The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued its request for preliminary construction bids on the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to be built in Manhattan.

Homeland Security will hold an April 7 preproposal conference at Kansas State University for contractors interested in working on the project.

The conference will provide information on how companies can pursue contracts associated with construction of NBAF, said Tom Thornton, president of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

NBAF is slated to be the nation’s top plant and animal research lab.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2010 and take five years. The project is expected to create 1,500 construction jobs.