The Biosurveillance Directorate under the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Manager (CBMS JPM) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for commercially available technologies that perform or enable sample preservation of biological materials.
Of particular interest to the government are sample preservation methods, enhancers, additives, kits and consumables which reduce cold storage requirements to preserve nucleic acids, proteins and cells.
The overall goal is to decrease the logistical burden required for transport of biological samples and to improve the sample quality and power requirements of long term cold storage.
The scope of the information that is being sought covers the preservation of biological samples from environmental and diagnostic matrices including soil, water, insect vectors, vegetation, aerosol, blood, sputum, cerebrospinal fluids. The effort includes information on recovery of biological materials from surfaces such as buildings and transportation systems.
White papers are requested from companies operating in these applications. Specific information of interest include any peer-reviewed publication references on the technology, consumables costs per mL of sample, shelf life and storage temperatures, export status, and training requirements. Also of interest are investigational applications of the product, future commercial developments, and references that document recovery and efficiency of the system or product.
Sample preservation kits & additives that are integrated as part of a broader multi-purpose system, such as a collection system, may also be submitted. This RFI is focused solely on the preservation of biological materials (to include bacteria, virus, nucleic acids, and proteins of biological origin) and is not seeking information on other capabilities.
Full details are available under W911SR-12-I-0002. The RFI response deadline is June 25, 2012. Both domestic and international companies are encouraged to respond.
Profile: Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense