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Controlling Board approves ODH transfer to state-managed immunization system; officials plan RFP in late 2026
Summary
The Ohio Department of Health received approval to take on a federal immunization-record contract previously managed by the CDC, with the department planning an RFP in late 2026 and acknowledging ongoing federal funding support with a small GRF contribution.
The Ohio Controlling Board approved a request allowing the Ohio Department of Health to assume management of an immunization record system previously administered through the federal government, department officials said. The board approved the item with no objections following questions about procurement timing and cost.
The request reflects a federal change in which states must hold contracts with the vendor for the immunization system. Lisa Griffin Chapa, director of government affairs for the Ohio Department of Health, told the board the department is working with the incumbent vendor to maintain service and plans to issue a competitive request for proposals in late 2026. “We do plan to issue an RFP in the later 2026. It takes about six-nine months to work on this RFP,” she said.
Costs and funding: Agency staff said the CDC previously covered most of the contract cost and that the state will now manage the contract and associated expenses. Paul Maragas, chief over procurement services, said vendors could differ across states when the work shifts to state contracts. Department staff said they still expect to use largely federal funds for the system and that about $20,000 in General Revenue Fund will be used in each fiscal year. “We are still utilizing largely federal funds for this work. We do have federal funds that we can use. There is about $20,000 in GRF that we do plan to use in each fiscal year for this record system,” Lisa Griffin Chapa said.
Procurement timeline and readiness: Department staff told board members that it likely will take until late 2026 to prepare and issue an RFP because the item has not been competitively bid at the state level before and the department has been working to ensure compliance with state IT and security requirements. Dan (Paul Maragas) and other procurement officials said staff learned of the federal change roughly a year earlier and have spent time ensuring the current vendor meets state data-security and procurement requirements.
Board action and next steps: The board approved the item by no objections. ODH officials said they will continue to work with the incumbent vendor while preparing an RFP and that the timeline for a state-managed long-term solution may extend beyond 12 months.
