May 28 2010
Northrop Grumman Corporation has commenced delivering vital assay technology to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the U.S. as part of its BioWatch Gen-3 contract for the development of the state-of-the-art biological detectors to be used in homeland defense applications.
This assay is BioWatch Gen-3 system’s critical technology component The DHS visualizes BioWatch Gen-3 as a totally autonomous biodetectors network. These biodetectors are to be installed in the U.S. population centers for monitoring biological agents in the air continuously.
The Advanced Concepts & Technologies Division of Northrop Grumman is offering its state-of-the-art automatic detection systems under a stage one $15.1 million indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery contract awarded during November 2009. These detection systems are meant for field and independent laboratory testing at national and military laboratories, with an aim to show that the state-of-the-art automatic detection systems are able to meet or surpass the stipulated performance criteria for reporting and detection.
Northrop Grumman’s Vice President of homeland defense programs, Dave Tilles informed that biodetection process automation in such new-generation instruments will result in advanced warning related to a bioterrorism attack. He added that the system will run round the clock in chosen cities in the U.S. He explained that prior warning will help the safety and health officials in the U.S. to reduce exposure, proactively manage the bio-threat response and distribute medication earlier.
The BioWatch team of Northrop Grumman includes Global FIA in Fox Island, Wash, Research International in Monroe, Wash, and Luminex Corporation in Austin, Texas. A Biohazard Detection Systems (BDS) network in the U.S., as a part of U.S. Postal Service, was developed and deployed by Northrop. BDS gathers and analyzes air samples received from mail-sorting systems by utilizing polymerase chain reaction technology for detecting DNA traces from biological agents. Northrop plans to leverage its experience and expertise gained while supporting the U.S. Postal Service’s BioWatch program.
Source: http://www.dhs.gov