National Influenza Reference Center 2025-2030

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Background 

State and local PHLs are the foundation of the US influenza surveillance system. PHLs collect and test specimens, reporting this information to the CDC.  This information is included in national surveillance data to describe which viruses are circulating and at what prevalence. Furthermore, PHLs play a critical role in the vaccine strain selection process by providing specimens to CDC for further antigenic and genetic characterization. Data from PHLs and the viruses submitted to CDC are compiled and shared with the international community to help determine vaccine compositions for future seasons. These same viruses help CDC detect and monitor variant viruses and antiviral resistant viruses.  

Antigenic characterization of viruses for vaccine composition meetings is a demanding and time sensitive process that requires large volumes of high titer viral isolates. Data from APHL surveys indicate that few PHLs are still performing virus isolation for influenza viruses and many no longer have staff with sufficient experience in this traditional method. APHL and CDC have supported three (3) NIRCs to culture and isolate influenza viruses since 2009 to meet national surveillance goals. Additionally, from 2011 to 2018 NIRCs performed neuraminidase inhibition testing on viral isolates to detect phenotypic changes in viruses that may reduce their susceptibility to antiviral therapeutics. In 2015, NIRCs began implementing genomic sequencing using next generation sequencing.  This has enabled the detection of evolutionary mechanisms including hemagglutinin clade changes, antiviral resistance mutations, immune evading strains, reassortment and other genomic changes within a single data set.  High throughput genomics is facilitating timely intervention strategies and improved data availability for vaccine strain selection.     

​Reference centers serve as a valuable source of expertise for virus culture in the PHL community and have increased the overall national capacity for processing specimens for vaccine strain selection and detecting antiviral resistant viruses. NIRCs have also provided valuable data with respect to preparedness planning and continuity of operations plans. 

Eligible laboratories include all public health laboratories with the following capabilities and facilities in place. Specific expectations regarding methodologies to be used by the awardees are outlined in Appendix A: Expectations for the National Influenza Reference Centers. All applicants are required to agree to the following minimum requirements (as outlined in Appendix B); 

1. Demonstrated competency and capacity for cell culture, preferably with Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK-ATL and MDCK-SIAT1) cell lines; 

2. Demonstrated competency and capacity for influenza virus propagation and isolation; 

3. Demonstrated capacity for next generation sequencing using Illumina MiSeq and ability to stream NGS read-level data to APHL Informatics Messaging Services (AIMS) cloud-based environment in near real-time using the Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) Utility synchronization tools with IT support; 

4. Established surveillance network that supports sequencing up to 500 influenza specimens from the laboratory's jurisdiction annually; 

5. Sufficient equipment, laboratory space and workforce capacity for the proposed work; 

6. Ability to transmit data to CDC via the APHL Informatics Messaging Services (AIMS) environment; and 

7. Flexibility to respond to alterations or amendments in CDC-provided protocols. 

Anticipated RFP Schedule 

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APHL will communicate any modification to this anticipated schedule on APHL's procurement website (www.aphl.org/rfp) and via an email blast to public health laboratories (PHLs). 

Response Submittal  

Confirmation of Intent to Respond 

APHL requires that prospective applicants submit a brief email statement indicating an intent to submit a proposal. APHL must receive this email by no later than 8:00 pm EST on Thursday, August 1, 2024. To allow for appropriate review process planning, a letter of intent is required for consideration. ​

Final Response 

APHL must receive complete responses by 8:00 pm EST on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Please see Proposal-Required Submissions section for items that must be included in the completed proposal. Applicants may send proposals via email to infectious.diseases@aphl.org.  ​

APHL will send an email acknowledging the receipt of your application; if you do not receive an acknowledgement within two business days, please email the RFP point of contact above to confirm receipt. ​

​RFP Materials

The Official RFP Document​ will provide detailed information. APHL will post all RFP-related documents, current schedule information, and answers to submitted questions and clarifications on APHL's procurement site, www.aphl.org/rfp​.  

Questions and Answers​​