BIO EDEP

An ad hoc Category B programme on the preparation phase of a “Biological Equipment Development and Enhancement Programme” (BIO EDEP) was formally endorsed at the EDA Steering Board Meeting in Ministers of Defence formation in May 2009.

Eleven contributing Members develop the Common Staff Requirements and a Business Case according to the “Guide to the Conduct of a Programme Preparation Phase”. After the approval of these documents the current planning foresees a 4 year demonstration phase starting in 2012, with a new generation of an integrated biological defence capability being demonstrated in 2015. The BIO EDEP programme comprises eight projects which cover individual protection, non-specialist unit all-arms CBRN defence protection, and specialist capabilities.

Test & Evaluation

The BIO EDEP programme is supported by EDA-funded studies, together with R&T Projects from the CapTech ESM4 “Human Factors and CBR Protection”. In particular, ESM4 has launched an initiative on “Test and Evaluation of Bio Collection, Identification and Detection Equipment”. This project is intended to address the lack of joint standards for Test and Evaluation (T&E) regarding Biological Detection Identification and Monitoring (DIM) capabilities. It will as such constitute the reference for the BIO EDEP programme by establishing a set of agreed T&E protocols which can be applied by the acquirers of equipment. It will aim to meet at least the demands expressed by the BIO EDEP programme in which BIO DIM T&E requirements need to be addressed.