The Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is seeking new technical efforts for field deployable detection systems that can rapidly identify agricultural pathogens of concern.
Detection of zoonotic, foreign animal diseases, and plant pests requires tests that have optimized sensitivity and specificity, can be rapidly deployed and are easy to use during an outbreak or for routine surveillance. Additionally, the cost to deploy tests must be inexpensive due to the large number of samples anticipated for processing.
Specifically, DHS S&T is searching for near term solutions, within 12-18 months of completion. Responding contractors must be knowledgeable of agricultural pathogens and detection approaches as they relates to Homeland Security, current analytical technologies and associated strengths and weaknesses.
Highlighted agricultural pests and foreign animal diseases of concern include:
- Avian Influenza
- Classical Swine Fever
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- Hendra
- Nipah
- Rinderpest
- Rift Valley Fever
- Citrus spp., citrus fruit and cuttings
- Mangifera indica, mango fruit
- Ralstonia solanacearum (R3B2), potato brown rust
- Gastropoda, snails
- Ceratitis capitata, Mediterranean fruit fly
- Scolytidae, bark and ambrosia beetles
- Trogoderma granarium, Khapra beetle
Further details are available under Solicitation Number: RFI-OPO-13-00002. The deadline to submit responses is January 18, 2013.
