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Office of Critical Medical Equipment

Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC)
 
  

ASPR’s Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain’s (IBMSC) Office of Critical Medical Equipment (CME) works to build a more robust, agile, and transparent critical medical equipment supply chain capable of responding effectively to a public health emergency. The office ensures the United States government, and the entire healthcare sector, can acquire domestically produced sources of critical medical equipment to protect first responders and the American people.  

To date, this office has invested in a wide range of personal protective equipment, including the  production of nitrile gloves, protective gowns, and surgical and N95 masks. The office also is working to reshore key raw materials used to make PPE, such as melt-blown fiber and nitrile butadiene.  


CME Key Activities 

The IBMSC CME office is focusing on the following key program activities:  

  • Domestic Manufacturing: Expanding domestic production of critical supplies like N95 respirators, nitrile gloves, and the raw materials required for their production is essential for ensuring supply chain resilience.  
  • Strategic Stockpiling: Developing strategies for warm-basing activities and collaborating with the Strategic National Stockpile can help maintain surge capabilities and meet emergency demands.    
  • Innovative Solutions: Exploring new technologies in next generation PPE and manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce dependency on volatile raw materials.  
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Strengthening collaborations between the government and PPE manufacturers to enhance supply chain agility and robustness.  
  • Global Cooperation: Working with international partners to ensure a coordinated response to global supply chain challenges related to PPE.  ​