Immunization Barriers in the United States: Targeting Medicaid Partnerships | CDC RFA IP 23 0002

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA IP 23 0002

Immunization Barriers in the United States: Targeting Medicaid Partnerships (CDC RFA IP 23 0002) is a CDC cooperative agreement funding opportunity designed to reduce income-based gaps in vaccination coverage by strengthening how state immunization programs and state Medicaid programs work together. The focus is on Medicaid-enrolled populations across the life course, including children, adolescents, pregnant people, and adults. At its core, the opportunity recognizes that Medicaid is a major payer and point of contact for lower-income individuals and families, and that closer coordination between Medicaid leadership and immunization programs can help identify where vaccination systems break down and what practical changes can raise coverage and improve vaccine equity.

The purpose of the award is twofold. First, it aims to facilitate and formalize engagement and partnerships between State Immunization Programs and State Medicaid Programs, since those relationships often determine whether immunization policy, financing, data exchange, outreach, and provider support function smoothly. Second, it is intended to increase collaboration between the funded organizations and these state programs so CDC can better understand the real-world barriers that Medicaid-enrolled people face when trying to get vaccinated. In other words, the work is not just about convening meetings; it is also about surfacing and documenting obstacles, turning lessons learned into actionable strategies, and supporting improvements that translate into higher immunization rates in Medicaid populations.

This NOFO is structured to fund two awardees (ExpectedAwards: 2) and is targeted to organizations that can operate at a national or regional level. The CDC is specifically looking for entities that already have the ability to communicate directly with state Medicaid program leadership and that can demonstrate existing relationships with Medicaid leadership in at least 20 states. That emphasis signals that CDC wants awardees who can move quickly, access decision-makers, and work across multiple states rather than building relationships from scratch. While the activity is national/regional in scope, it is grounded in state implementation realities, since both immunization programs and Medicaid programs are administered at the state level.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally means CDC anticipates substantial involvement in the project beyond what is typical for a simple grant. Practically, applicants should expect active coordination with CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), including alignment on priorities, approaches to learning across states, and the way barriers and promising practices are identified and shared. The overall activity category is health, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 93.268.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of government entities and nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories). Even though eligibility spans many organization types, the descriptive requirement that applicants have national/regional reach and established relationships with Medicaid leadership in at least 20 states effectively narrows the realistic pool to organizations with strong multi-state networks and credibility with Medicaid decision-makers.

Key administrative details include a creation date of February 6, 2023, with an original closing date of April 12, 2023, and electronic submissions due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the due date. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the ceiling was not specified in the summary data or was to be determined elsewhere in the full announcement rather than signaling that no funds are available.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a strategy-and-partnership accelerator: CDC is funding two well-connected organizations to help bridge Medicaid and immunization systems, uncover and clarify barriers affecting Medicaid-enrolled groups, and translate that insight into stronger coordination and higher vaccination uptake. The intended impact is a measurable reduction in income-related immunization disparities and a more equitable immunization landscape for Medicaid-covered individuals, achieved through state-level partnerships that can influence policy, operations, and access.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - NCIRD in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Immunization Barriers in the United States: Targeting Medicaid Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.268.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 06, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 12, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm ET on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for CDC RFA IP 23 0002

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