W21088 Attachment 1- FSS_letter to SHOs_01.05.20.pdf

U.S. Public Health Service

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary

COVID-19 Joint Coordination Cell Laboratory Testing and Diagnostics Working Group Washington, D.C. 20201

January 6, 2021

Dear State Health Officer:

Since September, the Department of Health and Human Services distributed 150 million Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Cards to states, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health and hospice agencies, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With the end of this federal distribution program by mid-January, HHS is collaborating with the Veterans Administration and the General Services Administration to provide a streamlined process for states, territories, and other government agencies to purchase point-of-care diagnostic tests, starting with the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test.

Through a contract between the federal government and Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc., states and territories, and government agencies such as the Indian Health Service will be able to purchase tests at the best negotiated federal rate through an existing Federal Supply Schedule program. The contract eliminates the need for states and territories (as well as federal agencies) to spend resources negotiating and establishing individual purchasing contracts with manufacturers and, most importantly, provides a consistent source of the BinaxNOW test. The maximum number of tests that states and territories will be able to purchase each month is predetermined and based on population to ensure supply availability for all on an ongoing basis. Any tests not purchased each month do not rollover; they are returned to the commercial market.

More information is available on the VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) Contract Catalog Search Tool (CCST) here. The program launched January 4, 2021 and will remain active at least through September, and we anticipate that other tests will be included in the coming months.

In addition, HHS continues to accept requests for testing support through the Resource Request Form process, which is coordinated by the FEMA and ASPR regional offices. States and territories may submit proposals for resources distributed by the federal government. Proposals should include the strategy for using the requested testing resource, including monitoring and evaluating utilization, and reporting results to public health agencies. Although HHS does not have any tests available for distribution at this time, the process contributes to the federal government’s understanding of need.

The Community Based Testing Site initiative continues to provide limited surge testing, which can also be requested through the RRF process.

Sincerely yours, Michael F. Iademarco, M.D., M.P.H.

Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General, U.S.

Public Health Service Lead, Laboratory Testing and Diagnostics Workgroup https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/nac https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html