Technologies. Crews from across the state responded when a reported fire turned into a hazmat incident. The situation became increasingly dangerous when the chemical fire started to melt the firefighters’ gear as they entered the building, sending 12 firefighters and two first responders to the hospital. According to the chemical company: “If the fire department didn’t put out this fire when it did, it would have been catastrophic”.
CDP back in live agent training FEMA’s Centre for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) has announced that the centre will resume using nerve agents and biologicals in some of its hazardous materials training courses. In 2016 the CDP suspended the use of the nerve agents GB and VX, and biologicals ricin and anthrax after it was discovered that the centre’s COBRATF had been using a more toxic version of ricin in training.
Marine Corps targeted? Eleven personnel fell ill and three were taken to hospital after a suspicious letter containing an unknown substance was opened at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia. The letter was received on the Marine Corps’ side of the base and symptoms among those affected included nosebleeds and burning hands. Marine personnel took appropriate action and evacuated the building while waiting for emergency responders. There is no further news as to the nature of the unknown substance, but Joint Base Police Department officials are working with local hazmat teams, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the FBI. The letter was removed for investigation.
PRODuCT WATCH Chemists develop CBW-resistant fabric Chemists at Saratov State University have created what they say is a membrane solution capable of protecting military personnel from chemical and biological weapons while remaining air and vapour permeable. Testing of suits made with the special membrane fabric is to be completed by the end of this year and the material’s certification will follow shortly afterwards.
“Brain on a chip” Scientists and engineers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed what they are calling a brain-on-a-chip device aimed at testing and predicting the effects of biological and chemical agents, disease, or pharmaceutical drugs on the brain over time without the need for human or
animal subjects. The device, part of the lab’s in-vitro chip-based human investigational platform (iCHIP) project, simulates the central nervous system by recording neural activity from multiple brain cell types deposited and grown onto micro-electrode arrays.
Another Block in the wall Block MEMS, has been selected to participate in an $8bn contract for a joint enterprise research, development, acquisition, production and procurement (JE-RDAP) programme to support research, development and sale of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives defence systems, capabilities, equipment, supplies and material.
It was also awarded phase II of the Intelligence Advanced Research Programs Activity (IARPA) programme for the standoff detection of explosives and toxic chemical threats. Under phase I, Block successfully demonstrated the ability to detect trace quantities of explosives and other threats on multiple surfaces at one and five metre standoff distances in a few seconds. The contract value of the programme is now $10.7m, and is managed by the US air force research laboratory.
First Line snags IDIQ First Line Technology has been awarded a 10 year fielded contract through the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) JE- RDAP omnibus indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle. As a recipient of the $8.2bn, multi-vendor contract, First Line Technology has been named a qualified contractor by the joint program executive office for chemical and biological defense (JPEO-CBD). First Line Technology can now compete for JE-RDAP task orders specific to future research, development, production and fielding of CBRN defence systems.
FUNder GCATS IARPA has awarded Battelle a contract to develop threat assessment software to help prevent the creation of dangerous organisms. IARPA’s functional genomic and computational assessment of threats (Fun GCAT) programme is aimed at the creation of a critical new capability to counter potential threats associated with advancements in biotechnology. Under the contract, Battelle is developing software to assess the threat potential of genetic sequences. It would be used to screen DNA sequences to determine whether the sequence is related to any known organisms, predict the function of unknown sequences, and assign a threat level based on the potential for harm.
Fentanyl hoodies Mystaire Inc has announced the release of the latitude fentanyl filtered hood, which provides law enforcement professionals with another safety tool when handling fentanyl and its analogues. Latitude maximises user accessibility and incorporates redundant filtration for added safety and easy maintenance. The system effectively captures and removes harmful powders, particulate and gases from the operator’s breathing zone and the unique backwall filter design ensures there is constant and even negative pressure at the face of the unit. This ensures balance stability and weighing accuracy when handling these potent compounds.
Supporting CARA The Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) on behalf of the US army CBRNE analytical remediation activity (CARA) has awarded a $840,958 contract to Government Scientific Source for the provision of spectrometers to support CARA’s mission. The CARA mobile expeditionary laboratory deploys scientists to perform high-throughput chemical, explosives, and biological sample analysis to support DoD combatant commanders, military installations, and US civil authorities if requested.
Yap, yap, rabbit, rabbit Appili Therapeutics Inc has signed a licence agreement with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to develop ATI-1701, a vaccine to protect against Francisella tularensis.
Although a vaccine developed in the former Soviet Union provides partial protection against respiratory challenges, it may have limited effectiveness in a mass casualty, bioterrorism attack and is currently not approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Various antibiotic regimens are effective as post- exposure prophylaxis and treatment for tularemia, however a highly effective vaccine has long been sought to protect vulnerable populations.
Avon seal further M50 business Avon Rubber has received a 47,000 M50 mask order worth $12.6m from the DoD. This comes under the IDIQ contract and is therefore not unexpected - it brings the orders for 2018 so far to 149k and the accumulated total number of masks received by the DoD since 2008 to 1.944m.
Sanofi repays $27.8m French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur has recently agreed to pay
www.cbrneworld.com CBRNe Convergence, Orlando, USA, 6-8 November 2018
www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2018
February 2018 CBRNe WORLD
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