United Kingdom Defense Seeks Innovation within Field of Microbial Forensics
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is seeking proposals that can address challenges within the field of Microbial Forensics. Microbial Forensics aims to determine whether an outbreak has occurred through a natural event or because of the misuse of a biological material (e.g. nefarious activity). The approach therefore requires more than the identification of an organism. A robust microbial forensic capability could, for example, yield evidence of deliberate biological engineering or prior laboratory growth, presence of anti-microbial resistance, source attribution, enhanced pathogenicity, or any other information that may be useful in the response to an incident.
The MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is leading the creation of the UK Microbial Forensics Consortium (UKMFC) initiative comprising frontline bio-surveillance laboratories which will strengthen the UK’s Microbial Forensic capabilities. This call for proposals from industry and academia seeks novel technology options or technical approaches that can directly support this initiative.
As well as addressing a diverse set of technical requirements, one of the goals of this call for proposals is to engage with a non-traditional supplier base as well as traditional suppliers (i.e. suppliers who have not worked in Defense and Security before as well as those who have) to yield innovative solutions.
Up to $1.25 million is available from the MOD to move a range of technology options from low to medium Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
The following research areas are of particular interest to the MOD:
• Computational tools that improve the opportunity to detect anomalies in genome sequencing data.
• Technologies that allow the identification and / or computational analysis of other omic signatures (a high-dimensional readout of cellular state change that provides information about the biological processes affected by the perturbation and perturbation-induced phenotypic changes of the cell) for novel Microbial Forensic capabilities.
On 9 January 2025 there is a dial-in session that will provide further details on the problem space being addressed by the MOD and a chance to ask questions in an open forum.
On 15 and 21 January 2025, there are Supplier one-to-one teleconference sessions available with the MOD giving you the opportunity to ask specific technical questions in a closed forum. Booking will be on a first come first served basis.
The MOD encourages collaboration between organizations during this call for proposals. If you are interested in collaborating with another organization, you will be asked to complete a supplier collaboration survey by 4 February 2025. Your details (including your business email address) will be circulated among other potential suppliers who have completed the survey and are interested in collaborating.
U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market and with the MOD. The U.S. and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.
If you have novel proposals that could address challenges within the field of Microbial Forensics and you would like to learn how to submit a proposal, or to learn more about security and defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.