Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) National Pediatric Readiness Coordinating Center Cooperative Agreement | HRSA 26 051

FAQs: EMSC National Pediatric Readiness Coordinating Center Cooperative Agreement (HRSA-26-051)

What is the EMSC National Pediatric Readiness Coordinating Center Cooperative Agreement (HRSA-26-051)?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support a single, national coordinating center focused on improving pediatric readiness across the U.S. emergency care system. The center is expected to function as a demonstration program that assesses current pediatric readiness and helps drive improvements in how emergency care is delivered to children.

What is the main goal of this opportunity?

The main goal is to strengthen how the United States prepares for and delivers emergency care to children, so that pediatric emergency care is high-quality, consistent, and effective regardless of where a child lives, goes to school, or travels.

Why does the program emphasize that children are not simply small adults?

The opportunity is built on the idea that pediatric patients have distinct physiology, communication needs, and developmental considerations. Because of that, emergency response for children often requires specialized training, protocols, equipment, and supplies that may differ from adult-focused approaches.

What does "pediatric readiness" mean in this program context?

Pediatric readiness generally refers to whether emergency departments (EDs) and pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS) agencies have key pediatric-focused capabilities in place. The description highlights leadership and governance structures, staff clinical competencies, up-to-date pediatric policies and procedures, and appropriate pediatric equipment and supplies. It also includes broader readiness elements such as coordinated workflows, quality improvement practices, and system-level supports that help teams perform during high-stress pediatric emergencies.

Which parts of the emergency care system does this opportunity focus on?

The opportunity explicitly covers both hospital-based emergency departments (EDs) and pre-hospital systems, including EMS and fire-rescue systems. The coordinating center is intended to support readiness improvements across this full emergency care continuum.

How many awards does HRSA expect to make?

The opportunity anticipates making one award. The intent is to fund a single national-scale recipient to coordinate efforts, align stakeholders, and produce broad national impact.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $4,200,000.

What type of funding mechanism is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is a cooperative agreement. Based on the description, that means HRSA is likely to have substantial involvement in shaping, guiding, or collaborating on the project during the period of performance, rather than providing funding with minimal federal engagement.

What is the coordinating center expected to do?

Based on the description provided, the funded center is expected to play a national convening and technical assistance role. That includes helping to measure and understand pediatric readiness gaps, supporting implementation of best practices, and promoting consistent adoption of pediatric-specific standards and resources across diverse settings (for example, rural EMS services and large urban hospital systems). The center is also described as a demonstration program to assess current readiness and drive improvements.

Is the detailed scope of work provided in the information above?

No. The description notes that the detailed scope of work is not fully laid out in the brief information provided, but it frames the center as a national coordinating entity focused on assessment, improvement strategies, and dissemination of pediatric emergency care resources.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. The description also highlights accredited schools of medicine as eligible applicants.

Are medical schools specifically identified as eligible?

Yes. Accredited schools of medicine are specifically highlighted as eligible applicants, suggesting academic organizations with pediatric emergency expertise and national coordination capacity may be well positioned.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 93.127, which places the program within HRSA's Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) portfolio.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity creation date is 2026-06-08.

What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is 2026-07-10.

What kinds of improvements is the program trying to drive nationwide?

The program framing points to improvements in pediatric-focused leadership and governance, workforce clinical competencies, pediatric policies and procedures, and pediatric equipment and supply readiness. It also emphasizes coordinated workflows, quality improvement practices, and system-level supports that enable effective care in pediatric emergencies.

What settings are intended to benefit from the coordinating center's work?

The intent is national impact across varied settings, including both rural and urban environments, and across both pre-hospital responders (EMS and fire-rescue) and hospital-based emergency departments.

What is the overarching intended outcome for children and families?

The opportunity is intended to make pediatric emergency care safer, more consistent, and more effective nationwide by accelerating readiness improvements and supporting consistent access to high-quality pediatric emergency care regardless of location.