The Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) seeks information from potential vendors for a study on the timeliness of responses to intentional biological threat releases. The study aims to evaluate how the timing of detection and identification influences the effectiveness of government mitigation efforts. Key objectives include defining metrics to measure response effectiveness, analyzing the impact of various biological threats and environmental factors on response timelines, and determining the influence of different operational environments on the characterization of threats. The CWMD expects the study to produce criteria for optimizing responses, incorporating aspects such as infection transmission, symptoms onset, and recovery confidence. This investigation should also explore the logistical factors affecting response timeframes and the implications of various detection methods and technologies. The document emphasizes its non-solicitation nature, stating that this Request for Information (RFI) does not guarantee a future Request for Proposal (RFP). Interested parties are instructed to submit their capabilities and proposed methodologies, timelines, and costs. The overall goal is to enhance U.S. biothreat detection and response capabilities, ultimately improving public health and safety outcomes related to biological incidents.