Family given priority in adoption?

Help! I need stories/advice about a situation. My friends have a foster baby that has been with them a year and a half. It looks like this case will be adoption. Now, out of state family members are interested in adopting if the child is available. They have never met the child, sent photos, letters, or gifts. My friend is frantic because they love this baby and this is the only family and home the baby has known. Do foster parents have priority in adopting because of attachment? What if both parents surrender rights specifically to these relatives (right before having their rights terminated)? Can they do that? Thank you in advance for your experience and advice!