BROAD AGENCY Announcement (BAA) FOR THE PROTECTION OF DEPLOYED MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM THREATS POSED BY ARTHROPOD DISEASE VECTORS

The U.S. Army Contracting Command is inviting applications for funding for the Deployed War Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program. The program, administered by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB), is designed to protect U.S. Department of Defense personnel from medically relevant pests including disease vectors of mosquito-borne, tick-borne pathogens, and fly-borne bacterial pathogens.

To be funded by this program, research should focus on the development of new and improved insecticides, personal protection tools, vector surveillance tools, and decision support tools – all aimed at enhancing vector control outcomes. The research project should aim to push new technology development, contain advanced research related to specific technologies, allow both military and civilian usage, and focus on multiple target vectors.

The budget for Fiscal Year 2024 is up to $4.5 million with prospective funds available for future years. Each project can take up to three years and will not exceed a total cost of $975,000. Fund disposition should commence between August and October 2024.

Eligible institutions include any profit or non-profit entities including universities, hospitals, laboratories, state and federal agencies, and private and public organizations. However, the program does not support basic research, certain types of human medical research, certain types of toxicity testing, manufacturing costs, and testing and evaluation of previously tested or commercial products.

Application is done through the pre-proposal form found on their website and a project summary slide (quad chart) must be submitted. Submission deadline is December 12, 2023. Applicants notified in mid-January 2024 will then be invited to submit full proposals by mid-March 2024. Selected proposals will be notified by late April or early May 2024, with funded awards expected by August or September 2024.