Embryo Adoption Awareness and Services

The Office of Population Affairs under the Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity to support the Embryo Adoption Awareness and Services program, which seeks to enhance public understanding of embryo adoption as a viable path to family building and to provide essential medical and administrative services to individuals and couples pursuing or facilitating embryo adoption and donation. The program targets potential recipients, donors, and the medical providers who assist them, with activities designed to promote open donation models, ensure child welfare, and disseminate best practices over a program period of up to 36 months. Applicants must demonstrate a clear understanding of embryo adoption services, present a robust technical approach, and outline a credible evaluation plan to measure outcomes such as the number of individuals served, embryos implanted or cryopreserved, and public education efforts conducted. The funding opportunity, identified as PA-EAA-26-001, is not a procurement contract but a federal grant administered under 2 C.F.R. Part 200, with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2026, and a submission deadline of July 10, 2026 through Grants.gov. Proposals must be submitted as three distinct electronic files including a project narrative, consolidated appendices, and a full budget package, with strict formatting rules including 12-point font, double-spacing, and adherence to U.S. page size standards. Award selection is based on a merit review process totaling 100 points, with the highest emphasis placed on understanding of embryo adoption services and technical approach, each valued at 25 points, followed by evaluation design, project management, and need for the project, with budget submission carrying only five points, reflecting a priority on programmatic impact over cost efficiency. Bonus points are available for applicants who have not previously received funding under this opportunity. Recipients must comply with numerous program-specific requirements, including prohibitions on using funds for embryo destruction or donor compensation, adherence to human subjects protection regulations, compliance with health IT interoperability standards, and avoidance of prohibited telecommunications equipment from specified foreign vendors. Additionally, no lobbying activities may be funded, and entities must align with HHS priorities to serve underserved populations while ensuring non-discrimination and whistleblower protections. All applicants must maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier through SAM.gov, and those expending one million or more in federal funds annually are subject to Single Audit requirements. Financial reporting will be managed through the HHS Payment Management System, and key personnel changes require prior written approval from the Grants Management Officer.