The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has announced the winners of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Think-and-Do Challenge. The two winners, the Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC) and DynaSim Technical Services, Inc., both located in Manhattan, Kan. have developed ideas that will substantively support operations for the NBAF.
When completed and fully operational in 2022, the $1.25 billion NBAF will be a 570,000 sq.ft, biocontainment facility for the study of foreign animal and emerging zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans) diseases that threaten animal agriculture and public health in the United States.
“The NBAF will be America’s go-to resource for truly innovative animal health research, and will provide huge advances in diagnostic capabilities, vaccines, and other countermeasures that protect America’s livestock, food supply and economy, thus enhancing our overall security posture,” said DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Reginald Brothers. “The Think-and-Do Challenge was a unique opportunity to develop meaningful partnerships that will enhance the capabilities that the NBAF will provide once fully operational.”
As winners of the Think-and-Do Challenge, MATC will be awarded $53,106 to develop a training and assessment program aimed at reducing the biohazard risks in the NBAF; and DynaSim Technical Services, Inc. will be awarded $39,200 to construct a data management system that will enable research collaboration between the NBAF, its partners, and research teams.
The Think-and-Do Challenge was administered under the America COMPETES Act.
For more information on the DHS S&T InnoPrize Program, visit: www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/prize-competitions.
