This is a Sources Sought Notice / Request for Information (RFI). There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for Solicitation and inquiries related to the same will not receive a response. This RFI is published for market research purposes only, and in no way obligates the Government to issue a solicitation or otherwise make a contract award. Any and all information submitted in response to this RFI is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this RFI. Background The Joint Science and Technology Office of the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (JSTO-CBD) was established as part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) under the April 2003 memorandum, "Implementation Plan for the Management of the Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP)," signed by the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD (AT&L). The JSTO-CBD science and technology programs address basic and applied research and experimental development related to chemical and biological threat agent characterization, medical diagnostic methods and medical pre-treatment and therapeutic countermeasures, and physical decontamination, detection, protection, and decision support capabilities. The February 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) states that, "... to deter adversaries considering the use of chemical or biological weapons, the Department will enhance efforts to develop countermeasures, defenses, and mitigation strategies...to meet, defend, and defeat these emerging threats." The QDR also specifically calls out the need to conduct research on countermeasures and to develop technologies against non-traditional chemical agents . Objective This RFI addresses the segments of the current JSTO-CBD portfolio that are concerned with developing a scientific understanding of emerging and potential chemical and biological (CB) threat agents, and the application of science and technology towards the development of physical and medical countermeasure capabilities against the threat posed by such agents. This is a market survey to determine the existing infrastructure and personnel resources capable of performing both theoretical and practical hazardous material defense related research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E). Any RDT&E work conducted related to this objective will require performers that have cleared personnel, secure facilities, and laboratories certified by government authorities for hazardous work. Work performed and data created under potential efforts will, in many cases, be subject to government issued security classification guides and will have to be conducted and prepared in accordance with established guidelines for laboratory safety and information security. In addition, if the hazardous materials to be investigated meet certain criteria, surety agent handling and accountability rules will have to be followed. These requirements may include: laboratories, animal facilities and glove boxes with appropriate engineering controls, current inspection/calibration standards, alarm systems, contamination controls; hazard assessment and analysis plans; defined standard operating procedures; appropriate training programs; personal protective equipment (PPE); the ability to meet or exceed established occupational health guidelines; provision of onsite medical treatment; validated decontamination plans; robust detection and monitoring systems; appropriate emergency response plans; physical security; accountability; onsite transportation plans; and an established personnel reliability program (PRP) or its equivalent. Responses Sources having the capability and/or concept to meet these requirements are invited to respond to this RFI. Responses must be UNCLASSIFIED and limited to five (5) pages for any given concept, not including cover page, cover letter and table of contents. Respondents will be expected to follow their internal information security policies and any appropriate internal or government supplied security guidance to insure that responses to this RFI are UNCLASSIFIED. Any proprietary concepts of information should be clearly identified as such with disposition instructions. Data and information submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned. Input on technical aspects of the responses may be solicited by DTRA from non-government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. For all RFI responses, an additional, non-proprietary cover page is also requested identifying your company name, technical point of contact, contact information and known or anticipated OCI issues. Each response should address the following: • Status and/or capability of the submitter's facility clearance (DD Form 441 or equivalent) or relevant international disclosure mechanism for sharing classified information -at the SECRET level- with the United States, and a facility CAGE Code or SECRET-level safeguarding capability that can be verified by the Industrial Security Facilities Database (ISFD) at the time of award. • List and detailed description of positions with (and capable of maintaining) SECRET-level personnel security clearances including areas of expertise and level of training. • Description of all laboratory (physical and life science [ in vivo and in vitro ]), test and computer facilities available for physical and medical countermeasure RDT&E with the spectrum of novel and emerging threat agents at both the UNCLASSIFIED and SECRET levels. • Description of all laboratory and facility safety and security procedures (i.e. Biological Safety Levels, Bio-surety, Chemical Surety, personnel reliability program and/or its equivalent, etc.) Only electronic submissions of information provided to the email address specified will be accepted. RFI responses should be sent to the following email address:
[email protected] . All emails should include in the subject line the RFI number and the submitting organization's name. Responses should be submitted electronically not later than 5:00 p.m. EST on December 22, 2011. Additional Information Upon review of all submissions in response to this RFI, DTRA may schedule individual meetings with any or all respondents to gain further understanding into their specific responses.