The Department of Homeland Security Directorate of Science and Technology (DHS S&T) is seeking proposals to support diagnostics and agent characterization for chemical and biological threats.
The current project is for the creation and validation of small molecule toxin assays intended for future use in clinical and public health laboratories as well as point-of-care settings. Examples of target agents for the effort include Conotoxins, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Saxitoxins, T-2 toxin, Tetrodotoxins, and other toxins.
First responders and public health officials require validated detection assays to analyze suspected biothreat samples and enable them to take appropriate actions in the interest of public safety and public health. This project will better enable the capabilities to rapidly screen and detect high consequence biological pathogens and toxins that can have a significant public health impact.
A thorough validation of these assays will be completed on the prototypes by the selected contractor via the use of non-clinical environmental, pre-clinical and clinical samples. Most likely, spiking studies with target agents and near neighbors will be conducted for validation studies.
Respondents should demonstrate skill, knowledge, experience, and commercialization successes in similar types of tasks, i.e., in the creation of small molecule monoclonal antibodies capable of detecting complex organic molecules of similar characteristics as the actual target agents, and the successful transition of viable, and cost effective commercial assays.
Further details are available via Solicitation Number: HSHQDC14RB0009OBAA14003Call6. Proposals are due March 31, 2015.
