U.S. Selects Operator for New Biodefense Facility

The U.S. Homeland Security Department has selected the Battelle National Biodefense Institute to operate a new biological defense facility now under construction at Ft. Detrick, Md., the agency announced yesterday (see GSN, June 26).

The five-year, $250 million contract calls for the institute to run the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, which is intended to study biological threats and conduct biological testing, according to a DHS release (see GSN, July 31).

Battelle could also receive up to five one-year extensions, raising the total contract to $500 million.

“Scientific research is fundamental to reducing the high consequences of a biological attack,” said DHS Undersecretary for Science and Technology Jay Cohen in the release.  “Our threat picture is ever-changing, and this state-of-the-art center will provide an enduring biodefense capability against the biological threats we face” (U.S. Homeland Security Department release, Dec. 20).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.