Call for Letters of Intent
For Planning and Implementation Grants
Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence
Deadline: Sept. 28, 2026
Description of Call: Applications for this proposal must focus on the overall theme of Clinical Practice Transformation and should consider these domains:
1) Operational Excellence
Examples include, but are not limited to demonstrating strategies to improve operational performance such as: Capacity management; continuous quality improvement; workforce productivity; throughput optimization; and scheduling optimization, etc.
2) Technology Implementation
Examples include, but are not limited to demonstrating strategies to improve digital and operational performance such as: Electronic Health Record optimization, referral management, analytics platform implementation, clinical workflow automation and optimization, and interoperability (Health Information Exchange or support), etc.
3) Shared Services/Regional Transformation and Integration
Examples include, but are not limited to, creating regional approaches that: improve access and efficiency through shared-services innovation, duplication reduction, and enhanced specialty access, etc. All proposals must include ways to incorporate or improve project and financial sustainability.
Scoring Metrics
- Impact on Rural AccessInnovative approach/transformation to operating model
- Project feasibility
- Outcomes Assessment/Evaluation Plan
- Regional collaboration/partnerships
- Sustainability
- Estimated total cost
Letter of Intent (LOI) Template
Applicant Information
- Organization Name:
- Primary Contact Name and Title:
- Email Address:
- Phone Number:
- Mailing Address:
Project Information
- Project Title: Provide a concise title for the proposed project.
- Grant Type: Indicate whether this is a Planning Grant or an Implementation Grant.
- Impact on Rural Clinical Practice Transformation: Briefly describe how your proposal will transform clinical practice and consider the domain topics listed above. (up to 500 words)
- Key Objectives and Anticipated Outcomes: Discuss the proposed project’s innovation, feasibility, expected outcomes, and sustainability. (up to 250 words)
- Proposed Partners (if applicable): Identify any organizations, agencies, or stakeholders involved in the project. (up to 50 words)
- Estimated Budget Range: Provide a general estimate of the funding required for the project.
Addititional Informaion
- Brief Statement of Expertise or Organizational History regarding Rural Health Clinical Practice of Transformation: [Describe your organization’s mission and ongoing or previous experience working with rural communities.] (up to 250 words)
- Biosketch of primary applicant
Submission Instructions:
- Submit your completed LOI as a PDF to InfoReady portal
- Use the subject line: [Planning/Implementation Grant LOI – Organization Name].
- Deadline: September 28, 2026.
- For questions or additional information, contact Ashley Harkrider at [email protected] or 865-974-1810 OR Doug Dixon at [email protected] or 901-448-6920.