areas to establish the foundational infrastructure and partnerships necessary for developing sustainable, comprehensive systems to address substance use disorder, with a primary focus on opioid misuse and its broader impacts, including alcohol use and co-occurring mental and behavioral health needs. This grant is explicitly for planning activities only and prohibits direct service delivery, aiming to serve rural communities that face logistical or administrative barriers to accessing larger federal programs. Funded projects must conduct community assessments, build multi-sector networks, and develop a strategic action plan that identifies pathways for future prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services. The grant period spans two years, from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2028, with a maximum funding award of $100,000 per recipient. Applicants must demonstrate strong community buy-in, evidence-based planning approaches, and a clear sustainability strategy beyond the grant term. Eligible applicants must operate in federally designated rural areas and are required to submit detailed documentation including a staffing plan, biographical sketches of key personnel, letters of support from two independent network partners, and an organizational chart—all within a strict 30-page limit that encompasses the project narrative and budget narrative. Key personnel must include a project director, data coordinator, learning collaborative point of contact, and network coordinator, with HRSA approval needed for any changes to the project director or data coordinator roles. Recipients must participate in a bi-monthly learning collaborative, comply with NIST cybersecurity standards where health IT is used, avoid duplicative funding with CMS programs, and adhere to a salary cap of $228,000. Equipment and minor renovations in Year 2 are capped at 20% of the total budget and require prior approval. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov by the July 8, 2026 deadline, and applicants must maintain an active UEI in SAM.gov. Evaluation prioritizes the strength of network building, community assessment, service provider preparation, and overall need and impact, with award decisions made through a trade-off process weighing merit, risk, and alignment with HRSA priorities rather than cost alone.