Grants for Transportation in Highly Rural Areas - VA-HRTG-NEW-2026

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, intended for new applicants. This initiative is part of the VA’s broader commitment to enhancing access to healthcare for veterans residing in areas with fewer than seven persons per square mile. The program reflects the priorities laid out in Executive Order 14296, which aims to strengthen services for veterans and establish mechanisms that support independence and access to care. The Highly Rural Transportation Grants (HRTG) program will allocate approximately $7 million for fiscal year 2026. Each award will be capped at $50,000 per highly rural area, and only one grant will be issued per area. The grant provides funding exclusively for transportation services to VA-authorized medical appointments. Veterans must not be charged for these services. Grants awarded under this NOFO are for a one-year term and are non-renewable under this solicitation; renewal applicants must use a different NOFO (VA-HRTG-2026). All grants are contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds and compliance with eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants are limited to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and State Veterans Service Agencies. Current grantees under the existing HRTG program are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Grantees must operate transportation services directly for veterans living in qualified highly rural areas. All activities and expenses must comply with 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E and the terms of the grant agreement as established under 38 CFR § 17.715. No matching funds are required. Applicants must register and maintain active registrations with the IRS (EIN), SAM.gov (UEI), and Grants.gov. In addition, they must submit a VA-FSC Vendor File Request Form (VA10091) via the VA Customer Engagement Portal before the application deadline. The deadline for submitting completed grant applications is May 5, 2026, by 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions will be deemed ineligible unless caused by a validated technical issue with Grants.gov. Required components for submission include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, program and budget narratives, budget detail worksheet, and timeline. Applicants must provide a detailed scope of services including modes of transportation and any required equipment. If applicable, resolutions or bylaws from tribal entities must also be included. VA will review applications through a threshold and merit-based review process, evaluating plans for implementation, evaluation strategies, community relationships, and innovative service delivery. A minimum of 50 points, with thresholds per category, is required for consideration. Awardees will be notified by the VA and receive a grant agreement detailing terms, including reporting requirements and vehicle-related stipulations. Monthly, quarterly, annual, and final reports are required, along with participation in quarterly conference calls. Grantees must track metrics such as number of trips completed, distance traveled, veterans served, and veteran satisfaction. Awardees will be required to comply with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) for any subawards exceeding $25,000. All reports must be submitted electronically and timely to remain in compliance with the grant terms.

Clearly define transportation scope and ensure accurate budgeting as per 2 CFR 200 and 38 CFR 17.715.