Biomarker Assay Development & Validation

The contract focuses on refining and validating a biological assay designed to detect biomarkers of cyanide exposure in saliva, with the goal of ensuring clinical accuracy and reliability for real-world medical and emergency response applications. The work requires optimizing the assay’s sensitivity and specificity to reliably identify trace levels of cyanide-related indicators in a non-invasive sample type, addressing challenges related to matrix interference, sample stability, and reproducibility across diverse populations. The project demands rigorous validation against established reference methods and adherence to clinical laboratory standards to support potential regulatory acceptance and deployment in forensic, occupational, or mass casualty scenarios. This subcontract, issued under NAICS code 541715 by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Acquisition Division, is targeted toward specialized research and development firms with expertise in diagnostic assay development and biomarker validation. The solicitation was posted on August 3, 2026, with a response deadline of September 2, 2026, and no set-aside provisions are specified. Performance is expected to be conducted where the contractor’s core capabilities reside, with no specific location mandated. The project’s success hinges on delivering a clinically viable, scalable, and robust diagnostic tool that can transition from research to operational use in public health and emergency response systems.