National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Awards Design Contract for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today announced another important step towards stronger biodefense capabilities by awarding an $11 million design contract for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) facility at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, to architecture, design, and planning firm Perkins+Will, Inc. The NBACC facility, managed by Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, will strengthen America’s ability to defend against biological terrorism by delivering dedicated scientific research to better assess, anticipate, prevent, and mitigate biological threats.

The NBACC facility will be made up of two centers, the Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTCC) and the National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC). The BTCC is charged with defining the characteristics of biothreat agents and conducting rigorous biodefense risk assessments in order to guide national biodefense research, development, and acquisition efforts, and to provide scientific support to the intelligence community. The NBFAC is the lead federal facility for conducting and facilitating the technical forensic analysis and interpretation of materials of concern to support the appropriate lead federal agency.

Founded in 1935, Perkins+Will, Inc. is an integrated architecture and planning firm recognized for its leadership in corporate, commercial, and civic buildings, and is one of the leading design firms in the country for healthcare facilities and research laboratories.

The NBACC facility will be located at the new National Interagency Biodefense Campus (NIBC) at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland. The NIBC campus includes laboratory facilities belonging to the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), offering many advantages for enhancing scientific collaboration and leveraging available resources, including proximity to other Federal agencies and policy makers.

Construction of the NBACC facility is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2006, and the site is scheduled to be operational in 2008. Preliminary plans show a facility of approximately 160,000 square feet with a concentration of research and associated space. The NBACC will support approximately 120 staff.###

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary Contact: 202-282-8010 March 23, 2005 SOURCE: Department of Homeland Security