Battelle wins pair of Air Force chem-bio deals

Battelle Memorial Institute has won two Air Force contracts totaling $16.5 million to assist in developing procedures to respond to chemical exposure and chemical weapons attacks.

Under a $9.5 million contract, Battelle will develop effective methods for measuring chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals and materials and their effect on humans, the Defense Department said Sept. 4. As part of its work, the company will be responsible for sharing procedures and methodologies developed as part of the project with public health organizations.

Under a $7 million contract, the company will establish procedures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack response and related emergency response training, DOD said. The company also will develop techniques for associated risk assessment, mitigation and management.

The 55th Contracting Squadron at Offut Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity.

Battelle, of Columbus, Ohio, is a science and technology services provider to the private and public sectors. The company's federal customers include the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the Defense and Energy departments.

Battelle ranks No. 21 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.