The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) branch has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for a Viable BioParticle Aerosol Collection (VBAC) System to support the need of DHS and other national stakeholders to collect and maintain biologically viable aerosol samples from the environment in order to support the response to a bio-terrorism attack. Because of the high consequence of the actions which will be taken to protect the U.S. public in the event of a biological attack, understanding the viability characteristics of a pathogen of interest in the environment during an attack is critical. These viable samples are intended to augment the existing detection capabilities in the DHS BioWatch program run by the Office of Health Affairs and will be used in laboratory analysis to support the national decision makers in assessing the necessary protective countermeasures, the need for immediate medical response, and distribution pf the appropriate medical countermeasures. Sol. No. BAA 09-08. Respond by April 10. Contact: William Fuller, contract specialist, 202-254-6829, [email protected].
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