ASRC Federal arm wins $428M DHS animal disease center support contract

A subsidiary of ASRC Federal has won a potential 10-year, $428 million contract to help the Department of Homeland Security operate an animal disease research center and support the hub’s eventual shift to a new facility.

The contract is for one base year and nine individual option years. DHS received three offers for the contract, according to Deltek data.

ASRC Federal Field Services will help manage, operate and maintain the Plum Island Animal Disease Center under the PIADC Center-Wide Support Program contract. Work will encompass program management, science and technology program support, animal care and handling, IT and utility systems.

The Long Island, New York region-based center is responsible for the defense of U.S. livestock from animal diseases through preparedness, response, vaccine research-and-development, diagnostics, training and bioforensics.

DHS plans to replace the Plum Island site with the future National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility with the Agriculture Department as primary research partners.

NBAF is currently under construction in Manhattan, Kansas. DHS indicates it plans to complete facility commissioning in May 2021, start full operations in December 2022 and fully transition the Plum Island mission to the NBAF in 2023.