In response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense is prioritizing the protection of our forces—including service members and their dependents, civilians, and contractors—maintaining mission readiness, and supporting the whole-of-government effort to fight this virus. The Department’s latest updates on COVID-19 are available here.
The Office of Industrial Policy continues to partner with the defense industrial base to mitigate impacts from COVID-19. This page contains resources for companies and other stakeholders as they navigate the complexities associated with the virus.
Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2)
The Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell has assumed the interagency efforts for COVID-19 medical resource acquisition previously coordinated by the DoD’s Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF). Nested within the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC), the DA2 is poised to rapidly respond to the nation’s most urgent acquisition needs in current and future national emergencies.
The links below reference the policies and authorities that enabled the JATF, and now DA2, to support the interagency.
REPORTING A CHANGE IN OPERATIONS DUE TO COVID-19
The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) is monitoring changes to the status of operations within the defense industrial base. Please email DCMA at dcma.lee.hq.mbx.covid19-industry-inquiry-inbox@mail.mil to report any specific operational impacts to better inform our mission. Please include the name of the company; location and/or mailing address; CAGE code (if known); government programs potentially impacted; description of impact (e.g., closure, production degradation, etc.); and an appropriate point of contact for follow-ups.
MAKING A COVID-19 INQUIRY THAT IS NOT AN OPERATIONAL CHANGE
Inquiries that are unrelated to operational changes, but are connected to COVID-19 impacts on the defense industrial base should be directed to the Office of Industrial Policy at osd.pentagon.ousd-a-s.mbx.covid-19-industry@mail.mil.
DEFENSE CONTRACTING RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE
Contracting information related to COVID-19 issues is available on the Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) website. The DPC website includes guidance memos for progress payments, public health considerations, and other industrial base considerations.
To provide input to the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DARS) on the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, click here.
GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE
DoD and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memoranda on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce:
You can find additional information from the CDC on implementing safety practices for the critical infrastructure workforce here, to include guidance on implementing safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, as well as guidance for essential critical workers who have been exposed to COVID-19.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR IMPACTS FROM COVID-19
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has several programs to assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19. These resources include the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources, and Disaster Assistance.
SBA and the Office of Small Business Programs hosted an informational webinar on April 8, 2020 on the resources SBA is providing to support small businesses dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. Slides from the webinar can be found here.
For additional information, please visit the Office of Small Business Programs COVID-19 response website.
For our part, DoD has raised the progress payment rate for small business to 95% from 90% and is continuing to accelerate payments to small business prime contractors. DoD will work with SBA where appropriate to provide additional resources to small businesses. At this time, DoD has no financial programs that can provide direct financial support to small businesses.
RESOURCES FOR MANUFACTURERS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
More information on DPA Title III Loans Implemented by the DFC
On June 22, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord and the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Adam S. Boehler signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) authorizing the DOD leverage the federal credit experience of the DFC in order to finance projects that create, expand, or restore domestic industrial base capabilities in response to COVID-19.
This MOA implements Executive Order 13922, which authorizes the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to make loans using Defense Production Act, Title III funds for a period of two years.
The DFC is America’s development bank and brings decades of experience in partnering with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the world today. This is a sterling example of interagency coordination in the fight against COVID-19 and a key part of the whole-of-government response.
Questions about the implementation of these loans can be directed to the DFC.
MORE INFORMATION ON DOING BUSINESS WITH DOD
The Office of Industrial Policy is committed to making it easier for businesses to understand the various avenues available to work with the Department of Defense. In the Defense Acquisition Toolkit, you will find a visual representation of the key touchpoints for any business that might wish to create or expand their relationship with the Department of Defense.
Separately, the Office of Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) released a memo addressing the increased interest in doing business with the DoD in light of COVID-19. DPC's step-by-step approach offers guidance on contracting in the defense marketplace.
RESOURCES FOR DONATING OR SELLING SUPPLIES
FEMA’s How to Help page includes a series of email addresses for companies that are willing to sell or donate medical supplies, produce products related to the COVID-19 response, and have non-medical supplies, services or equipment.
MORE RESOURCES FROM THE WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19
White House Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force
The COVID-19 Task Force portal for public information, working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other agency stakeholders. This portal will link to the appropriate Federal agency website as the authoritative source for that information as necessary.
Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC)
The CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) landing page is the latest public health and safety information from CDC and for the overarching medical and health provider community on COVID-19. The site contains consumer and medical information on how the virus spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, stigma, cases and what to do if you are sick, along with frequently asked questions.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The FEMA “How to Help” page provides information on ways individuals and businesses can support COVID-19 response efforts.
U.S. Government
The USA.gov page catalogs all U.S. government activities related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). USA.gov can support both English and Spanish content.