The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has a portfolio of vaccines at various stages of development targeting pathogens selected from the WHO Blueprint list of priority diseases. Due to the sporadic and unpredictable nature of outbreaks these pathogens cause and the typically limited numbers of cases, obtaining field efficacy data for these vaccines will be very challenging; therefore, licensure may rely heavily on high quality, well-controlled animal efficacy studies. 

To meet these research needs CEPI is launching a Call for Proposals (CfP) to identify and select potential partners to expand their preclinical laboratory network. The CfP is open to any laboratory worldwide that is able perform model discovery/development research and proof of concept studies; and/or advanced product testing/IND-enabling preclinical studies; and/or toxicology and biodistribution studies; and/or in vitro or ex vivo tissue modeling studies. These four areas are presented as Parts A, B, C and D, respectively, in the CfP and interested laboratories are invited to apply to any or all Parts. CEPI is interested in partnering with a broad range of laboratory types, ranging from infectious diseases research labs in low to middle income countries to advanced development biocontainment labs in higher resource countries.

In performance of these types of studies and where required depending on the category of application, successful applicants will demonstrate three pillars of capabilities: animal welfare and ethics compliance, performance of studies at high biocontainment, and performance of studies under a high-quality data collection system. 

CEPI also seeks additional partners who can perform studies under a spectrum of research quality levels. CEPI seeks partners

1. Who can perform studies under research conditions where a robust quality system is not required; and
2. Partners who possess existing data quality systems that ensure collection of data with high integrity in line with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements (OECD, FDA 21 CFR 58)

Partners with capabilities in either or both of these areas will be considered for flexible placement of early discovery (studies in the precompetitive space) and advanced product development studies (studies in the competitive space). 

This Call for Proposals is divided into four subsections (Parts A-D) as follows:

• Part A: Model discovery/development research and proof of concept studies
• Part B: Advanced product testing/IND-enabling preclinical studies
• Part C: Toxicology and biodistribution studies
• Part D: In vitro and ex vivo tissue modeling studies 

For additional information regarding these parts, see page 2 of the RFP, in Supporting Documents, below. 

Estimated budgets will be evaluated during review and if a proposal is invited for consideration, the CEPI Budget Template will be supplied to the applicant during the Due Diligence phase. At that time, CEPI will want to review itemized proposed costs, such as personnel, travel, consultants, equipment, other direct and indirect costs and subawards. Travel costs must be in accordance with CEPI's travel policy.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)