The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has released a draft Request for Project Proposals (RPP), RRPV 26-05-NVP: “New Vaccine Platforms,” through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV). The draft opportunity seeks mature, adaptable vaccine platform technologies that can help the United States prepare for emerging infectious disease threats before and during public health emergencies. BARDA’s focus is on platforms that combine safety, cross-pathogen applicability, and manufacturing responsiveness capabilities central to a durable national medical-countermeasure portfolio. Because this is a draft RPP, all requirements, funding information, dates, and anticipated awards remain subject to revision in the final solicitation.
Technical Objectives and Capability Areas
The draft RPP seeks “new vaccine platforms” that can expand and complement BARDA’s current portfolio, particularly through differentiated mechanisms of action or manufacturability advantages. BARDA defines a vaccine platform as a reliable technology incorporated in, or used by, an existing vaccine that can be adapted to multiple vaccine candidates sharing key characteristics, enabling standardized development and manufacturing methods.
Eligible platforms must be protein-based or non-nucleic-acid-based vector technologies. Nucleic-acid vaccine platforms, whole-virus inactivated or attenuated approaches, peptide-based approaches, and technologies focused exclusively on delivery devices or physical administration methods are outside the draft RPP’s scope. The platform must also have demonstrated Phase 1 current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing capability, either as a full technology solution or, for a two-organization team, independently for each required capability.
BARDA expects proposed platforms to demonstrate:
- A favorable safety profile.
- Effectiveness across multiple infectious disease threats.
- Protection achievable with no more than two doses; for Nipah virus, BARDA indicates that single-dose protection is the preferred outcome.
- Robust systemic immunogenicity, even if an alternative route of administration is proposed.
- A low-redevelopment approach for new targets, including reuse of prior process development, analytical methods, and control strategies.
- An ability to manufacture and release cGMP drug substance and drug product efficiently after target identification while maintaining safety and quality attributes.
Offerors must select two emerging infectious disease (EID) targets from the specified list:
| Threat Type | Options |
|---|---|
| Class I glycoprotein virus | Lassa virus; Nipah virus |
| Class II envelope protein virus | Chikungunya virus; West Nile virus |
The base requirement, EID-1, must be a target for which the offeror has not previously conducted platform-specific development activities. The option requirement, EID-2, is intended to demonstrate platform flexibility across a different pathogen family and may be a target for which the offeror has conducted prior platform-specific development. Offerors will need to clearly substantiate target selection based on manufacturing, nonclinical, and clinical feasibility, including antigen-expression suitability and the potential to induce a protective immune response.
Program and Solicitation Overview
BARDA will use the RRPV, an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA)-based consortium managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI), to conduct this effort. Prospective offerors must be RRPV members at the time they submit their Stage 1 abstract. ATI serves as the Consortium Management Firm and administers submissions and prospective project awards under the RRPV Base Agreement.
The draft RPP establishes a competitive, two-stage process:
- Stage 1: Abstract and Quad Chart: Offerors submit a short-form concept for evaluation.
- Stage 2: Full Technical and Cost Proposal: Only offerors invited after the Stage 1 down-select may submit a complete proposal.
Stage 1 submissions require a five-page abstract, a one-page quad chart, a cover page, and data-rights assertions. A team-based offeror may submit a six-page abstract package because the mandatory teaming arrangement is permitted as a separate one-page document. The quad chart must include a rough-order-of-magnitude funding estimate. Offerors must follow the mandatory template and formatting requirements; submissions exceeding prescribed page limits or failing to comply with the format may be rejected.
A single organization may propose a complete technical solution, including antigen-expression and vaccine carrier/formulation capabilities. Alternatively, a two-organization team may combine:
- Capability A: Antigen-expression technology.
- Capability B: Vaccine carrier technology, such as formulation or adjuvant capability.
A two-member team must identify one entity as the prime offeror. The team must also provide a Stage 1 teaming arrangement, while invited Stage 2 teams will need to demonstrate that necessary partnership and intellectual-property arrangements are in place. Other needed capabilities, including CRO or CDMO support, may be proposed through conventional subcontracting or collaborative arrangements.
The anticipated work includes a staged capability demonstration:
- CD-1: Manufacturing demonstration – Process development, CMC development, development runs, and production of clinical trial material needed to enable a Phase 1 trial.
- CD-2: Nonclinical demonstration – Critical-path nonclinical safety, immunogenicity, efficacy, and regulatory-planning work to support a Phase 1 IND submission.
- CD-3: Phase 1 clinical demonstration – An optional future phase covering trial readiness, clinical execution, immunogenicity and safety analysis, and clinical-study reporting.
- CD-4: Phase 2 clinical demonstration – An optional future phase involving cGMP clinical material and a Phase 2 safety and immunogenicity study.
The draft RPP also anticipates options for a pandemic-influenza target and a TBD high-consequence biological threat, for which offerors should assume a BSL-4 threat for Stage 2 technical and cost-planning purposes. BARDA expressly states that gain-of-function research is unacceptable and will render a proposal ineligible for award.
Key Dates and Submission Timeline
The following dates are from the draft RPP and should be monitored for change when BARDA and RRPV issue the final solicitation:
- August 21, 2026: Draft RPP released.
- September 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET: Questions and feedback due to RRPV at [email protected].
- September 28, 2026, tentative: Proposers conference and teaming event.
- Stage 1 abstract deadline: Not identified in the current draft; offerors should watch the RRPV opportunity page and final RPP for the confirmed due date.
When the Stage 1 deadline is released, offerors will submit through the BARDA Digital Resource portal. Account registration can take several days, and the draft RPP cautions organizations to verify portal access well before submission. Late submissions may not be evaluated.
Funding Overview
BARDA anticipates approximately $160 million in total U.S. Government funding for the initial manufacturing and nonclinical capability demonstrations across the two selected EID threats. The Government anticipates making up to approximately six awards during this initial phase, though both total funding and award quantity remain subject to proposal volume, program priorities, and the availability of appropriated funds.
The draft RPP anticipates a full program period of performance of up to 10 years, with initial project periods expected to begin in FY27. BARDA may provide additional funding to selected performers for follow-on clinical demonstrations based on program priorities and demonstrated progress. Cost sharing is not required, but the RPP encourages it where feasible.
The eventual source selection will use a best-value determination evaluating technical approach, relevant experience, and cost reasonableness. At Stage 2, cost proposals will be assessed for realism, reasonableness, completeness, and consistency with the proposed technical work and schedule. Strong technical concepts must therefore be supported by credible, well-substantiated cost estimates that are traceable to the proposed work breakdown structure.
A notable feature of the opportunity is the RRPV “Basket” mechanism: Stage 2 proposals rated Acceptable through Outstanding but not selected for immediate award may be held for up to two years for potential award if they later best meet the Government’s needs.
BARDA’s draft New Vaccine Platforms RPP creates an early opportunity for vaccine developers, formulation and adjuvant innovators, manufacturers, and strategic teaming partners to position scalable platform technologies against priority biodefense needs.
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