HHS Launches First Ever Department-Wide PPE Demand Forecast to Strengthen American Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 18, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), today announced a new Department-wide policy establishing the HHS Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Forecast. This is the first official, recurring process to identify, consolidate, and publish anticipated HHS purchases of personal protective equipment covered by the Make PPE in America Act.

The new forecast will give American PPE manufacturers a clearer and more predictable signal of future HHS demand. By turning the Department’s acquisition plans into actionable market visibility, the initiative will help domestic companies make better-informed decisions about hiring, production, capital investment, and manufacturing capacity while strengthening the supply chains HHS relies on during routine operations and public health emergencies.

“President Trump declared that ‘America will be a manufacturing nation once again.’ He tasked his Administration with rebuilding America’s manufacturing might, and HHS is answering that call,” said Anthony M. Figliola, ASFR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and a member of the President’s Made in America Council. “American manufacturers cannot build durable capacity around uncertainty. This forecast gives domestic PPE makers a clearer line of sight into future HHS demand so they can hire workers, invest in equipment, and keep production ready here at home. It is a practical step toward stronger supply chains, better emergency preparedness, and using federal purchasing power to support American manufacturers and American workers.”

For the first time, all HHS Divisions will be required to maintain current forecasts of their anticipated needs for PPE covered by the Act. The new process will replace one-time data collection with a living, Department-wide forecast that is reviewed and updated throughout the year.

Under the new policy:

• Every HHS Division will maintain a current PPE forecast. Forecasts must include known acquisition requirements as well as reasonably anticipated recurring purchases, annual replenishment, seasonal demand, emergency stock replenishment, planned program requirements, and potential surge requirements, where applicable.
• The forecast will cover PPE purchased through all authorized acquisition methods. Divisions must account for covered PPE expected to be acquired through contracts, orders, Government Purchase Cards, and other authorized purchasing methods.
• Forecasts will be reviewed and updated quarterly. The first Department-wide quarterly update is due October 15, 2026. Subsequent updates will be due January 15, April 15, and July 15 each year.
• HHS will consolidate and publish information for industry. Following each quarterly update, Department-wide forecasts will be provided to the HHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for publication through the Small Business Customer Experience platform, or SBCX, HHS’ official system of record for procurement forecast opportunities.

Manufacturers must make decisions about workforce, equipment, raw materials, and production capacity before an order is placed. A recurring demand forecast will give companies of all sizes an earlier view of potential HHS requirements and additional time to prepare to compete for future opportunities.

The initiative also strengthens HHS acquisition planning by creating a more complete and current picture of anticipated PPE demand across the Department. That information will help HHS better align its purchasing plans with available domestic manufacturing capacity and prepare for both expected requirements and possible surges.

The policy implements the Make PPE in America Act, which is intended to strengthen the domestic PPE industrial base through long-term domestic procurement and greater visibility into anticipated federal demand. By connecting acquisition planning with domestic production capacity, HHS is advancing the Act’s goals while reducing supply chain risk and improving preparedness.

The HHS PPE Forecast is provided for acquisition-planning and industry awareness purposes. Forecast information does not constitute a solicitation, commitment, or guarantee that HHS will initiate an acquisition or make an award.

American manufacturers and small businesses can review HHS procurement forecast opportunities through the HHS Small Business Customer Experience platform.