The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) branch has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking research and development proposals for the purposes of producing highly specific, robust, and accurate lateral flow immunoassays for the detection of bacterial bio-threat agents and toxins. These assays are intended for use by the first responder community for the detection and identification of bacterial bio-threat agents and toxins present in “white powder” samples, and other suspected material encountered by the community. The creation of such assays include establishing the protocol for sample preparation for recovery, all extraction methods, performance of the actual analysis of the antigenic signature of the agents from their associated samples using lateral flow immunoassays, and unambiguous interpretation of results. Sol. No. BAA11-01. White papers due by Dec. 7. Contact: Susan Eicher, contracting officer, [email protected].