US’s largest custom rubber compounder AirBoss of America’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AirBoss Defense Group (ADD), was awarded a contract worth up to US$576 million by the US Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) – Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) for the sale of nitrile patient examination gloves.
HHS has provided ADG authorisation to proceed immediately on an initial order expected to be worth up to US$288 million, with an equivalent follow-on option for an additional US$288 million.
The gloves to be provided by ADG are for nonsurgical purposes, for use in hospitals and other health care settings. The contract and delivery timeline recognizes the urgency and priority HHS is assigned in increasing the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) held in ASPR’s Strategic National Stockpile to supplement state and local medical supplies and equipment during public health emergencies.
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The supplies, medicines, and devices for lifesaving care contained in the SNS can be used as a short-term, stop-gap buffer when the immediate supply of these materials may not be available or sufficient, according to AirBoss’s statement.