The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase of 25 million doses of a recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine that would be delivered in the Strategic National Stockpile. Acceptance of the rPA anthrax vaccine into the stockpile will be contingent upon the contractor providing sufficient safety, immunogenicity, efficacy, stability, manufacturing and any other data and information as determined by the Food and Drug Administration for potential use of the product in a post-exposure prophylaxis scenario or in a declared emergency under an Emergency Use Authorization. The contractor will not receive any payment until at least the first 600,000 doses are delivered. However, the draft RFP states that advanced payments up to 10 percent and or milestone payments in increments of 5 percent to 50 percent of the negotiated contract amount may be allowable under the procurement although financial need must be demonstrated. A single contract is expected to be awarded in Aug. 2008. Sol. No. HHS-BARDA-08-01. Comments are due to HHS within 30 days of the issuance of the draft, which occurred on Nov. 26. Contact: [email protected], contracting officer.