MTEC Announces New Funding Opportunity for Expeditionary Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Platform

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) has announced a new funding opportunity to accelerate the development of next-generation diagnostic manufacturing capabilities for military and emergency response environments.

The PRimer and prObe Manufacturing PlaTform (PROMPT) Request for Project Proposals (RPP), MTEC-26-03-PROMPT, seeks innovative solutions to develop a fully automated, man-portable, and ruggedized prototype platform capable of producing clinical-quality nucleic acid primers and probes on demand. Sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the effort aims to enable rapid manufacturing of critical diagnostic components in far-forward, expeditionary, and other resource-constrained settings where traditional laboratory infrastructure is unavailable.

Designed for operation by non-specialist personnel, the proposed platform will help strengthen the ability to rapidly detect and respond to emerging biological threats while improving diagnostic readiness for military personnel deployed in austere environments.

MTEC anticipates making one or more awards to qualified offerors to accomplish the objectives of the solicitation. If a single proposal does not fully address the scope of work, multiple organizations may be selected to collaborate on the project. The period of performance will not exceed 24 months.

"MTEC continues to invest in technologies that address critical gaps in military medical preparedness," said MTEC. "PROMPT represents an opportunity to advance expeditionary diagnostic capabilities by enabling rapid, on-demand production of essential molecular testing components wherever they are needed."

Proposals are due July 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To help prospective offerors prepare competitive submissions, MTEC will host a virtual Proposers Conference on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. During the webinar, MTEC will provide an overview of the solicitation process, followed by technical presentations from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency outlining the objectives and requirements of the effort. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session.

MTEC will also host a virtual Teaming Connect event on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The session is designed to foster collaboration among MTEC members by providing organizations the opportunity to present their capabilities, identify potential partners, and build multidisciplinary teams aligned with the solicitation's technical focus areas.

Organizations interested in pursuing this opportunity are encouraged to review the full RPP for detailed technical objectives, solution requirements, eligibility criteria, and proposal instructions.

Please note that active MTEC membership is required to submit a proposal in response to this funding opportunity.

For technical or membership-related questions, prospective offerors should contact MTEC Senior Technical Program Manager, Dr. Chuck Hutti. All other inquiries should be directed to MTEC Program Manager Daniel Vala.

By advancing innovative technologies that enable rapid molecular diagnostic manufacturing in the field, the PROMPT initiative reflects MTEC's ongoing commitment to strengthening military readiness and accelerating medical innovation for the benefit of Service Members, Veterans, and civilians.