RFA RHTP 1.3 Farm-to-School Procurement and Policy Technical Assistance (TA)Applications Due: 08/31/2026

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Initiative 1.3 invites Nebraska‑based farmers, ranchers, producers, cooperatives, and food‑supplier businesses to apply for grant funding to acquire equipment and related operational resources that will expand the availability of locally produced, kitchen‑ready foods for school meals. Funding supports the purchase of equipment valued at $10,000 or more, minor installation or alteration costs, and associated technical‑assistance activities. Applicants must submit detailed equipment specifications, three vendor quotes, and a narrative describing how the purchase will increase local food access for rural schools. The program prioritizes projects serving rural, frontier, tribal, and food‑desert communities. • Eligible spend: equipment ≥ $10 k (e.g., trailers, forklifts, refrigeration units, packaging machinery), installation, minor building modifications, and related operational costs. • Total program funding ≈ $8.3 M; typical individual awards up to $150,000 (no statutory maximum). • Application window: 12 Jun 2026 – 31 Aug 2026; questions due by 15 Jun 2026. • Required documentation: three price quotes per item, justification for any deviation from lowest‑priced option, impact narrative, and school‑serving plan. • Post‑award reporting: receipts, invoices, equipment placement records, and participation in NDE technical‑assistance sessions.