Defense Threat Reduction Agency and U.S. Strategic Command select CH2M for $35M biosafety and biosecurity contract

Under the new $35M contract which extends to 2019, the CH2M team will greatly increase and improve national and local biosafety, biosecurity, and biosurveillance capabilities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Senegal.  The CH2M team will deliver design, engineering, construction, and infrastructure services; as well as provide scientific expertise and training for staff at new and existing laboratory facilities in the region.  To further assist DTRA/SCC-WMD with its overall program objectives for West Africa, the CH2M team will also provide guidance in establishing national legislation on biosafety and biosecurity, and support the development of laboratory policies and procedures that meet international standards.

With a focus on promoting overall security related to global health and delivering excellent health and safety program performance, the CH2M team will:

• Design and construct new national and regional reference laboratories and infrastructure in Liberia
  
• Design and renovate the Central Public Health Reference laboratory and infrastructure in Lakka, Sierra Leone
  
• Develop a campus master plan and renovate laboratory facilities and infrastructure in Senegal
  
• Develop methodologies and infrastructure to improve safety culture and practices, and the safeguarding of pathogens that raise security concerns at laboratory facilities across the region
  
• Provide comprehensive ongoing laboratory staff training and laboratory consumables procurement
  
• Provide mentorship and laboratory staffing for surge capability at laboratories throughout the region

According to Ray Tyler, CH2M Program Manager, "CH2M and DTRA/SCC-WMD will work with national and local authorities from the four West African Nations, collaborators from the U.S and other countries, non-governmental organizations, and local businesses to ensure sustainable operations for the new facilities and infrastructure."

"It's rewarding to be a part of improving biosafety and biosecurity for millions of people in partner nations," stated Matthew Sutton, CH2M President, Environment and Nuclear business.  "The solutions our people deliver will modernize prevention and response to the threat of infectious diseases and improve health outcomes for communities across the region."   

CH2M has been assisting DTRA/SCC-WMD through its Biological Threat Reduction Integrating Contract since 2010. In Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao People Democratic Republic, DTRA/SCC-WMD has engaged CH2M to help those nations comply with international biosafety standards, improve disease detection and reporting, and pathogen security through laboratory and hospital emergency operations center design, engineering, construction and infrastructure services, and biological sciences expertise.

About CH2M

CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients in water; environment and nuclear; transportation; energy and industrial markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games. Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.

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SOURCE CH2M

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