The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), has issued a pre-announcement for an upcoming Request for Project Proposals (RPP). This RPP will be aimed at accelerating medical countermeasures (MCMs) and fieldable biosurveillance technologies across the Chemical and Biological Defense Program. In brief, the solicitation will support the advancement of three medical and bioengineering technologies: (1) biologics on demand near the point of need, (2) automated sampling, sequencing, and analysis for threat detection, and (3) alternative methods to test MCMs in high containment. Each of these focus areas is mapped to urgent Department of Defense (DoD) readiness requirements.
Solicitation Overview and Objectives
Specific details in this pre-announcement are subject to change in the final RPP. The forthcoming RPP (via MTEC) is expected to solicit solutions to three distinct focus areas, each of which will culminate in validated prototypes ready for transition or further development.
Focus Area 1: Biologics On Demand
The objective is a compact, automated, deployable manufacturing system that can consistently produce fully bioactive proteins, with production beginning within 24 hours of receiving DNA or RNA templates. Priority MCMs include granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and the broad-spectrum antiviral griffithsin (GRFT). Requirements highlight automated control and real-time monitoring (potentially with AI/ML), rigorous analytical validation of material purity, identity, and potency, and product suitability for U.S. regulatory review.
Focus Area 2: Automated Clinical/Environmental Sampling, Sequencing, and Analysis
The objective is an integrated, automated sample extraction and library preparation device for hands-free preparation of bacterial, viral, or fungal samples for metagenomic sequencing. The prototype device is expected to automatically prepare both environmental (air, water, wastewater) and clinical (nasal/pharyngeal swabs, blood products, urine) samples. The automation is expected to handle extraction of the nucleic acid, conversion of RNA to cDNA as applicable, building libraries for sequencing, and initiation of the sequencing reactions. There is also interest in a modular device addition to analyze the data in real-time and alert users if pathogens are present in the sample.
Focus Area 3: Alternative Methods for Testing MCMs in High Containment
The objective is a mature organ-on-a-chip platform (potentially including multi-organ systems) capable of modeling viral biothreat infections and therapeutic interventions in biosafety level (BSL)-3/4 environments. Solutions should also evaluate novel infection delivery methods such as aerosol exposure and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic interventions given through various routes of administration.
Funding, Awards, and Period of Performance
- Focus Area 1 (Biologics On Demand): Single award anticipated at approximately $2–$3 million per year, with an initial Period of Performance (PoP) of up to 36 months. Offerors are encouraged to propose up to $6 million of tasks for Option periods in following years.
- Focus Area 2 (Automated Sampling, Sequencing, and Analysis): Single award anticipated at approximately $2.4 million total, with a PoP of up to 12 months.
- Focus Area 3 (Alternative Methods for Testing MCMs in High Containment): Single award anticipated at up to $5 million, with an initial PoP of up to 12 months. Offerors are encouraged to propose up to $19.45 million of tasks for Option periods in following years.
This program is expected to significantly strengthen health security. Biologics on demand can compress timelines to deliver G-CSF, GM-CSF, and antivirals like GRFT when and where they are needed most. Automated sampling and sequencing can identify emerging threats earlier, enabling faster public health and clinical responses. Validated alternative models for BSL-3/4 studies can de-risk and accelerate MCM evaluation. Collectively, these advances will improve readiness and medical outcomes for warfighters and, by extension, the broader population.
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