ATCC, a Manassas, Virginia-based nonprofit global biological resource center, announced on September 22, 2026 that it has been awarded a 10-year Department of War (DOW) contract with a ceiling value of $99 million, naming ATCC as prime contractor for the Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) program. Under the contract, ATCC will coordinate the full lifecycle management of government-owned medical countermeasures (MCMs) — vaccines, biologics, and drugs designed to protect U.S. military personnel against chemical and biological threats — ensuring they remain viable and ready for immediate deployment across the Joint Force.
Rebecca Bradford, Senior Vice President, ATCC Federal Solutions, said: “Medical countermeasures are only as valuable as our ability to deploy them when and where they are needed. The RAPID program ensures that the supply chain and ongoing testing infrastructure behind those countermeasures is solid, so when our warfighters need protection, it is there. We are glad to play that role in support of military readiness.”
A Central Integrator Role Built on Decades of Federal Work
RAPID is managed by the Joint Project Lead for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enabling Technologies (JPL CBRN ET), under the Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND). This award builds on ATCC’s existing DOW relationships, including active programs with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and DARPA. Its prior work spans identifying and characterizing novel antiviral therapeutic approaches for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, biomanufacturing research with DARPA aimed at reducing the DOW’s reliance on petrochemicals, and antimicrobial resistance support for WRAIR.
A Broader Track Record in Federal Biodefense
ATCC also holds contracts with the CDC, NIH, and BARDA, and has executed surge response work for influenza, COVID-19, Zika, Yellow Fever, Ebola, and other public health emergencies — a track record built on more than 100 years of biological material stewardship and more than 40 federal contracts.
Eldar Imanverdi, Senior Director of Business Development, ATCC Federal Solutions, said: “We are proud to continue expanding our defense portfolio in support of mission-critical priorities across the DOW. Our scientific and supply chain expertise directly supports national security and defense, enabling rapid, reliable, and secure solutions that strengthen preparedness, resilience, and operational readiness.”
The project is funded in part under agreement W911SR-26-9-A017; views expressed in the release don’t necessarily reflect the position of the Department of the Army, DOW, or the U.S. Government, and references to non-federal entities don’t imply DOW, Army, or CPE CBRND endorsement.
About ATCC
ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning more than a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world’s largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with research and technology centers of excellence in Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland.
