The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has posted a sources sought notice to gather information from interested vaccine manufacturers on their ability to supply foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.

This 30-day notice is not a solicitation. Information gathered through the sources sought notice will be used to develop a forward-looking acquisition strategy leading to one or more requests for proposals for an increased supply of FMD vaccine for a U.S.-only vaccine bank.

For the first time, the 2018 Farm Bill included funding that directly supports animal disease prevention and preparedness, including the creation of a vaccine bank for livestock diseases. This bank, known as the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank will allow the United States to increase its ability to stockpile veterinary countermeasures. The first priority of the NAVVCB is to acquire and maintain FMD vaccine.

FMD presents a grave threat to the U.S. livestock industry; even a small outbreak would result in devastating economic and animal health consequences.

The NAVVCB is distinct from the existing North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank which is a trilateral partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food. The NAVVCB is entirely focused on U.S. domestic preparedness and is a distinct entity. The United States will continue to participate in the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank and engage in cross-border cooperation for foreign animal disease outbreaks.

Source: USDA APHIS, who are solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly own the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.