Nitrile Gloves - Make PPE in America Act Exception

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.

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