Early Detection Method Development

This contract seeks to advance early detection capabilities for invasive pests in forest and agricultural systems through innovative approaches such as field testing, sensor deployment, artificial intelligence and machine learning models, or citizen science protocols. The goal is to improve the speed, accuracy, and scalability of identifying pest threats before they cause significant ecological or economic damage, with an emphasis on practical, deployable solutions that integrate emerging technologies with on-the-ground monitoring. Proposals must demonstrate a clear pathway for real-world application and validation within target ecosystems. The opportunity is structured as a subcontract under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, with a North American Industry Classification System code of 541715, indicating it falls under scientific research and development services. Applications are due by September 30, 2026, and the posting date is August 3, 2026. The place of performance and point of contact details are not specified, suggesting flexibility in location and a reliance on proposers to define implementation zones. There is no set-aside designation, making this open to eligible organizations regardless of size or ownership type, provided they can deliver technically robust and field-validatable early detection methods.