The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has issued a new Open Call looking to develop rapid sanitizing technology to reduce the time it takes to clean ambulances given the urgent need during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic crisis.
It can take up to 45 minutes to clean ambulances once they have transported a patient suspected of having COVID-19. Some ambulance cleaning centres can also be some distance away from their base or hospitals. Improving emergency vehicle sanitization turn-around time will alleviate a critical bottleneck.
Innovations must be suitable for rapid deployment to clean public sector vehicles following the transport of patients with the COVID-19 virus. Ideally systems will have wider applicability than just ambulances, which might include buses, trains, and other blue light services or even in hospital wards / rooms.
All projects will be required to undergo practical assessment at Dstl Porton Down and a live demonstration on an ambulance, provided by the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Ideas reliant on use of decontaminants must be able to fully wet a complex surface for a given contact time to ensure it is decontaminated effectively. If you have an idea for a delivery system but need to partner for a decontaminating agent, state so in your proposal.
If you have an idea but you are not sure if it is what DASA is looking for, please contact a DASA Innovation Partner.
The current Open Call cycle has been extended until 1 April 2020 for early bids to be considered. Submit your proposal here.
