Chemical and Biological Defense (Operational Systems Development)

The Chemical and Biological Defense (Operational Systems Development) program, under Program Element (PE) 0607384BP, is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative focused on maintaining and upgrading operational capabilities for chemical and biological defense across the Joint Force. The program is structured into three main portfolios: Understand, Protect, and Mitigate, each addressing specific aspects of readiness and modernization for systems that have already been fielded or approved for full-rate production. The overarching goal is to ensure that U.S. forces can operate effectively in chemical and biological environments, supporting both combat operations and domestic incident response.

The Understand portfolio aims to modernize and continuously engineer software, sensor, and medical diagnostic systems. Key objectives include the development and integration of the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Support to Command and Control (CSC2) system, which consolidates legacy warning and reporting systems into a modernized platform with continuous software updates and cybersecurity enhancements. The portfolio also supports sensor modernization, such as upgrading the Common Analytical Laboratory System (CALS), Analytical Laboratory System Modification (ALS MOD), and Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) to address obsolescence and improve detection capabilities. Medical modernization efforts focus on refreshing FDA-approved autoinjectors, diagnostic systems, and developing new assays to counter emerging biological threats, with contracts awarded to industry and government partners for product improvements and regulatory compliance.

The Protect portfolio is dedicated to enhancing individual and collective protective equipment to ensure Joint Force personnel can operate in contaminated environments without performance degradation. The Modernization Protection Collective Protection effort updates filtration systems for ships, vehicles, and shelters, aiming to reduce lifecycle costs, improve energy efficiency, and extend service life. The Modernization Protection Individual Protection initiative focuses on personal protective equipment, including respirator masks, suits, and test equipment, with an emphasis on integrating new materials and technologies to meet evolving threat requirements and extend shelf life. These efforts leverage mature technologies and transition government-developed solutions into fielded systems through competitive and sole-source contracts, validated by robust testing and updated technical data packages.

The Mitigate portfolio addresses contamination mitigation and chemical agent therapeutic capabilities. The Improved Nerve Agent Treatment System Centrally Acting program develops medical countermeasures such as scopolamine and extended-release pyridostigmine bromide tablets to improve survivability following nerve agent exposure. Modernization Hazard Mitigation and its predecessor, Modernization Protection Decontamination, focus on upgrading decontamination systems like the Joint Service Transportable Decon System Small Scale, Power Driven Decontamination Apparatus, and various decontamination kits. These projects prioritize obsolescence management, real-time shelf-life studies, and integration of advanced threat decontamination technologies, using a mix of government and contractor-developed solutions.

Each portfolio within the Chemical and Biological Defense Program employs acquisition strategies tailored to the maturity and readiness of technologies. For software and sensor modernization, managed portfolio approaches and continuous integration/delivery pipelines are used to streamline updates and maintain interoperability. Medical modernization leverages Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts and Other Transaction Authority agreements for rapid development and regulatory compliance. Protective equipment modernization utilizes both competitive and sole-source contracting, with rigorous testing to ensure improvements meet military standards. Hazard mitigation modernization similarly relies on transitioning government-developed technologies and validating upgrades through engineering change proposals.

The program also supports specialized rapid capability development for United States Special Operations Command and Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, enabling quick response to emergent threats and integration of commercial off-the-shelf technologies. These efforts include testing and validation of new detection, protection, and decontamination equipment, as well as ongoing program management and oversight to ensure alignment with operational requirements and resource availability. The modernization roadmap is informed by user feedback, technology advancements, and regulatory changes, ensuring that fielded capabilities remain effective against current and future threats.