Overview of the RFI
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), has released a Request for Information (RFI) titled “Protection Before Day One Vaccine: Advancing Broadly Protective Seasonal Influenza Vaccines with Pandemic Coverage.” Through this market research effort, BARDA is seeking feedback from industry, academia, and other stakeholders to better understand the maturity, feasibility, and readiness of influenza vaccine candidates capable of providing protection against both seasonal influenza and emerging pandemic influenza strains.
The RFI reflects BARDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness. Current influenza vaccine technologies typically require several months to develop and deploy strain-matched vaccines after the emergence of a pandemic virus. BARDA’s vision for a “Day One” vaccine is a broadly protective influenza vaccine that can be routinely administered before a pandemic occurs, providing seasonal protection while also offering partial protection against novel influenza strains at the onset of a public health emergency.
Technical Focus Areas
BARDA is interested in vaccine candidates and enabling technologies that could serve as Day One vaccines by demonstrating non-inferior or improved seasonal influenza protection while also providing inferred or demonstrated cross-protection against potential pandemic influenza subtypes such as H2, H5, H7, and H9.
Areas of Interest Include
- Broadly protective vaccine designs, including conserved antigen approaches and multivalent constructs
- T-cell-based and multi-antigen vaccine strategies
- Adjuvants that improve immune breadth and durability
- Mucosal and alternative delivery approaches that may reduce transmission
- Combination or co-formulated approaches integrated with licensed seasonal influenza vaccines
- Novel correlates of protection and immune-bridging strategies
- Preclinical models and controlled human infection models that support broad protection claims
- Regulatory approaches supporting both seasonal and pandemic indications
The RFI specifically excludes pandemic-only strain-matched vaccines, technologies focused solely on delivery devices without immunologic innovation, and products lacking a credible seasonal deployment strategy.
Submission Deadline & Information
Responses must be submitted to [email protected] by July 15, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET.
BARDA may also invite selected respondents to participate in one-on-one discussions during the RRPV Annual General Membership Meeting in Arlington, VA on August 26-27, 2026, or virtually as time allows.
RRPV membership is not required to respond to the RFI but would be required to respond to any future RPP.
Looking Ahead
This RFI is for market research only and does not solicit proposals or provide funding. However, BARDA may use the information gathered to inform potential future requirements or funding opportunities for broadly protective influenza vaccines.
BARDA’s Day One vaccine initiative aims to bridge the gap between the emergence of a pandemic influenza strain and the availability of strain-matched vaccines. For organizations developing next-generation influenza vaccines, this RFI offers an opportunity to help inform future federal investments in pandemic preparedness.
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