OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has selected Black & Veatch to work with the government of Armenia to design a sustainable program that will strengthen the Republic of Armenia’s human and veterinary biological threat reduction capabilities and the public health system. The project is the first time DTRA has selected a contractor to provide program design for a country before contracting for program implementation.
“Black & Veatch has been working with DTRA continuously for more than 18 years, implementing cooperative threat reduction programs across former Soviet Union countries, including Ukraine and Russia,” said Matthew Webber, Black & Veatch Vice President and Program Manager. “Our experience in implementing these programs will provide tremendous value to DTRA as we work to design Armenia’s program.”
The project is part of DTRA’s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) to combat bioterrorism and prevent the proliferation of biological weapons-related technology, pathogens and expertise. The program also aims to enhance host governments’ disease surveillance systems to detect and report bioterror attacks, epidemics and potential pandemics.
“Infectious disease and deadly pathogens are not bound by borders. Our work with DTRA as part of the CBEP helps make these countries, and therefore the entire global community, more secure in the fight against bioterrorism,” said Bill Van Dyke, President of Black & Veatch’s Federal Services Division.
Editor’s Notes
- The CBEP, formerly known as the Biological Threat Reduction Program, is part of DTRA’s overall Cooperative Threat Reduction Program.
- The Cooperative Threat Reduction Program was established in 1991 as part of the Nunn-Lugar Act. The program seeks to help the states of the former Soviet Union safeguard and dismantle stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, related materials and delivery systems.
- The Nunn-Lugar program was expanded to counter 21st century terrorist threats.
- DTRA executes this program for the U.S. Department of Defense and works in collaboration with partner governments and other U.S. Government agencies that administer related projects.
- DTRA awarded Black & Veatch one of its Biological Threat Reduction Integrating Contracts (BTRIC) in 2008. The overall BTRIC contract has a collective ceiling of $4 billion over 10 years among five selected contractors. The five contractors competitively bid for Task Orders issued under BTRIC.
- The Armenia CBEP is a Task Order under BTRIC.
- In 2008, Black & Veatch was awarded the first Task Order under BTRIC - prime integrating contractor for DTRA’s CBEP in Ukraine, a five-year, more than $100 million project under which Black & Veatch is designing, engineering and deploying systems, processes and technologies to further strengthen reporting, detection and response capabilities. In addition, Black & Veatch constructed the first level 3 biologically safe laboratory to become operational under CBEP in the former Soviet Union.
-
Black & Veatch has continuously worked with DTRA since 1993 to
safeguard against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
including biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in the former
Soviet Union. Previous work with DTRA includes:
- Integrating contractor for deployment of the Russian Automated Inventory Control and Management System to secure Russia’s nuclear arsenal awaiting dismantlement
- Developing and deploying to CBEP countries the Electronic Infectious Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) and the Pathogen Asset Control System (PACS)
About DTRA
DTRA safeguards the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high explosives) by providing capabilities to reduce, eliminate and counter the threat and mitigate its effects. This combat support agency serves as the intellectual, technical, and operational leader for the Department of Defense in the national effort to combat weapons of mass destruction.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch (www.bv.com) is a global leader in the consulting, engineering, construction and operation of what the world needs now and in the future in the crucial areas of energy, water and telecommunications and in providing up-to-the-minute services in the fast changing federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, the employee-owned, $2.3 billion company operates out of over 110 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries.