The Chemical Biological Medical Systems (CBMS) Joint Project Manager Biosurveillance Directorate has issued an RFI this week seeking market research, potential sources, and best practice information for commercially available technologies that enable sample collection of biological materials.

Sample collection kits of particular interest involve those that support the collection of biological materials to include microbial, viral, and proteinaceous samples for the purpose of cataloging the diversity of life as well as the support of biosurveillance activities that track and identify emerging pathogens across ecosystems and within animal and human populations.

The scope of the information that is being sought covers the collection of biological samples from matrices, to include but not be limited to, soil, water, insect vectors, vegetation, aerosol, blood, sputum, cerebrospinal fluids, and recovery of biological materials from surfaces such as buildings and transportation systems. Vendors both domestic and international are encouraged to respond.

Full details are available under Solicitation Number: W911SR-12-I-0001. The response deadline is June 4, 2012.