Bill 119 hr 767, also known as the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Enhancement Act, aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to give the BARDA the authority to award follow-on production contracts or transactions, procure supplies for experimental or test purposes, and acquire innovative commercial products and services.
The BARDA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on developing and procuring medical countermeasures to respond to public health emergencies, such as pandemics or bioterrorism threats. This bill would allow the BARDA to more efficiently and effectively carry out its mission by streamlining the procurement process and enabling the agency to quickly acquire necessary supplies and products.
The bill does not specify any particular products or services that the BARDA would be authorized to procure, but rather gives the agency the flexibility to adapt to changing public health needs. This could include things like vaccines, medical devices, or other medical supplies that are needed in response to a public health emergency.
Overall, the BARDA Enhancement Act seeks to enhance the BARDA's ability to respond to public health emergencies by giving the agency more flexibility and authority in procuring necessary supplies and products.