Background

Blueprint Biosecurity is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening society’s ability to prevent and respond to pandemics. We advance practical, pathogen-agnostic solutions through targeted research, strategic grantmaking, and evidence-based policy guidance that protect critical workers and reinforce systems essential to pandemic preparedness and response. Our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program aims to ensure critical workers have access to sufficient quantities of highly protective respirators in future pandemics or other health emergencies. 

Funding Opportunity Overview 

Respirator extreme re-use driven by a pandemic is known to compromise fit, but there’s evidence that wear itself may compromise filtration efficiency as well, with implications for both disposable and reusable respirators. This RFP seeks research that quantifies how and why respirator filter material loses filtration efficiency over time and under real-world use conditions. We aim to define the functional lifespan of respirator filters based purely on filtration efficiency, with implications toward strategies to sustain protection during emergency re-use.

Objectives

1. Evaluate factors that may lead to loss of filtration efficiency over time and identify the general mechanisms of decay (e.g. electrostatic charge depletion, mechanical degradation).
2. Quantify the maximum effective lifespan of particulate respirators across various filter media compositions, especially for reusable respirator filters.

Scope of Submission

In Scope

• Assessing lifespan of particulate respirators and filters when worn by human subjects.
• Simulating extended use of respirators using models such as wind tunnels, including development of novel models.
• Developing novel methods to assess filtration efficiency or real-world protection of a respirator.

Out of Scope

• Studies purely simulating respirator use without adequate validation from real-world data collection using human subjects.
• Assessing non-particulate respirators.
• Method development for decontamination of respirators.
• Precise mechanisms of electrostatic charge degradation at the level of electret physics, e.g. precise nature of the trap states in polymer electret materials.
• Developing novel filter materials or respirators.
• Studies solely assessing how extended or re-use impacts fit.
• Assessing respirator lifespan without identifying the composition of the product and establishing mechanisms of decay.
• Work intended purely to assess or advance specific commercial products.

For more information on this opportunity, read the full RFP. 

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Submissions are welcome from all responsible sources, both within and outside the United States that are capable of performing the work described in this RFP. 

Blueprint Biosecurity is unable to provide awards to any entities subject to United States sanctions.

Organizational Conflicts of Interest

Proposers are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived organizational conflicts of interests that could reasonably be expected to influence the proposed work. 

Relevant disclosures may include, but are not limited to:

• Current or past funding, financial interests, advisory roles, or other relationships involving the PPE industry or competing industries
• Personal, professional, or financial relationships with members of the Blueprint Biosecurity team

Disclosures will be reviewed as part of the evaluation process and will not necessarily disqualify a proposal. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in disqualification.

Important Dates

Expression of Interest (EOI) Due Date: March 1st, 2026

EOIs will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, due in late March 2026. 

Award Information

Depending on the scope and complexity of the proposed work, Blueprint Biosecurity may make multiple awards, with individual awards of up to $1,000,000 USD.

Proposal Expectations

Most competitive proposals are expected to: 

• Be led by teams with demonstrated expertise in filtration science, aerosol science, or respirator performance testing.
• Clearly articulate a research approach that addresses real-world use conditions
• Propose work that can be completed in approximately six months

How to Apply

Blueprint Biosecurity requires proposers to submit an abstract in Word document (up to three pages) format outlining the following:

• Capabilities and relevant experience
• A high-level summary of the proposed work
• Anticipated outcomes
• A rough order-of-magnitude (ROM) budget

Abstracts should be submitted by email to FILTER-RFP@blueprintbiosecurity.org in accordance with the instructions provided in the full Request for Proposals (RFP).

For complete application requirements, formatting instructions, and additional details, please review the full RFP.

Questions

For questions regarding this funding opportunity, please contact Victoria Slaughter, PPE Director, at victoria.slaughter@blueprintbiosecurity.org.