Battelle wins $93 million US biodefence contract
Battelle has been awarded the United States' Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s scientific and technical engagement partnership (STEP) 2.0 contract, becoming the sole awardee for this major biological threat reduction effort.
The award includes a $52.9 million base period, with a total potential value of $93.3 million over the full period of performance.
The STEP 2.0 programme operates under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s global threat reduction directorate, whose mission is focused on protecting the US and deployed forces from weapons of mass destruction proliferation, often together with allied nations.
Under the agreement, Battelle will support biodefence efforts to bolster US force readiness by expanding scientific and technical solutions that address planned and emerging biological risks.
"Strengthen disease detection, characterisation and reporting capabilities"
"Battelle has a long and proud history of helping nations build resilient biosurveillance and biosecurity systems," said Dan Pikora, general manager of Battelle’s national security business.
"With this new contract, we will expand that mission by partnering with DTRA and global collaborators to strengthen disease detection, characterisation and reporting capabilities that reduce the risk of biological threats before they can cause harm."
Battelle, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a non-profit organisation that conducts research and development as well as providing technical services to government and commercial customers across national security, health, energy and environmental sectors.
Last month, in a seven-year deal worth more than $100 million, Battelle was named as a key subcontractor for long-term CBRN testing, management, laboratory and training assistance at the US Army Dugway Proving Ground.
Last December, Battelle also participated in a DARPA challenge for drone-assisted medical care operations, as the Pentagon seeks potential models of human-machine triage deployments for mass casualty events.
