Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS 23 01 DLT
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative run through the Rural Utilities Service that helps rural communities expand or improve access to distance learning and telemedicine. The program is authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, with implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 1734. Its core purpose is to provide financial assistance so rural students, educators, health care providers, and residents can use modern communications technologies to reach educational, training, and health care services that may be unavailable locally or only offered in a limited way.
Grant funding is aimed at technology that makes remote instruction and remote clinical services possible or better, especially telecommunications-enabled information systems and audio/video solutions. In practice, that generally means equipment and related advanced technologies that support interactive video, digital transmission of information, and other connected tools that allow a classroom, training site, clinic, or hospital to connect with specialists, teachers, institutions, and resources located elsewhere. The program is intended to strengthen rural infrastructure for learning and health care by reducing the distance barrier that often limits rural access to instructors, coursework, medical specialists, and timely services.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant (Funding Opportunity Number RUS 23 01 DLT) listed under CFDA 10.855. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The funding activity categories span business and commerce, community development, education, employment and training, health, regional development, and it is also associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) categories.
For the FY 2023 cycle reflected in the source data, the opportunity was posted with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award and an expectation of about 100 awards. The original application closing date listed is January 30, 2023, and the posting date is December 1, 2022. Applicants are expected to follow the detailed requirements laid out in the FY 2023 DLT Grant Program Application Guide and related program resources available through USDA Rural Development, including the program webpage at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants. One practical note included in the notice is that any costs incurred while preparing an application are the applicant's responsibility, meaning there is no reimbursement for proposal development expenses even if an award is ultimately made.Apply for RUS 23 01 DLT
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the business and commerce, community development, education, employment, labor and training, health, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija), regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 01, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 30, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants - FAQs
What is the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants program?
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative administered through the Rural Utilities Service. It provides financial assistance to help rural communities expand or improve access to distance learning and telemedicine using modern communications technologies.
What is the purpose of the DLT Grants program?
The program is designed to reduce distance barriers for rural communities by supporting technology that connects rural students, educators, health care providers, and residents to educational, training, and health care services that may not be available locally (or may only be offered in a limited way).
Which agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Rural Utilities Service.
What types of services does the program support?
The program supports distance learning and telemedicine services, including remote instruction, remote clinical services, and related communications-enabled access to education, training, and health care resources.
What kinds of projects or technology does DLT funding focus on?
Funding is aimed at technology that makes remote instruction and remote clinical services possible or better. This includes telecommunications-enabled information systems and audio/video solutions, such as equipment and advanced technologies that support interactive video and digital transmission of information.
What does the program mean by strengthening rural infrastructure?
In this context, strengthening rural infrastructure means improving the technology and connectivity tools rural classrooms, training sites, clinics, and hospitals use to connect with teachers, specialists, institutions, and resources located elsewhere.
Does the program specifically target rural communities?
Yes. The program is intended to help rural communities overcome distance-related limitations in accessing instructors, coursework, medical specialists, and timely services.
Is this grant opportunity competitive or formula-based?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant, meaning awards are made competitively based on program requirements and application review.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is RUS 23 01 DLT.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.855.
What is the legal authority for the DLT Grants program?
The program is authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, with implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 1734.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool described for this opportunity includes:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled colleges and universities
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are tribal governments eligible applicants?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are included in the eligible applicant categories.
Are nonprofits eligible, and do they need to be 501(c)(3)?
Nonprofits are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
What funding activity categories does this opportunity cover?
The funding activity categories listed include business and commerce, community development, education, employment and training, health, and regional development.
Is this opportunity connected to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)?
Yes. The opportunity is also associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) categories.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for the FY 2023 cycle shown?
For the FY 2023 cycle reflected in the provided information, the award ceiling was $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards were expected for the FY 2023 cycle shown?
The information indicates an expectation of about 100 awards for that cycle.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date shown is December 1, 2022.
What was the application closing date for the FY 2023 cycle shown?
The original application closing date listed is January 30, 2023.
Where do applicants find the official application requirements?
Applicants are expected to follow the requirements in the FY 2023 DLT Grant Program Application Guide and related program resources available through USDA Rural Development.
Where can I find the program webpage for more information?
The program webpage provided is: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants
Does the program cover the cost of preparing an application?
No. The notice states that any costs incurred while preparing an application are the applicant's responsibility. Proposal development expenses are not reimbursed, even if an award is ultimately made.
What kinds of end users are intended to benefit from funded projects?
The program description highlights rural students, educators, health care providers, and residents as intended beneficiaries, by enabling them to access education, training, and health care services remotely.
What types of connections does DLT technology enable?
The program is intended to help connect a classroom, training site, clinic, or hospital with teachers, specialists, institutions, and resources located elsewhere using interactive video, digital transmission, and other connected tools.
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