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Pilot program on forward deployable biomanufacturing capabilities

Division A · Title II: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION · Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations

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The Department of Defense may run a pilot program to explore and demonstrate mobile biomanufacturing technologies that can be deployed forward in the field. This includes working with industry to develop new manufacturing methods and ensuring security for these capabilities. Within a year, a report must be submitted assessing current biomanufacturing abilities, potential uses, costs, security needs, and the feasibility of adopting these technologies for regular military use.

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Section Text · Sec. 229.
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(a) Authorization

The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, may carry out a pilot program—

(1)

to identify near-term and long-term use cases for forward deployable mobile biomanufacturing capabilities; and

(2)

to conduct demonstrations of such capabilities.

(b) Activities

In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering may—

(1)

consider the use of novel manufacturing processes and equipment, including automation, modularity, and miniaturization of production capabilities;

(2)

collaborate with industry to develop forward deployable mobile biomanufacturing capabilities; and

(3)

consider the security measures required for such capabilities when forward deployed.

(c) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the status of the pilot program under subsection (a). The report shall include—

(1)

an assessment of existing Department of Defense capabilities related to biomanufacturing and an explanation of whether and how those capabilities may be used as part of the pilot program;

(2)

identification of near-term and long-term use cases for the deployment of mobile biomanufacturing;

(3)

for each use case identified under paragraph (2), a comparison of the estimated cost of fulfilling such use case through domestic biomanufacturing at an industrial scale versus the cost of fulfilling such use case using mobile biomanufacturing at the miniaturized scale;

(4)

an assessment of security measures required to deploy forward deployable mobile biomanufacturing capabilities; and

(5)

an assessment of the viability of transitioning technology developed under the pilot program into operational use within the Department, including the resources needed for further development and scaling of such technology and the potential benefits of such technology.