Sources_Sought_Severe_IAE_PICUs_14Jan2026c.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Title: Surveillance of Severe Influenza-Associated Encephalopathy (IAE) in Pediatric Intensive Care Units

This is a Sources Sought notice (Market Research Only). This is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

BACKGROUND

Influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE), including acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), is a rare but severe neurologic complication of influenza infection in children and is associated with high rates of intensive care unit admission, neurologic sequelae, and mortality. In response to reports of severe pediatric IAE during the 2024–2025 influenza season, CDC initiated enhanced surveillance efforts; however, existing influenza surveillance systems do not comprehensively capture critically ill children nationwide.

To address critical gaps in understanding the spectrum of disease, disease course, risk factors for severe outcomes, and the impact of influenza vaccination and antiviral treatment, CDC is exploring the deployment of multicenter, active surveillance focused on children with severe IAE admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the United States.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this potential requirement is to conduct active surveillance of severe IAE among critically ill hospitalized children to improve understanding of epidemiology, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes. The effort would leverage an established U.S.-based pediatric hospital network, the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network, which has experience in conducting surveillance for complications of respiratory viral disease in critically ill children, and include standardized data collection, medical record abstraction, and optional laboratory, radiology, and follow-up activities.

See the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) for additional details.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The anticipated period of performance is one (1) base year with up to four (4) option years.

CAPABILITY STATEMENT / INFORMATION SOUGHT

Interested firms are requested to submit a capability statement responding to the questions below.

Severe IAE in PICUs – Questions for Industry:

1. Describe your established multicenter surveillance network comprised of pediatric hospitals, medical centers, and institutions in the United States from which to recruit critically ill patients to study influenza-associated encephalopathy in hospitalized children. Include the number of pediatric hospitals in the network and the period of time over which the network has existed.

2. Provide examples of infectious diseases or complications of infectious diseases for which the above network has previously conducted surveillance.

3. Provide examples of scholarly work produced from the above network.

4. Describe your network’s ability to access individual electronic health records to complete case report forms, obtain and upload primary radiologic imaging for individual patients, and obtain and test clinical specimens. Include prior experience performing these tasks.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses should be submitted electronically in PDF format and limited to no more than 10 pages to

Ms. Ada Vega-Torres_email: (cbp0@cdc.gov)__by 01/31/2026.

DISCLAIMER

This notice is issued for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment by the Government. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in responding. No proprietary or sensitive information should be included.

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE