According to hhs.gov, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched its first-ever Department-wide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) demand forecast on September 18, 2026, implementing requirements under the Make PPE in America Act.
Forecast Structure and Timing
The new policy mandates quarterly updates across all HHS Divisions, with the first consolidated Department-wide update due on October 15, 2026. Subsequent updates will be submitted on January 15, April 15, and July 15 each year — establishing a living, recurring forecasting cycle instead of one-time data collection.
The forecast covers all authorized acquisition methods, including contracts, orders, Government Purchase Cards, and other purchasing channels. Each Division must include known acquisition requirements as well as reasonably anticipated recurring purchases, annual replenishment, seasonal demand, emergency stock replenishment, planned program requirements, and potential surge needs where applicable.
This structured cadence provides domestic manufacturers with predictable visibility into federal PPE demand over time, enabling more informed decisions about hiring, equipment investment, raw material procurement, and production capacity planning before formal solicitations are issued.
Industry Access and Implementation
Following each quarterly update, consolidated forecasts will be provided to the HHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for publication via the Small Business Customer Experience (SBCX) platform — HHS’ official system of record for procurement forecast opportunities.
Manufacturers of all sizes can review upcoming HHS procurement forecast opportunities through the HHS Small Business Customer Experience platform. The initiative explicitly supports small and disadvantaged businesses by improving transparency and access to federal demand signals.
The forecast serves strictly for acquisition-planning and industry awareness purposes; it does not constitute a solicitation, commitment, or guarantee that HHS will initiate an acquisition or make an award.
Leadership and Policy Alignment
Anthony M. Figliola, ASFR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and a member of the President’s Made in America Council, emphasized the operational rationale behind the initiative: “American manufacturers cannot build durable capacity around uncertainty. This forecast gives domestic PPE makers a clearer line of sight into future HHS demand so they can hire workers, invest in equipment, and keep production ready here at home.”
The policy directly advances the goals of the Make PPE in America Act by linking federal acquisition planning with domestic manufacturing capacity — thereby reducing supply chain risk and strengthening emergency preparedness. It also enhances internal HHS coordination by creating a more complete, current picture of anticipated PPE demand across all Divisions.
Source: hhs.gov
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
