Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) National Pediatric Readiness Coordinating Center Cooperative Agreement

The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) National Pediatric Readiness Coordinating Center (NPRCC) Cooperative Agreement is a forecasted funding opportunity issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This cooperative agreement is part of the federal initiative to improve the quality of emergency medical care for children across the United States. Through the EMSC NPRCC, HRSA aims to support a national effort to assess and expand pediatric readiness within both hospital emergency departments (EDs) and pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS) systems. Pediatric readiness refers to a standardized level of preparedness and capacity in emergency care settings to address the distinct physiological, developmental, and emotional needs of children. The program supports the development of infrastructure and coordination mechanisms necessary for ensuring every EMS agency and ED has pediatric-specific coordinators, policies, competencies, and appropriately scaled equipment. It seeks to bridge gaps in care equity by promoting national standards for pediatric care readiness across rural, suburban, and urban communities. The awarded coordinating center will play a central role in promoting policy implementation, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and supporting quality improvement initiatives, technical assistance, and performance measurement related to pediatric readiness. The overarching goal is to ensure that children receive safe, timely, and appropriate emergency medical care regardless of where they live, attend school, or travel. This opportunity falls under Assistance Listing 93.127, specific to Emergency Medical Services for Children. The estimated total program funding available for the fiscal year 2026 is $4,200,000, with an award ceiling matching that full amount. A single award is expected to be made under this program. No cost sharing or matching requirement is stipulated for eligibility. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which implies substantial federal programmatic involvement in the project’s implementation and oversight. This partnership model is intended to enhance accountability and coordination on national objectives. Eligibility for this program includes state governments as well as public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education. However, the program further clarifies that eligible applicants should include accredited medical schools, suggesting a preference or emphasis on applicants with a demonstrated focus in pediatric or emergency medicine training and research. As such, medical schools operating under the jurisdiction of state governments or higher education systems are well-positioned to apply. The eligibility framework reflects HRSA’s intention to ensure scientific rigor, academic capacity, and direct clinical relevance in the management and implementation of the coordinating center. Submission for this grant opportunity is electronic only, with the estimated application due date set for May 21, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. While no pre-application requirements are specified, applicants should anticipate submitting a full proposal with technical and budget narratives according to the official HRSA guidance. The application portal and materials are expected to be made available by the estimated post date of April 11, 2026. The forecast suggests that awards will be announced and funds obligated by July 1, 2026, which will also serve as the estimated project start date. All inquiries related to this funding opportunity can be directed to HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau via email at mchbguidance@hrsa.gov or phone at 240-800-7959. No PDF or formal Notice of Funding Opportunity document has been linked at this stage, as this is a forecasted opportunity. However, potential applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and HRSA’s grant pages for future updates and to begin preparations based on the known program structure and requirements.