The Optimizing Maternal RSV Immunization Delivery: A Systems-Based Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Uptake, Equity, and Newborn Outcomes grant opportunity supports independent Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives focused on advancing maternal immunization, with a specific emphasis on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination during pregnancy. This competitive grant is offered by Pfizer, in collaboration with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM).

Overview

This initiative seeks to fund projects that implement measurable, evidence-based interventions to improve real-world delivery of maternal RSV immunization across healthcare systems and care settings. Proposed initiatives should aim to optimize access, strengthen provider–patient communication training and tools, enhance care coordination, and address structural and behavioral barriers impacting vaccine uptake and equity. Funded projects should apply existing evidence and best practices to real-world care settings, focus on implementation and systems optimization, demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with improved uptake and equity, and incorporate scalable and sustainable models.

Funding and Benefits

• Funding Range: Projects may request funding from $100,000 USD for single-site or regional projects up to $200,000 USD for larger, multi-site projects with broader regional impact.
• Total Available Budget: The estimated total budget related to this RFP is $200,000 USD.
• Project Length: Maximum project length is 18 months from the anticipated project start date. Projects are expected to run through the 2027/2028 RSV and respiratory disease season for full implementation.

Eligibility

Organizations are invited to submit an application addressing the specific gaps in clinical practice or care as outlined in the RFP. The geographic scope is the United States. The grant is intended to support quality improvement and health system–based interventions and is not intended to support clinical research or studies evaluating efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Multi-disciplinary collaborations are encouraged, including maternal-fetal medicine, obstetrics, nursing, midwifery, doulas, pediatrics, family medicine, pharmacy, public health, and community organizations; all partners must have a clearly defined and relevant role.

Target Audience: Those engaged with direct obstetric care and/or health education for pregnant populations, including maternal-fetal medicine sub-specialists, obstetricians, family medicine physicians, nurses, midwives, doulas, community health workers, pharmacists, and multidisciplinary care teams involved in prenatal care.

Research Areas and Activities

Priority will be given to projects with the greatest potential to directly impact clinical practice and patient outcomes. Areas of high interest include:

• System-level interventions addressing workflow, access, and multi-disciplinary care coordination
• Implementation science–based approaches translating evidence into practice
• Multisite or scalable models with potential for broad adoption
• Projects that implement system-level changes (e.g., workflow integration, care-team models, care-coordination) across settings
• Projects that incorporate approaches to improve confidence, communication, and trust in maternal immunization
• Projects that address operational and access barriers (e.g., clinic workflows, vaccine availability, scheduling)
• Projects leveraging data and quality improvement methodologies to identify gaps and reduce disparities
• Projects focusing on communities disproportionately burdened by vaccine-preventable diseases and maternal care deserts
• Collaborative models integrating healthcare, public health, and community partners

Projects that only include education without a defined system or practice change component will be considered lower priority.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted via the online portal. The grant management system, CyberGrants, will be temporarily offline between July and August as it migrates to a new platform. This planned maintenance will not affect the ability to apply. An updated RFP with detailed, step-by-step instructions for submitting proposals in the new system will be released at least two weeks prior to the application deadline.

Submission Requirements: Project Proposals/Protocols should be single-spaced using Calibri 12-point font and 1-inch margins, with a 15-page limit exclusive of references. The full proposal must address: Goals and Objectives, Assessment of Need for the Project, Target Audience, Project Design and Methods, Innovation, Evaluation and Outcomes, Anticipated Project Timeline, Additional Information, Organization Detail, and Budget Detail.

Deadline and Timeline

• RFP Release Date: July 30, 2026
• Submission Deadline: September 10, 2026 (23:59 Eastern Standard Time)
• Anticipated Award Notification: November 9, 2026
• Anticipated Project Start Date: December 2026
• Anticipated Project End Date: June 2028

Contact Information

Questions regarding this RFP should be directed in writing to the Grant Officer, Miguel Briceno, at MiguelAngel.Briceno@pfizer.com, with the subject line “Optimizing Maternal RSV Immunization Delivery July 30, 2026.” Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Competitive Grant Program are also available.