CH2M has received a $35 million contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and U.S. Strategic Command‘s Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction to aid both organizations’ efforts to help mitigate infectious diseases in West Africa.
The contract covers support for national and local biosafety, biosecurity and biosurveillance work in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Senegal as part of the Defense Department‘s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program, CH2M said Tuesday.
CH2M added its team will provide design, engineering, construction and infrastructure services as well as scientific expertise and training for staff at laboratory facilities in the region.
The company, DTRA and SCC-WMD will coordinate with West African authorities, local businesses, non-government organizations and U.S. and international partners to help achieve sustainable operations for new facilities and infrastructure.
CH2M will also work to guide efforts to establish national legislation on biosafety and biosecurity as well as develop laboratory policies and procedures that meet international standards.
CH2M has helped DTRA and SCC-WMD work on health security programs in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos under the Biological Threat Reduction Integrating Contract since 2010.