The Defense Department wants to develop a new suit to shield troops from chemical and biological warfare agents — and plans to offer cash to those who come up with winning designs.
The Pentagon’s Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense is offering a total of $250,000 to finalists — with the winner slated to receive $150,000 — as part of a competition, called Proof Challenge, to design new chem-bio protective suits.
The office has teamed with TandemNSI, a defense consultancy based in Arlington, Virginia, and Sensis Challenges to host an information session about the opportunity Aug. 25 at the Museum of Science in Boston.
The idea of offering cash prizes for potential defense technology is fairly common at the department.