Congratulations to our Evironmental Services Assistance Team for all their efforts and hard work. 30 Dec 2009
Initially, BioWatch was issued as a task order through the EPA to provide daily air quality monitoring to identify potential airborne pathogenic threats by sampling and completing delivery of samples to state health laboratories. In February of 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in conjunction with EPA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and various state and local air monitoring and public health agencies began the BioWatch Initiative. This initiative was established to alleviate the sudden demand placed on local and state air monitoring agencies because of the heighten level of security throughout our country. EPA looked to ILS to provide instant technical and logistical support for this important program that had a start date of March 15, 2003. ILS, spent countless hours in 2003 to start and maintain this program. In 2004, this hard work was recognized by the U.S. EPA Headquarters as ILS won an award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a SDB (Small Disadvantaged Business) Enterprise for its work for the BioWatch Program in FY2003. Currently, ILS is contracted with the State of Georgia, Department of Natural Resources to continue these services. The USEPA no longer oversees BioWatch operations.