Immunological Assays (ELISA) for the Detection of Ricin, Abrin, and Botulinum Toxins (IADRABT) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Immunological Assays (ELISA) for the Detection of Ricin, Abrin, and Botulinum Toxins (IADRABT) opportunity is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) solicitation issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), consistent with FAR 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016. In practical terms, this means DHS is seeking research and development ideas rather than buying a pre-specified product through a traditional, single-solution procurement. The overarching mission context comes from the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296), under which DHS S&T, and specifically its Chemical Biological Division, is tasked with advancing technologies that help prevent, detect, and defend against chemical and biological attacks. The BAA also aligns with DHS responsibilities to improve response and restoration capabilities, conduct threat and risk assessments, and invest in bioforensics R&D. Within that broad mission space, this particular BAA is focused narrowly on biological toxin detection assay research and development, specifically immunological assays (ELISA-based methods) for detecting ricin, abrin, and botulinum toxins.

The funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BAA08-05) was posted on April 28, 2008, and later archived on July 2, 2008. DHS anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding level of $2,500,000, and it specified no cost sharing or matching requirement. While the listing labels the funding instrument type as a grant, the announcement makes clear that DHS reserves flexibility in what it ultimately issues: an award could be a cost-reimbursement contract, but DHS also reserves the right to use other award instruments such as grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions depending on the nature of the proposed work and the government’s needs.

A key procedural detail is that a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) would not be issued for this effort. Instead, the BAA itself governs the process and deadlines, with due dates for white papers and full proposals referenced as being defined in Section IV of the full BAA. The announcement was made available through FedBizOpps (historically at fbo.gov) and posted on the HSARPA BAA website (hsarpabaa.com). For applicants, the practical implication is that submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and specific technical goals or performance parameters would be found in the full BAA document rather than in a later RFP package.

In terms of who can apply, the opportunity is broadly open. The eligibility language states the BAA is open to all responsible sources, which can include single organizations or teams spanning academia, private sector organizations, government laboratories, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including DOE national laboratories. FFRDC participation is allowed either as a prime responder or as a team member, so long as their sponsoring agreement permits it. The published eligibility categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and an “unrestricted” category indicating broad openness subject to the additional eligibility clarifications in the full BAA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are explicitly encouraged to submit proposals or participate as team members. The solicitation also notes that no portion of the BAA will be set aside under FAR Part 19.502-2, meaning there is no small business set-aside component embedded in this announcement.

The notice highlights compliance and integrity considerations typical for DHS R&D solicitations. Organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) are to be evaluated case-by-case as described in the full BAA, and offerors that already hold contracts providing scientific, engineering, technical, and/or administrative support directly to DHS S&T are flagged for particular scrutiny. This is a common safeguard in research solicitations where an entity might otherwise have an unfair competitive advantage or could influence requirements, evaluations, or program direction through existing support roles.

For points of contact and administrative help, the announcement provides named DHS personnel. If an applicant has difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, they are directed to contact Michele Midgett, a Contract Specialist in the DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer in Washington, DC (michele.midgett@dhs.gov, 202-254-6836). A separate contact reference is also provided for Barbara Fuller, a Grants Officer (phone 609-813-2834), reinforcing that the program may use grant-related mechanisms even though it is framed within a BAA structure. The announcement repeatedly advises interested parties to consult the full BAA at fbo.gov for complete details, which would include the specific technical objectives for ELISA-based toxin detection, submission formatting rules for white papers and full proposals, evaluation factors, and any required milestones or deliverables.

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