Women’s Health Coverage Outreach and Education Services in Maine

The State of Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, through its Bureau of Insurance, has released Request for Applications RFA# 202507108 for Women’s Health Coverage Outreach and Education Services. This funding opportunity is part of the Expanding Access to Women’s Health (EAW) program, which is supported by federal funding awarded to the State of Maine. The Bureau is seeking organizations with demonstrated experience in outreach and education, particularly to populations underrepresented in healthcare access, to increase awareness of MaineCare and CoverME.gov coverage options and women’s health services available at low or no cost. The grant’s purpose is to ensure that eligible women in Maine between the ages of 18 and 54, with household incomes at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, have increased access to accurate information about health coverage and related services. Applicants will support the state’s existing EAW marketing campaign by delivering education and outreach directly to the target population. Activities may include hosting or attending community events, providing training sessions, disseminating state-approved informational materials, and directly connecting individuals to enrollment support through Maine Enrollment Assisters and the Office of Family Independence. Funding may only be used for the outreach and education services outlined in the RFA. Prohibited costs include pre-award expenses, lobbying, promotional items, construction, capital expenditures, and provision of healthcare services. Funds may not be used to supplant existing funding streams. Awardees are also required to submit an outreach and education work plan within 14 days of contract start, followed by monthly reports documenting activities, participation, and outcomes. Eligible applicants must have an office and dedicated staff in Maine and may apply as a single entity or consortium. The Department anticipates making three awards of $42,000 each. No more than $42,000 will be awarded to any applicant, regardless of budget proposals. The contract performance period runs from October 15, 2025, through September 19, 2026. Awardees will be expected to participate in monthly coordination meetings organized by the Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace. The application process includes several key deadlines. An informational session will be held on September 9, 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Questions regarding the RFA must be submitted by September 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, using the form provided in the RFA and emailed to the designated coordinator. Applications must be submitted electronically to proposals@maine.gov by September 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Only PDF applications sent via email will be accepted, and late submissions will not be considered. Applications will be evaluated based on eligibility, qualifications and experience, project proposal quality, and budget reasonableness. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale, with eligibility as pass/fail, qualifications weighted at 35 points, proposed project at 40 points, and budget at 25 points. A consensus review panel will determine final scores, and the Department reserves the right to conduct interviews or presentations for clarification purposes. The designated RFA Coordinator is Samantha Liang, Expanding Access to Women’s Health Outreach Coordinator. She can be reached at samantha.liang@maine.gov. All communications regarding this RFA must go through her. Appeals of contract award decisions must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Bureau of General Services within 15 days of award notification, in accordance with Maine law.