U.S. Procurement in the Age of COVID-19: Challenges, Intergovernmental Collaboration, and Recommendations for Improvement
| Date | 01 August 2020 |
| Published date | 01 August 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0275074020942060 |
| Subject Matter | The Case For & Against BureaucracyChallenges Acquiring Personal Protective Equipment & the Impact on Supply Chains |
research-article2020
Challenges Acquiring Personal Protective Equipment & the Impact on Supply Chains
American Review of Public Administration
2020, Vol. 50(6-7) 635 –641
U.S. Procurement in the Age of
© The Author(s) 2020
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COVID-19: Challenges, Intergovernmental
https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020942060
DOI: 10.1177/0275074020942060
journals.sagepub.com/home/arp
Collaboration, and Recommendations for
Improvement
Abdul-Akeem Sadiq1 and Ruth Kessa1
Abstract
This article discusses U.S. government’s procurement of medical supplies and equipment during COVID-19 pandemic and
the challenges posed by COVID-19 to U.S procurement system. The article also examines how the U.S. government, the
private sector, and nonprofit organizations are working together to address procurement challenges. This article notes
that the global pandemic has drained the strategic national stockpile of medical supplies and equipment and that the United
States is struggling to meet the demand of these critical resources. The good news is that the U.S. government is partnering
with the private sector to ramp-up the much-needed supply. This article underscores the need for the U.S. government to
continue to look for efficient and productive ways to procure necessary medical supplies and equipment that are essential
for health care professionals and those affected by the COVID-19. This article offers some recommendations to improve
U.S. procurement system and outlines an agenda for future research.
Keywords
public procurement, COVID-19, collaboration, medical supplies and equipment, pandemic, coronavirus
Introduction
and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness
and Response are working closely to implement measures
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as
that will enhance the health and safety of all Americans
COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China (World
(DHHS, 2019). To curb the pandemic, the CDC recom-
Health Organization [WHO], 2020b). Experts and scientists
mended people stay home and practice social distancing
from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC, 2020b).
(CDC) describe COVID-19 as a respiratory illness that can
A nation’s ability to combat and effectively respond to
spread from person to person, and the initial cases of
COVID-19 depends on the effectiveness of its public pro-
COVID-19 in the United States were reported on January 21,
curement policies and practices. An effective public procure-
2020 (CDC, 2020a). Due to the rapid propagation and growth
ment system would, at a minimum, ensure a timely purchase
of COVID-19 globally by early March, the WHO declared
of quality goods and services to meet the need of a commu-
the disease a worldwide pandemic (McNeil, 2020). Since
nity (Patrucco et al., 2016). Public procurement is the “over-
then, COVID-19 has threatened the health and well-being of
all process of acquiring goods, civil works and services,
the global community, with many affected countries imple-
which includes all functions from the identification of needs,
menting measures to fight and prevent further spread of the
selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award
virus (WHO, 2020a).
of contract, and all phases of contract administration through
In the United States, the federal government along with
the end of a services’ contract or the useful life of an asset”
state and local governments, are taking actions to protect the
(United Nations Development Programme, 2010, p. 5).
country. As of May 14, 2020, John Hopkins University and
Medicine (2020) has reported a total of 1,395,265 cases and
84,239 deaths in the United States. Although New York is the
1University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA
epicenter of the coronavirus, a high number of cases have
been reported in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Corresponding Author:
Abdul-Akeem Sadiq, School of Public Administration, University of
California, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Email: abdul-akeem.sadiq@ucf.edu
636
American Review of Public Administration 50(6-7)
According to Odhiambo and Kamau (2003), public procure-
Bill de Blasio, requested more ventilators from the federal
ment is “the purchasing, hiring or obtaining by any other
government and acknowledged that they may begin to expe-
contractual means of goods, construction works and services
rience shortages as soon as April 5, 2020 (Boudette & Jacobs,
by the public sector” (p. 10).
2020). The Federal Emergency Management Agency
COVID-19 has put tremendous pressure on supply chains,
(FEMA) has informed the public that they do not have
not only in the United States but also around the world
enough ventilators in the SNS to meet the demand of the
(Baker, 2020). Therefore, during the pandemic, it is impor-
states (Layne, 2020). The shortage of medical supplies and
tant to have appropriate procurement policies and procedures
equipment is underscored by the words of Rep. Carolyn B.
in place to reduce the stress faced by buyers and suppliers,
Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight
provide access to medical supplies needed to ameliorate the
and Reform, U.S. House of Representatives (2020):
impacts of COVID-19, help suppliers manage uncertainty
should any changes occur, and provide assurance to suppliers
For weeks, President Trump has been claiming that states have
as circumstances change and opportunities arise (Scottish
enough personal protective equipment and testing to begin
Government Procurement, 2020). In the United States, the
reopening the economy—even as tens of thousands of Americans
Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) oversees the
have died, and governors, mayors, and frontline health care
policies and practices relating to public procurement (Office
workers have pleaded for more supplies and assistance. During
several recent briefings, officials from FEMA and HHS directly
of Management and Budget, n.d.). In response to the novel
contradicted President Trump’s claims, admitting that we do not
coronavirus, procurement mitigation actions have been taken
have enough tests or protective equipment and that critical
to ensure the well-being of every American through the
shortages are likely to continue. The President’s failed response
deployment of medical products from the Strategic National
to the coronavirus crisis has already caused untold suffering and
Stockpile (SNS) and the increased production of medical
chaos. He needs to start being honest with the American people
supplies and equipment by various U.S. manufacturers.
and come up with a nationwide plan to get the resources we need
Nonetheless, there are several challenges posed by COVID-
to prevent more Americans from dying.
19 to the current U.S. procurement system.
This article begins by discussing the critical shortage of
medical supplies and equipment during COVID-19, and how
U.S. Response to the Shortage of
the United States is responding to the shortage. Next, the
Medical Supplies and Equipment
article takes a look at public procurement challenges posed
by COVID-19 and intergovernmental collaboration to The United States has responded to the shortage of medical
respond to COVID-19. Finally, the article discusses sustain-
supplies and equipment in two major ways. First, the United
able public procurement strategies, offers some recommen-
States has deployed medical supplies and equipment from
dations to improve the U.S. procurement system, and outlines
the SNS. Second, U.S. manufacturers have provided and
an agenda for future research.
stepped up production of medical supplies and equipment.
The SNS, which is managed jointly by the Department of
Critical Shortage of Medical Supplies
Homeland Security and DHHS, supplies products to all 50
and Equipment
states including their territories, during any public health
emergency such as COVID-19 (DHHS, 2020). The supplies
Medical supplies and equipment used in the fight against
can be used as a short-term stopgap when enough medical
COVID-19 include, but are not limited to, ventilators, N95
supplies are immediately unavailable. The SNS has distrib-
respirators, face masks, testing kits, face shields, coveralls,
uted PPE, such as N95 respirators, face shields, face masks,
gloves, and disposable gowns. Personal Protective Equipment
gloves, and disposable gowns, to U.S. communities as part of
(PPE) help to ensure the health and safety of health care per-
the ongoing response to COVID-19 (DHHS, 2020). As of
sonnel as well as patients who can be infected by viruses and
April 28, 2020, DHHS has shipped 11,328 tons of cargo from
other dangerous substances used in the health care industry
the SNS to augment state and local governments’ medical
(Korosec, 2020), and ventilators help to pump oxygenated
supplies in response to COVID-19. The unprecedented
air into the lungs of patients affected by the virus (Whalen
demand for medical supplies and equipment has led to the
et al., 2020). Many health care facilities do not have enough
depletion of 90% of the PPE in the SNS (“Coronavirus
PPE, making it extraordinarily difficult to care for their
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