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# Medical continues COVID support efforts with $803 million acquisition

By Christian DelucaDLA Troop Support Public Affairs

                PHILADELPHIA  –              
In continued support of the nation’s ongoing COVID-19 efforts, the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Medical supply chain is providing up to $803 million worth of COVID antigen test kits to the Department of Health and Human Services over the next year.

The test kits are being acquired through indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract awarded in November to four domestic vendors to replenish the Strategic National Stockpile. The SNS supplements medical response support to states, tribal nations, territories and large metropolitan areas as needed during public health emergencies. 

“An (IDIQ) contract allows you to buy as much as you need, up to the agreed dollar amount, during the timeframe of the contract,” Bill Dulin, medical division chief said. “So, we can order up to $803 million over the next year.”

Medical awarded its first purchase on the contracts to the four vendors for 180 million kits in December 2022, worth approximately $503.6 million. The kits are currently being delivered to seven different SNS warehouse locations throughout the country. Deliveries will continue through April 2023.

The acquisition process started approximately a year ago, however, was paused due to funding issues. HHS revitalized the effort in August 2022, creating a much shorter turn-a-round time than usual for the Medical team.

“When they (HHS) came back to us and said, ‘ok you can do this now,’ this isn’t a thing where we could just start back up where we left off,” Dulin said. “We had to start over from scratch. So, we began the process in August and made the award by the end of November.”

Medical contract specialist Tangela Randolph said working on projects like this makes her proud to be working at DLA Troop Support.

“Knowing that the work we are doing supports the entire nation is energizing and adds to the pride and purpose we have in supporting the warfighter on a daily basis,” Randolph said.

 This pride helped Randolph and the Medical team pull through challenges like working on a shortened timeframe, to get it done.

“This is the largest contract I have worked on at DLA Troop Support,” she said. “We were tasked to complete this procurement with a really tight timeline, about 90-120 days. The normal process takes about six to nine months depending on the item being procured. Every department involved, regarding reviews, were pushed to the limit to complete each review with an extremely tight turn-around. We were all stressed to the maximum, but it all worked out in the end.”

Randolph attributed their success to constant communication between the Medical teams, vendors and the customer, and being meticulous with the details of the contract.

“The main factor is being organized and following the acquisition plan,” she said. “Paying attention to all the details submitted from the customer’s requirements and making sure that every aspect of the procurement is defined and communicated properly to the potential vendors to avoid any confusion. Keeping every review level department on task helps the process go smooth.”

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