Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS 15 01 DLT
Apply for RUS 15 01 DLT
- The Utilities Programs in the community development education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.855 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 28, 2015 and posted on May 28, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 6, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $19,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 65 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments City or township governments Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program, Funding Opportunity Number RUS 15 01 DLT (CFDA 10.855), is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs. The program is designed to help communities expand access to essential services by supporting projects that use telecommunications and related technologies to deliver distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas. In practical terms, it targets initiatives that connect rural schools, libraries, colleges, hospitals, clinics, and other community-based facilities to educational resources and medical expertise that may be located far away, with the goal of strengthening community development outcomes through improved education and health service delivery.
For this competition cycle, the agency anticipated making about 65 awards, with an estimated total of $19,000,000 available across all awards. Individual grant amounts were expected to fall between $50,000 (award floor) and $500,000 (award ceiling). A key feature of this opportunity is that it includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants generally needed to contribute non-federal funds or eligible in-kind support as part of the overall project budget. Because the program is a grant (not a cooperative agreement or contract), recipients are typically responsible for carrying out the approved project scope and meeting reporting and compliance requirements while retaining operational control within the program rules.
Eligible applicants were broad and included many types of public, nonprofit, and private entities that could plan and implement distance learning or telemedicine projects. Eligible entities listed for this opportunity included state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education); nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. This range reflects the reality that projects often involve multi-partner networks (for example, a hospital partnering with clinics and a school district, or a university medical center linking to rural providers), and different community structures may lead different kinds of organizations to serve as the applicant of record.
The opportunity was posted and created on May 28, 2015. The original closing date was July 22, 2015, but it was later updated, with a current closing date of July 6, 2015. The archive date for the announcement was August 21, 2015. Applicants seeking more information were directed to the program website, and the listed point of contact for assistance with accessing the full announcement was Randall Millhiser, Field Staff Branch Chief, reachable by phone at 202-720-0806 or by email at randall.millhiser@wdc.usda.gov.
Overall, the DLT Grant Program is aimed at reducing the disadvantages that distance and limited local resources can create for rural communities by funding technology-enabled connections for instruction, training, clinical consultation, and related service delivery. By supporting telecommunications-based solutions in the education and health categories, the program aligns with broader community development goals, helping rural residents gain access to coursework, specialized medical providers, and other services that might otherwise require long travel times or be unavailable locally.
Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program (RUS 15 01 DLT) - FAQs
1) What is the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program?
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs. It supports projects that use telecommunications and related technologies to deliver distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas.
2) What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is designed to help rural communities expand access to essential services by funding technology-enabled connections for education and health service delivery. The goal is to strengthen community development outcomes through improved access to educational resources and medical expertise that may be located far away.
3) What kinds of services or activities does the program support?
Based on the description, supported activities include delivering instruction, training, clinical consultation, and related service delivery through telecommunications-based solutions. The focus is on distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas.
4) What types of facilities or endpoints can be connected through DLT projects?
The opportunity specifically references connecting rural schools, libraries, colleges, hospitals, clinics, and other community-based facilities to educational resources and medical expertise located elsewhere.
5) Who administers the DLT Grant Program?
The program is administered by the USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs.
6) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RUS 15 01 DLT, and the CFDA number listed is 10.855.
7) Is this funding a grant, a cooperative agreement, or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant (not a cooperative agreement or a contract). Recipients are responsible for carrying out the approved project scope and meeting reporting and compliance requirements while retaining operational control within the program rules.
8) How much funding was expected to be available in this competition cycle?
The agency anticipated an estimated total of $19,000,000 available across all awards for this cycle.
9) How many awards were anticipated?
The agency anticipated making about 65 awards.
10) What is the minimum and maximum award size?
The expected award floor was $50,000 and the expected award ceiling was $500,000.
11) Is there a cost share or match requirement?
Yes. A key feature of this opportunity is a cost sharing or matching requirement. Applicants generally needed to contribute non-federal funds or eligible in-kind support as part of the overall project budget.
12) What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant types listed were broad and included public, nonprofit, and private entities that could plan and implement distance learning or telemedicine projects.
13) Are state governments eligible?
Yes. State governments were listed as eligible applicants.
14) Are county governments eligible?
Yes. County governments were listed as eligible applicants.
15) Are city or township governments eligible?
Yes. City or township governments were listed as eligible applicants.
16) Are special district governments eligible?
Yes. Special district governments were listed as eligible applicants.
17) Are independent school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts were listed as eligible applicants.
18) Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were both listed as eligible.
19) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) were listed as eligible.
20) Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses were listed as eligible applicants.
21) Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses were listed as eligible applicants.
22) Are Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments were listed as eligible.
23) Do projects typically involve partnerships?
Yes. The description notes that projects often involve multi-partner networks, such as a hospital partnering with clinics and a school district, or a university medical center linking to rural providers. Different community structures may lead different kinds of organizations to serve as the applicant of record.
24) When was this opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on May 28, 2015.
25) What was the application deadline?
The original closing date was July 22, 2015, but it was later updated. The current closing date listed is July 6, 2015.
26) When was the announcement archived?
The archive date for the announcement was August 21, 2015.
27) Where can applicants find more information about the program?
Applicants seeking more information were directed to the program website (as referenced in the opportunity materials).
28) Who is the point of contact for help accessing the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is Randall Millhiser, Field Staff Branch Chief.
29) What are the contact details for the point of contact?
Phone: 202-720-0806
Email: randall.millhiser@wdc.usda.gov
30) What community problem is the DLT program trying to address?
The program is aimed at reducing disadvantages caused by distance and limited local resources in rural communities. By funding telecommunications-based solutions for education and health, it helps rural residents access coursework, specialized medical providers, and related services that might otherwise require long travel times or be unavailable locally.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development Education Health
Next opportunity: Endangered Species Conservation Recovery Implementation Funds Ranchers Supply, Inc.
Previous opportunity: U.S. Embassy Kinshasa PAS Annual Program Statement
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RUS 15 01 DLT
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RUS 15 01 DLT", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.