Southern Research Wins $37 Million Black & Veatch Sub-Contract for Biological Threat Reduction Program

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Southern Research Institute — a not-for-profit scientific organization that conducts basic and applied research in the areas of preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering, environmental and energy production — today announced that it has been awarded a subcontract from Black & Veatch to help support the U.S. Department of Defense’s Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) in the Ukraine.

The award is expected to generate up to $37 million in revenues for Southern Research over the next five years. “We are honored that Black & Veatch has selected our Southern Research team to provide support for such an important global program,” said John A. “Jack” Secrist III, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research Institute. “Working with Black & Veatch on the Ukraine task order will allow Southern Research to not only contribute to the safety and well-being of the United States, but to use our knowledge and expertise for global safety as well.”

As the prime integrating contractor, Black & Veatch will design, engineer and deploy systems, processes and technologies to further strengthen reporting, detection and response capabilities. Southern Research will provide a wide range of scientific consulting in the design and implementation of modern diagnostic laboratories throughout the Ukraine. Additionally, Southern Research will facilitate collaborative research projects conducted by US-Ukraine interdisciplinary teams. The Southern Research biological threat reduction program will be managed by Mary Guttieri, Ph.D., based in Washington DC, in conjunction with William Severson, Ph.D., and Colleen B. Jonsson, Ph.D., based in Birmingham, Ala.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the BTRP’s implementer, awarded Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering consulting and construction company, one of the agency’s major Biological Threat Reduction Integrating Contracts (BTRIC), with a collective ceiling of $4 billion over 10 years among the five selected contractors. As part of the BTRIC, Black & Veatch was selected and awarded the first task order in Ukraine valued at more than $175 million during an initial five-year timeframe to include options.

The task order includes enhancing the Ukraine’s existing network of human and veterinary diagnostic laboratories that handle especially dangerous pathogens. It also involves strengthening biosafety and biosecurity measures to combat bioterrorism and prevent the proliferation of biological weapons-related technology, pathogens, and expertise while enhancing the government’s existing disease surveillance systems to detect and report bioterrorism attacks, epidemics and potential pandemics.

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. Established in 1998, this year DTRA celebrates 10 years of creative solutions through teamwork.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, and management consulting, federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black & Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, program management, construction management, environmental, security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning. With $3.2 billion in annual revenue, the employee-owned company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts basic research in drug discovery for cancer, emerging infectious diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system; contract preclinical drug and vaccine development, and advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy. Our more than 600 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities also located in Wilsonville, Ala., Anniston, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. For more information about Southern Research and its capabilities and accomplishments, visit www.SouthernResearch.org.

    CONTACT:
    Rhonda Jung
    Southern Research
    205-581-2317
    jung@southernresearch.org

    Risa Burgess
    Schwartz Communications
    781-684-0770
    risa@schwartz-pr.com

SOURCE Southern Research Institute