A -- METHOD FOR DETECTION OF BURIED EXPLOSIVES USING A BIOSENSOR

Notice Date

October 26, 2000

Contracting Office

UT-Battelle, Office of Technology Transfer, 111B Union Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6499

ZIP Code

37831-6499

Response Due

November 10, 2000

Point of Contact

Joyce Shepherd (865) 241-8276

E-Mail Address

Contact Point, Joyce Shepherd, Commercialization Manager (shepherdjw@ornl.gov)

Description

UT-Battelle, LLC (UT-Battelle), the management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is seeking expressions of interest from companies interested in licensing and commercializing ORNL's intellectual property in the technology area of microbial ecology bioreporter genes which is applicable to the field of land mine detection. ORNL has performed research that utilizes bacteria to detect the presence of land mines through the response of the bacteria to explosive compounds. This research involves engineering, which requires a knowledge of the bacterial genes, and sensitive detection equipment. ORNL has exploited the bacteria with genes that are responsive to trinitrotoluene (TNT) or other explosive compounds by attaching another gene to the TNT gene, effectively making a "bioreporter" bacterial strain that translates the compound the bacterium detects into a detectable signal. The technology transfer process will be facilitated through appropriate licensing of UT-Battelle's intellectual property and associated research and development undertaken cooperatively between UT-Battelle and the licensee and funded by the licensee. Research and development will focus on transitioning the technology from the current laboratory demonstration stage to commercialization. Interested companies with experience and expertise commensurate with the requirements of this commercialization effort are invited to respond to this announcement. Companies interested in this opportunity may obtain more detailed technical information and a description of the licensing and cooperative research and development process by submitting a statement of interest, including a written description of their company and its activities and an explanation of their potential application of the technology. One-page expressions of interest should be received by November 10, 2000. It is anticipated that a formal request for proposals will be available by November 17, 2000. No licensing intermediaries please. This is not a procurement activity.

Web Link

Technology Transfer and Economic Development home page (http://www.ornl.gov/tech_transfer/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001030/ASOL008.HTM (W-300 SN5052T3)