Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program

The Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence Program (SoRCE) is a forecasted federal funding opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opportunity is identified as HRSA-26-052 and is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement under Assistance Listing 93.365, Sickle Cell Treatment Demonstration Program. The initiative is designed to improve health outcomes for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) by expanding access to evidence-based care, improving quality of care delivery, and tracking quality-of-life indicators across participating regions. The forecast notes that approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States are affected by SCD, and despite newborn screening and early diagnosis, many patients do not consistently receive recommended treatments or transition effectively into adult care systems. The program structure establishes seven regional service areas, with one award recipient selected per region to serve as a Regional Coordinating Hub (RCH). Each RCH is expected to collaborate with clinical providers, hospitals, health centers, and community-based organizations within its designated region. Award recipients will lead continuous quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient access to comprehensive care, increasing the use of disease-modifying therapies, strengthening transitions from pediatric to adult care, and reducing complications associated with sickle cell disease. The program emphasizes collaboration between healthcare systems and community organizations to improve long-term outcomes and support care coordination for affected populations. The estimated total program funding for the opportunity is $6,650,000, with approximately seven awards anticipated. Individual awards may reach up to $950,000. The funding opportunity does not include a cost-sharing or matching requirement. The forecast does not specify a minimum award amount beyond listing an award floor of $0, which is treated as unspecified for data interpretation purposes. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in program implementation, oversight, technical assistance, and coordination activities throughout the project period. The estimated award date is August 1, 2026, with an estimated project start date of September 1, 2026. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, hospitals, clinics, and health centers. The opportunity is national in scope and does not restrict applicants to specific states or territories. The description specifically references organizations capable of functioning as regional coordinating entities with sufficient clinical and operational capacity to manage partnerships and quality improvement initiatives. Because the opportunity is federally administered and health-focused, applicants are expected to demonstrate experience serving patients with sickle cell disease or operating within related healthcare delivery systems. The forecasted application timeline indicates that the opportunity is expected to post on May 15, 2026, with an estimated application due date of June 15, 2026. Electronically submitted applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. No pre-application requirement, letter of intent, concept paper, or mandatory preliminary submission is referenced in the forecast notice. The opportunity was last updated on May 5, 2026, and is currently categorized as a forecasted opportunity rather than an open solicitation. The archive date is listed as July 15, 2026. Based on the timeline provided, the funding opportunity is currently in an early engagement stage because the application opening date has not yet occurred as of the analysis date. The funding announcement does not yet include a complete Notice of Funding Opportunity package or detailed application instructions. As a result, specific evaluation criteria, narrative requirements, allowable cost restrictions, reporting requirements, or required application forms are not yet publicly available. However, applicants should expect federal cooperative agreement application components typically required by HRSA, such as project narratives, organizational capacity descriptions, work plans, budgets, staffing plans, and partnership documentation. Organizations interested in the opportunity may monitor Grants.gov and HRSA for the official posting and related guidance documents once released. The listed agency contact for the opportunity is the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). Interested applicants may contact the program at scdprograms@hrsa.gov or by telephone at 240-438-6795 for additional information regarding the program forecast. Because the program is forecasted and appears to support a recurring federal initiative related to sickle cell treatment demonstration activities, future funding cycles may continue beyond the current fiscal year depending on federal appropriations and HRSA program priorities.

Emphasize organizational capacity to coordinate regional sickle cell disease care networks, partnerships with community-based organizations, and experience improving access to quality healthcare services for patients with sickle cell disease.