N95 Respirators Modification

This was a sole-source modification to a contract that was awarded competitively. This award was done in accordance with FAR 6.3 Urgent and Compelling and the HHS Class J&A. There is an urgent need for these masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 response. For further details, see below: On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a - Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020 Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding to 2019-nCoV. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring the COVID-19 outbreak to be a national emergency. Additionally, all fifty states and the District of Columbia have declared emergencies due to COVID-19. This requirement is to purchase critically needed supplies and services to respond to the COVID-19 global outbreak. There is currently a global market shortage of nearly all Personal Protective Equipment and medical supplies, including N95 Masks. The ultimate spread, length of time, and severity of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown as this time, but it is anticipated that it will continue to spread exponentially across the globe. This is a serious public health threat. The fact that this virus has caused severe illness and sustained person-to-person spread not only across the world but within the United States has created a health care emergency. The risk to individuals is dependent on exposure. At this time, some people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients and other close contacts. The goal of the ongoing U.S. public health response is to prevent sustained spread and mitigate the risk of transmission to healthcare providers in this country.