OJ, I really hope that the BARDA does not at all look at the pps or market cap. of a company that they plan to support.
BARDA should look at the science and preliminary results of the application and applicant and not the company's success at the stock exchange, which can be less than optimal for a whole bunch of reasons.
BARDA should only be interested to provide funding for companies that have a shot at developing a working vaccine. In the view of providing the fastest possible vaccine, I would at least surely hope so!!