Battelle Celebrates Joint Biological Point Detector Program 10-Year Milestone

System noted for advancing worldwide biodetection capabilities

 

Columbus, OH--Government and industry officials gathered in New York recently to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) program. The JBPDS program was lauded in a special luncheon that was part of the 2nd National Conference on Environmental Sampling and Detection for Bio-Threat Agents.

 

"How far this program has come in the last 10 years is literally amazing," said Col. Mark L. Grotke, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army's Research Development Engineering Command (RDECOM), in an introductory letter that is part of a commemorative book on the program. "With this system, our nation has a solid biological detection capability." Grotke was the first Product Manager for the JBPDS.

The JBPDS is a rapid detection and warning system that provides the joint U.S. services with the capability to operate and survive in a Biological Warfare (BW) agent threat environment. The system automatically detects, collects, and identifies biological warfare agents. The JBPDS can be operated as a man-portable unit, from a shelter on a stationary High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), as a shipboard unit, or mounted on a utility trailer. Currently there are 210 systems deployed throughout the world.

 

Battelle designed the original basic biodetection unit for the JBPDS and led the final engineering and manufacturing development phase. It subsequently teamed with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) for the JBPDS production program. GDATP is the prime contractor and lead systems integrator for the JBPDS program.

 

The success of the JBPDS program and other programs led Battelle to open a new facility and create a new area of business in its National Security Division called Production and Field Support. In this 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Dublin, Ohio, Battelle manufactures and tests five Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for the biodetection system. The LRUs are specific components of the system that are integral to its operations-including its identifier, collector, and fluidic transfer system. When these components need to be replaced in the field, the LRUs can be installed quickly without requiring transportation to a repair facility.

 

Battelle also provides, at the Dublin facility, logistic support to the full suite of the U.S. government's biodetection equipment as part of a five-year $33 million contract awarded in 2004. It provides extensive and comprehensive training to operators of various biodetection systems (including the JBPDS), and provides on-site technical support around the world.

 

Some other similar manufacturing and logistic work that takes place at the state-of-the-art Dublin manufacturing facility involves the F-16 Enhanced Aft Seat Heads-up Monitor for the U.S. Air Force, the UH-60 Blackhawk Caution Advisory Panel for the U.S. Army, and the Universal Mobile Tester for the U.S. Army.

 

"We're proud of the work we've done with our partners on the JBPDS program. This has been a great example of using sophisticated technology to tackle real-world challenges faced by our military service members," said Steve Kelly, Senior Vice President of Battelle's National Security Division. "And by standing up a new manufacturing facility, we're taking what we've learned in the often-challenging JBPDS program and applying it to other national security needs."

 

"The JBPDS system is critical to the protection of our military against a challenging threat. Battelle is a key member of our industry team that has made substantial contributions to the success of the JBPDS system over the program's history," said Phil Hynes, Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' Detection Systems business unit. "We look forward to the continued success of the program with Battelle on our team."

 

Battelle is the world's largest independent non-profit research and development organization, with 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including five national laboratories Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle conducts $3.7 billion in R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management, and technology commercialization. Battelle provides innovative solutions to some of the world's most important problems including global climate change, sustainable energy technologies, high performance materials, next generation healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics, and advanced security solutions for people, infrastructure, and the nation. Battelle has a long history of developing successful commercial products in collaboration with its clients, ranging from products to fight diabetes, cancer and heart disease to the development of the office copier machine (Xerox). As a non-profit charitable trust with an eye toward the future, Battelle actively supports and promotes science and math education.

 

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org.