Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response | CDC RFA IP 25 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA IP 25 0007

The CDC Immunization Services Division (ISD) funding opportunity titled Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response (Funding Opportunity Number: CDC RFA IP 25 0007) is a discretionary cooperative agreement designed to maintain and strengthen the core infrastructure of the US immunization system while improving readiness to respond to vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) threats. The program is explicitly built on the long-standing backbone of two major federal immunization efforts: the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program and Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act. In practical terms, the NOFO is aiming to keep vaccination coverage high, keep VPD incidence low, and ensure that jurisdictions can rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks or other immunization-related public health emergencies.

A central theme of the opportunity is sustaining the systems that make routine immunization work day to day, not just launching short-term projects. The VFC Program is highlighted as a key health equity mechanism because it provides vaccines to eligible children whose families might otherwise be unable to afford them, helping children receive recommended vaccines on schedule. Section 317 funding is positioned as the flexible public health support that helps preserve immunization infrastructure, maintain a safety-net vaccine supply for uninsured adults, and support outbreak response when VPDs threaten communities. Together, these programs support the operational foundation behind provider enrollment and support, vaccine ordering and distribution processes, immunization information systems, coverage assessment, quality improvement, and public communication.

The NOFO organizes allowable work into priority strategies that reflect what jurisdictions need to run strong immunization programs and improve outcomes. These strategies include strengthening program infrastructure and management (such as staffing, operational capacity, and program oversight), increasing vaccine access (reducing practical barriers to getting vaccinated), improving vaccination equity (targeting gaps that map to geography, race/ethnicity, income, disability, language access, and other factors), promoting vaccine confidence and demand (addressing misinformation, hesitancy, and trust, and improving the quality and reach of communications), and enhancing data and evaluation (improving the completeness, timeliness, and use of immunization data to drive action and measure results). While the source text notes these as part of seven priority strategies, only five are explicitly listed in the provided description; applicants would typically confirm the full set within the full NOFO document.

Structurally, applicants are required to apply to all three components of the award, which reflects CDCs intent to fund both routine capacity and emergency responsiveness under one umbrella. Component 1 (Core) covers the ongoing foundational immunization program functions that keep routine delivery and monitoring running. Component 2 supports rapid, small-scale responses to VPD outbreaks or other public health emergencies and is described as funded, meaning recipients can access resources for quick action when localized or limited events occur. Component 3 addresses rapid, large-scale responses to VPD outbreaks or other public health emergencies and is described as approved but unfunded, which typically signals that CDC wants recipients to have a scalable plan and an implementation framework ready, even if resources for large surge operations may depend on separate funding decisions or emergency appropriations.

Eligibility is limited to jurisdictions that align with CDCs national coverage goals and population-based strategy. Eligible applicants include all 51 state health departments (including the District of Columbia) or their bona fide agents; certain large local health agencies (or bona fide agents) serving cities with populations of 1.4 million or more, with example cities listed as Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Antonio; and a county may apply when a large city does not have its own health department (examples given include Los Angeles being covered by Los Angeles County and Phoenix being covered by Maricopa County). The opportunity also includes all US territories and the Freely Associated States in the Caribbean and Pacific (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and Republic of the Marshall Islands). One important caveat is noted: the Freely Associated States do not participate in the VFC Program, which affects how vaccine financing and program operations may be structured in those settings. The population thresholds for city jurisdictions are based on US Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-year data (2018-2022), Table S0101.

From an administrative standpoint, the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means CDC expects substantial involvement beyond simply issuing funds, such as collaboration on planning, performance monitoring, technical assistance, and alignment with national immunization priorities. The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 93.268, and the awarding agency is CDC (NCIRD). The original closing date listed is March 13, 2025. The listing shows an expected 66 awards. The award ceiling is displayed as 0, which commonly indicates the ceiling is not specified in the synopsis and must be confirmed in the full NOFO or related budget guidance rather than implying no funding is available.

Overall, the opportunity is about keeping immunization programs strong and resilient: maintaining the routine systems that deliver vaccines and track coverage, expanding access and equity so underserved groups are not left behind, strengthening public confidence so demand does not erode, improving data so programs can identify gaps quickly, and ensuring jurisdictions can move fast when outbreaks or emergencies occur, whether the response is small and immediate or requires a large-scale surge.

• The Centers for Disease Control - NCIRD in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.268.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 66 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Others.

Apply for CDC RFA IP 25 0007

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