The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), under the Department of Defense, has updated its FY2022–2026 Chemical / Biological Technologies Broad Agency Announcement (BAA HDTRA122S0002) with Topic Call 7, adding two new applied research topics in biological threat detection. The BAA is an open, five-year contracting vehicle focused on Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3–6 technologies, meaning concepts that have moved beyond basic research into proof of concept and early prototyping and can mature toward fieldable systems that support U.S. forces operating in chemical and biological warfare environments.
What DTRA Is Looking For
Across Topic Call 7, DTRA is seeking projects that fit within the Chemical and Biological Defense Program mission to provide state of the art capabilities for operating in chemical and biological threat environments, with clear plans to move from TRL 3 (experimental proof of concept) toward TRL 4–6 (laboratory and relevant environment prototypes) by the end of the effort.
For CBPD‑01 (Advanced Triggers), DTRA is looking for:
- Non LIF trigger technologies that can reliably distinguish biological aerosols from background clutter such as diesel exhaust, dust, pollen, and smoke in real time.
- Compact, man portable systems with reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP C) that can support multi cycle autonomous operation in austere environments.
- Sensor architectures that integrate physical, chemical, or biochemical mechanisms (for example, micro scale fluidics and particle dynamics, advanced non fluorescent spectroscopy, electromagnetic or electrostatic methods, or biochemical interaction triggers on sensor surfaces).
- On board processing and data fusion, including artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML) approaches, to lower false alarm rates and enable operation over contested and bandwidth limited networks as a “smart” front end for downstream collectors.
For CBPD‑02 (Second Wave), DTRA is seeking:
- A robust, scalable bioinformatics software suite that can detect engineered and hybrid genomes from complex metagenomic datasets without relying solely on known signatures.
- Algorithms that identify engineering “scars” and “fingerprints” such as plasmid remnants, atypical restriction site patterns, anomalous codon usage, sequence complexity deviations, and non natural chimeric or hybrid constructs.
- A quantitative Engineered Probability Score (EPS) to prioritize sequences for analyst review rather than simple yes/no calls.
- Optional higher level capabilities for functional impact assessment, likely engineering tools or methods, and exploratory lab of origin inference, all built on a scalable, operationally relevant platform.
Award Information and Key Dates
The CB BAA is structured as a five year, open BAA running from FY2022–2026, with multiple topic calls released over time rather than a single omnibus deadline. Topic Call 7 continues this rolling model, adding the following key dates:
- Questions deadline: July 22, 2026
- Proposal deadline: September 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Individual award sizes, number of awards, and period of performance for each topic will be determined during negotiations under the umbrella of the existing BAA. Offerors should align budgets, schedules, and TRL progressions with the scale of work needed to reach DTRA’s target performance metrics and transition objectives.
What Innovators Should Take Away
Topic Call 7 is designed for teams that can connect cutting edge sensing and analytics to real world biodefense needs:
For CBPD 01, competitive teams will blend sensor hardware, microfluidics or particle diagnostics, and edge AI/ML into compact systems that can deliver high probability of detection, low false alarm rates, and fast response times under field conditions.
For CBPD 02, strong proposals will pair deep experience in bioinformatics and metagenomics with scalable high performance or edge computing and analyst ready outputs that support force protection and environmental surveillance.
If your organization is developing next generation biosurveillance triggers, metagenomic analysis platforms, or AI driven tools for engineered genome detection, Topic Call 7 is a timely opportunity to align your roadmap with DTRA’s long term investment strategy.
EverGlade is a national advisory firm helping innovators navigate the federal funding ecosystem. We support companies across the funding lifecycle, from early-stage strategy through proposal development, negotiations, and post-award execution, ensuring you win the award and deliver the program.
For additional information on where your capabilities could plug into this program, schedule a conversation with our team.
