Bioinformatics and Assays Development Program (BIAD)

The summary for the Bioinformatics and Assays Development Program (BIAD) grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Department of Homeland Security, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Bioinformatics and Assays Development Program (BIAD): This funding opportunity is issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and is posted at both www.FedBizOps.com (procurement and other transactions) and www.FedGrants.gov (grants and cooperative agreements). Since this is a BAA, there are multiple deadlines for various aspects. The deadline noted above represents the deadline to register your organization's intent to submit a white paper. A critical area of focus for DHS is the protection of the homeland from the release of a biological agent as demonstrated by systems such as the currently deployed BioWatch surveillance system. Under solicitation RA03-01, HSARPA has recently initiated a program to develop new sensor technologies to significantly enhance the BioWatch system while simultaneously reducing its cost of operation (see www.hsarpabaa.com for details about this past solicitation). As a complement to the technology program initiated under RA03-01, HSARPA is initiating the Bioinformatics and Assays Development (BIAD) program to extend the existing family of detection and forensics assays as well as to develop next generation assays and new tools for assay development. There are five Technical Topic Areas (TTA), each with an emphasis on an aspect of the detection and analysis challenge. TTA-1: Extension of baseline protein and nucleic acid assays. We seek to extend and augment the capabilities of current baseline protein and nucleic assays, especially in the context of detection from environmental samples, including complex sample matrices, and the use of multiplexed analyses. TTA-2: Assays for new, emerging, or engineered threats. We seek strategies and new approaches for the detection and characterization of previously unknown or engineered biological threats including the direct detection of pathogenicity. TTA-3: Bioinformatics tools. We seek bioinformatics tools that will enhance assay development and provide a more thorough understanding of assay system performance with the eventual goal of being able to predict and optimize detection system performance. TTA-4: Assays and tools for forensic analysis. We seek improved capabilities and tools for forensic analysis of samples associated with a biological agent release, for characterization and attribution purposes. New technologies and methods are needed for efficient and selective recovery of trace amount of live agents, proteins, or nucleic acids from complex sample matrices. In addition, rapid methods for distinguishing viable from nonviable threat agents are desired. TTA-5: Methods to characterize extraction and preparation methods. We seek improved techniques to characterize methods currently used to extract samples from various types of collection matrices, with particular emphasis on defining and quantifying the efficiency of extraction. These procedures will be used in part to compare various detection methods and provide confidence in our capability to distinguish normal background from elevated pathogen levels. Bidders/applicants must register in order to submit a white paper or proposal. Refer to the specific instructions and topic area for submission information at www.hsarpabaa.com. Paper copies of the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be obtained from: Booz Allen Hamilton, 4001 Fairfax Drive, Suite 750, Arlington, VA 22203, POC: Steve Svensson (703-465-2628).