The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a prime contract to Leidos (formerly known as SAIC) to support and supplement the Science and Technology (S&T) Agricultural Scientific Program at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC).
The contract has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options and a total contract value of approximately $12 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed in Orient Point, N.Y.
PIADC is the only laboratory in the nation that can work on high-consequence foreign animal diseases. The laboratory helps protect U.S. livestock from the accidental or intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases. Based on the breadth of this mission, the DHS S&T Agricultural Defense Scientific Program at the PIADC is critical to the development of Foreign Animal Disease countermeasures that can be deployed in the event of an outbreak, including vaccines, diagnostic technology and biotherapeutics.
Under the contract, Leidos will support and supplement the DHS S&T Agricultural Defense Scientific Program at PIADC with planning, program management support and oversight for the development of vaccines, diagnostics and other countermeasures to mitigate the impact of Foreign Animal Diseases.
“We are pleased to continue our support to the DHS S&T Directorate to protect U.S. livestock from foreign animal diseases that can seriously threaten our livestock industries, economy, and way of life,” said President of Leidos Health, Steve Comber.
