AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services

AscendRural, a program of Sourcewell — a State of Minnesota local government unit and service cooperative — is requesting proposals for the AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services, to result in a procurement solution for use by Sourcewell Participating Entities. This solicitation seeks innovative technology-enabled solutions that reduce the impact of distance on rural communities' access to healthcare, services, and essential goods. Proposals must address one or more of five problem areas: transportation access and coordination; local access to primary, specialty, and oral care; managing chronic conditions; last-mile delivery of essentials; and strengthening the business of rural access. Sourcewell Participating Entities include thousands of governmental, higher education, K-12 education, nonprofit, tribal government, and other public agencies located in the United States. A full copy of the Request for Proposals can be found on the Sourcewell Procurement Portal [https://proportal.sourcewell-mn.gov]. Only proposals submitted through the Sourcewell Procurement Portal will be considered. Proposals are due no later than October 6, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Central Time, and late proposals will not be considered. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: None