The Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking proposals for detection systems to prevent the spread of an intentional introduction or natural occurrence of a catastrophic foreign animal, emerging, or zoonotic diseases.
The effort supports the Agricultural Screening Tools Project, which develops screening systems to aid in protecting the U.S. public health, food supply and livestock. Specific program goals include:
- Development of field deployable tools for early detection of agricultural threats to allow for swift decisions and quarantine
- Transition of tools for early detection of agricultural threats to allow for swift decisions and quarantine
- Transition of tools for continued syndromic surveillance of disease to allow for continuity of business
- Enhancing capabilities in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network
Agricultural screening tools must have the ability to perform surveillance and monitoring of endemic and foreign animal diseases rapidly, accurately, and economically. A single diagnostic sample and multiplex approach is highly desirable. The system must also have a time to result (TTR) of less than 60 minutes; a system cost of under $10,000; and assay costs under $10 each.
The Department of the Interior is conducting this BAA is on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate.
Further details are available via Broad Agency Announcement 15DHS-002. The response deadline is June 1, 2015.
