Submitted

Nitrile Gloves - Make PPE in America Act Exception

Waiver type - Procurement: Nonavailability

Agency: VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF (3600) • Product Service Code (PSC) : 6515 | Last Modified: 04/04/2024

Procurement Summary

Nitrile gloves are required to continue VA's mission critical operations to provide health care services to Veterans as well as protect the VA workforce from several dangerous exposures. The use of nitrile gloves by VA personnel is in the best interest of the VA workforce and the broader public as gloves help to prevent or mitigate public health crises. Without approved nitrile gloves, the VA workforce will lack adequate protection against COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as exposure to chemical and hazardous substances. VA currently procures nitrile gloves manufactured in USA, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, the nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) is manufactured in Italy, Brazil, and Malaysia. There currently are no known domestic manufacturers of NBR. To that end, nitrile gloves that are compliant with the Make PPE in America Act are not available in the marketplace.

Waiver Rationale Summary

The current market for U.S. manufactured nitrile gloves is not able to meet the VA’s need with Make PPE in America Act compliant gloves. While both 4 MIL and 5 MIL nitrile gloves are produced in the United States; the gloves use foreign sourced NBR. Additionally, 6 MIL gloves of a satisfactory quality for VA are still not available in any quantity. Current U.S. manufactured exam gloves purchased through Bosma / AbilityOne covers approximately 10% of the VA requirement for nitrile gloves. Bosma anticipates meeting 50% of the VA demand for exam gloves by July 2024. VA is currently targeting FY25 to cover 100% of the VA’s nitrile glove requirement with domestic products. VA will exhaust all supplies from domestic manufacturers before utilizing foreign manufactured supplies, as possible and permissible.

Did / Will the solicitation include one of the standard BAA provisions announcing the agency’s intention to provide a price preference for domestic end products and construction material?

Yes

Was a sources sought or Request for Information issued?

OMB Determination

PENDING

Product

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES

NAICS

339113 - Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing

Date Submitted

04/04/2024

Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID)

Solicitation ID

N/A

Procurement Stage

Pre-solicitation

Expected Maximum Duration of the Proposed Waiver

0 - 6 months

Waiver Coverage

Individual Waiver

Funding Agency

VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF