The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) recently awarded a contract to Leidos, a global science and technology company, to support the agency’s cooperative biological engagement program (CBEP), cooperative threat reduction program (CTR), and scientific and technical engagement partnership (STEP).
The CTR program aims to build cooperation with both international and non-governmental entities to advance multilateral cooperation in biological warfare nonproliferation.
The CBEP program will build cooperation between partner-country institutions to reduce biological threats through biological safety and security initiatives, while the STEP program aims to foster partnerships with research and technical centers.
The single-award, time and materials contract covers a one-year base period of performance, along with four one-year options. If all options are exercised, the contract value sits at approximately $170 million. Leidos said work will primarily be performed in Northern Virginia, while international work will take place at various combatant command areas of responsibility.
“Leidos is proud of the decades of support we have provided to DTRA’s critical mission and we are honored to have been selected to support DTRA’s key international partner engagement,” Tim Reardon, president of Leidos Defense and Intelligence, said. “The international assistance provided under this contract will strengthen US Government international outreach in countering threats posed by weapons of mass destruction, particularly biological weapons. This outreach, research, and training will help the U.S. and our international partners prevent or mitigate [chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive] events throughout the world.”