HHS and the U.S. Division of Protection on Wednesday signed an settlement below which the businesses will proceed collaborating over the following two years to handle the pandemic and future public well being emergencies.
As a part of their alliance, the DOD mentioned it not too long ago awarded $650 million to a number of firms to broaden COVID-19 testing for elementary faculties, underserved populations, and congregate settings corresponding to homeless shelters.
The settlement means the 2 businesses will work to broaden home industrial capability of well being and medical sources, procure diagnostics and medical provides for the Strategic Nationwide Stockpile, and speed up the event, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
Particularly, the Workplace of the Underneath Secretary of Protection for Acquisition and Sustainment, via the Protection Assisted Acquisition Cell, will evaluate assisted acquisition requests from HHS, decide which acquisition authorities and sources are finest suited to assist the efforts, and execute agreements with business to meet the outlined necessities, the DOD mentioned.
The settlement will stay in impact till at the very least Sept. 30, 2023.
The DOD mentioned it has dealt with over $26 billion in funding on behalf of the HHS together with a $231.8 million contract for an at-home COVID take a look at.
This story first appeared in our sister publication, 360Dx, which gives in-depth protection of in vitro diagnostics and the medical lab market.