Learn about Public Health Emergencies

As an eligible state or local government, when the Secretary of Health and Human Services declares a PHE, you can place orders or establish blanket purchase agreements to respond to a public health emergency. You must use federal grant funds for these orders.

You can buy supplies such as masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, and medical equipment to help manage a public health crisis.

Consider some of the reasons to use our programs during a PHE.

Mandatory order language

You must include the following language on all PHE orders:

This order is placed under GSA MAS number [insert number here]. This order expends federal grant funds in response to a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under Section 319 of the Public Health Services Act. Specifically this order is to support response to [insert the name of the PHE declaration].

More info

Read the terms and conditions, ordering procedures, and order acceptance details for our state and local purchasing programs.