The Defense Threat Reduction Agency this week announced a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) amendment to solicit research proposals for the Chemical and Biological Defense Program.
The effort supports Strategic Exploratory Developments (SEEDs), which enable science and technology managers within the Chem-Bio Technologies Directorate to explore concepts for new programs in science and technology.
SEED investments are generally $50K to $500K for a one year contract that explores new concepts to fill capability gaps. If the SEED contract yields a successful proof of concept, the Government may procure further development of the science and technology of the SEED through a Focused Innovation Technology (FIT) contract. FITs are typically longer in duration than SEEDs with increased funding levels.
SEED Topics of interest include:
Identification of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) Vaccine Candidates
Novel Small Molecule Nerve Agent Pretreatments
Target Identification for Next Generation of Medical Countermeasures
Rapid Interior Decontamination
Facilitating Blood Brain Barrier Penetration of Nerve Agent Countermeasures
Catalytic Antibodies Against a VX Surrogate
Impact of Adjuvants on Current Vaccine Candidates
Novel Vaccines Directed Against Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei
Alphavirus and Filovirus Target-Directed Small-Molecule Therapeutic Discovery and Development
Thermostable Protein Engineering or Stabilization
Epitope Mapping for Antibodies that Recognize Biothreat Agents
Nano-Enabled Low-Cost Sensors
Biomolecule Theoretical and Experimental Sub-THz and THz Range Signature Development
Super-Continuum Laser Source IR 1-15 microns
Native Chemical Sensing Capabilities
Novel Sample Stabilization Technologies
Single Cell Analysis: In situ Biomarker Expression Methods
Antibiotic Resistance Markers
Diagnostic Device Use Case Development in Austere Environments
Autonomous Mobile Sensing Demonstration
Mitigation of Porous and Absorptive Materials
Biomanufacturing Downstream Process Technologies
Universal Nano-Adjuvant System
Smart Molecular Tags for Improving Biotherapeutic Production and Enhancing Biological Activity
Further details on each topic area are available under HDTRA1-12-CHEM-BIO-BAA Amend 22. The submission deadline is no later than October 5, 2012. Proposals are typically evaluated within 45 days of receipt.
