The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awards contracts to the manufacturers of pediatric vaccines
for the purchase of standard commercial pediatric vaccines. Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to
prevent disease and reduce healthcare costs. The Vaccine for Children (VFC) program established pursuant to
Section 13631 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA ’93), guarantees federal support for the
purchase and supply of sufficient quantities of vaccine to the States to cover a defined group of children. The
program helps assure the implementation of effective immunization practices and proper use of vaccines to achieve
higher immunization coverage. Children (18 years-of-age or younger) who qualify for immunization through the
VFC purchase program include those who are (1) Medicaid-eligible, (2) without health insurance, (3) American
Indian/Alaska native (as defined in Subsection (h)(3) of the OBRA ’93), or (4) children with health insurance, which
does not cover the cost of vaccines, if they receive their immunizations at a Federally-qualified health center or rural
health clinic (as defined by the Social Security Act). Health care providers who agree to certain requirements are
eligible through the States to receive free vaccine through this VFC purchase program. The establishment of these
contracts provides an opportunity to utilize VFC funds and Section 317 vaccine purchase funds to obtain vaccines at
prices below those available in the commercial marketplace. In addition, awardees may opt to purchase additional
quantities of vaccine under any resulting contract to provide immunizations for children who are not federally
vaccine-eligible children using state and local funds.
Offerors for this requirement must be manufacturers of pediatric vaccines in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 1396s.
The term "manufacturer" means any corporation, organization, or institution, whether public or private (including
Federal, State, and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities), which manufactures, imports, processes, or
distributes under its label any pediatric vaccine. The term "manufacture" means to manufacture, import, process, or
distribute a vaccine
