USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continues to prepare for the potential return of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and has issued its second request for proposals (RFP) for vaccine manufacturers with the interest and capability to supply a variety of EA H5 vaccines in sufficient numbers to add to the emergency stockpile.

APHIS has not approved any vaccine use to respond to the virus, but the agency is preparing to ensure a vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it.

In response to the first RFP issued in August, APHIS awarded contracts for doses of two vaccines for the Eurasian H5 (EA H5) virus strain, which became part of the National Veterinary Stockpile. APHIS says it will continue to issue RFPs for vaccine manufacturers on a quarterly basis through September 2016, to allow additional products to be developed and considered for the stockpile should an HPAI outbreak occur.

The RFP can be found here.