The Manhattan, Kansas location was chosen by the U.S. Government in 2009. Construction on the facility began in the Spring of 2015. It is expected to be in operation by 2023.

On July 31, 2007 the US Department of Homeland Security issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. The NBAF would be a new defense research laboratory for biological warfare agents. Five sites are being considered: 1) Manhattan, Kansas, 2) Athens, Georgia, 3) San Antonio, Texas, 4) Butner, North Carolina and 5) Flora, Mississippi. A possible sixth site is also being considered on Plum Island, New York where a federal facility has operated for decades.