screwworm

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $610 million contract to Mortenson for the construction of a Domestic New World Screwworm Sterile Insect Production Facility at Moore Airbase in Edinburg, Texas. The award was announced as part of federal contracting activity and involves funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2026. The project is intended to support the United States’ long-standing effort to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, a parasitic pest that poses a major threat to livestock, wildlife, and agricultural stability. The facility will produce sterile insects used in biological control programs designed to suppress and eliminate screwworm populations before they can spread within the United States. According to the contract announcement, M. A. Mortenson Co., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, received a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $610 million. Bids for the project were solicited online, and two proposals were received before the contract was awarded. The work will take place at Moore Airbase in Edinburg, Texas, which serves as a federal installation supporting agricultural protection programs. Construction is expected to continue through March 6, 2028, when the facility is scheduled for completion. Fiscal 2026 funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the amount of $610 million were obligated at the time of the contract award. The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, is the contracting authority overseeing the project. The New World screwworm, known scientifically as Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. If left unchecked, outbreaks can cause severe damage to livestock populations and wildlife, leading to large economic losses and potential risks to food security. Life cycle of the New World screwworm. (USDA) The sterile insect technique has been used for decades as a biological control method against screwworm infestations. Under this approach, large numbers of sterilized male flies are released into the environment. When they mate with wild females, the resulting eggs fail to develop, gradually reducing the pest population. To sustain this strategy, specialized facilities are required to breed and sterilize massive quantities of insects under controlled laboratory conditions. The new production facility in Texas is expected to expand the United States’ capacity to generate sterile insects for rapid deployment during potential outbreaks. Officials say locating the facility at Moore Airbase allows federal agencies to use an established site already connected to agricultural protection operations. The installation’s infrastructure and proximity to potential outbreak zones along the southern border make it suitable for rapid response activities. Although the program is led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States Army Corps of Engineers frequently manages construction projects for federal agencies requiring complex infrastructure. The Corps provides engineering, contracting, and project management support across a wide range of federal initiatives. The construction effort is expected to include specialized laboratory spaces, insect rearing facilities, environmental control systems, and support infrastructure required to maintain sterile insect production at large scale. Such facilities must maintain strict biological containment and environmental conditions to ensure the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique. The New World screwworm was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through an extensive sterile insect program that required the mass release of sterilized flies. However, the pest remains present in parts of Central and South America, which means continued monitoring and response capability remain necessary.

screwworm

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screwworm

U.S. Army awards $610M deal for insect plant in Texas

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