Homeland Security BioWatch Program
The BioWatch Program is a federal initiative that provides early detection of harmful biological agents to help protect public health in specific local areas.
Funder: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division
Due Dates: May 6, 2026: Application deadline
Funding Amounts: $150,000–$2,000,000 per award | Up to $10,000,000 total | Up to 20 awards | No cost sharing required
Summary: Supports local jurisdictions in select U.S. cities to operate early warning systems for the detection of aerosolized biological threats.
Key Information: Eligibility is restricted to specific jurisdictions and, in some cases, designated agencies only.
Description
This program provides cooperative agreements to support the operation of the BioWatch Program—an early warning system designed to detect the release of select aerosolized biological agents in major U.S. metropolitan areas. The program is federally managed and locally operated, aiming to enhance national preparedness and enable rapid detection and response to bioterrorist threats. Awardees will deploy, sustain, and maintain 24/7/365 operational capabilities, including air sampling, sample collection, and delivery to designated laboratories for analysis.
