Federal Register #DOD2026OS0826

DoD Demonstration Project: Reimbursement for Gamete Cryopreservation and Storage for Servicemembers

The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Defense Health Agency (DHA), is launching a three-year demonstration project to reimburse eligible active duty servicemembers for gamete cryopreservation and storage. - Government Buyer: - Department of Defense (DoD) - Defense Health Agency (DHA) - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named; services may be provided by military medical treatment facilities or civilian fertility clinics - Products/Services Requested: - Reimbursement for gamete retrieval procedures (including medications, laboratory evaluation, and imaging) - Medical testing required for retrieval and cryopreservation - Cryopreservation of gametes (sperm or oocytes) - Shipping of gametes to storage facilities - Storage of gametes in private facilities - Quantities and Limits: - Annual reimbursement cap of $500 for sperm cryopreservation per servicemember - Annual reimbursement cap of $10,000 for oocyte cryopreservation per servicemember - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Eligibility limited to active duty servicemembers with hazardous duty orders, anticipated hazardous duty, or extended geographic separation from a partner - Reimbursement is only for costs paid by the servicemember, not covered by insurance or other programs - Civilian providers do not need to be TRICARE authorized - Participation requires command attestation and submission of DHA Form 459 with proof of payment - The project will evaluate participation, cost, administrative feasibility, and readiness impacts

Description

The Department of Defense announces a three-year demonstration project starting September 14, 2026, to provide reimbursement for cryopreservation and storage of gametes for eligible active duty servicemembers. The project aims to evaluate the utility, feasibility, and cost of reimbursing retrieval, cryopreservation, shipping, and storage of gametes. Eligible members include those with orders for hazardous duty pay, likely to receive such orders within 120 days, or geographically separated from a partner for at least 180 days. Reimbursement limits are set at $500 per year for sperm and $10,000 per year for oocyte cryopreservation services.

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