DOD to spend $415M on N95 mask decontamination units

The Defense Department has awarded a $415 million contract to Battelle Memorial Institute Critical Care Decontamination Systems for 60 systems that can decontaminate up to 80,000 N95 masks so they can be re-used up to 20 times.

DOD's Defense Logistics Agency is making the award on behalf of the Health and Human Services Department, according to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Andrews.

"Spearheaded by the department's Joint Acquisition Task Force, six units have already been delivered to locations including two to New York, and one each to Columbus, OH, Boston, Chicago and Tacoma, providing the ability to sterilize 3.4 million masks a week, reducing the need for new masks by the same number," Andrews said. "All 60 systems will be available by early May for prioritization and distribution by FEMA and HHS. Once all are delivered, these 60 units will allow 4.8 million masks to be sterilized per day, almost 34 million per week."

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said in a statement she is "extremely proud of the selfless efforts of Department of Defense personnel who continue to do everything they can to help provide medical masks, test kits, medicine and meals to support America's military, medical, emergency services and law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines and need them most."

On Saturday, DOD announced it would award $133 million to U.S. companies to produce 39 million N95 masks over the next 90 days as part of its first Defense Production Act action to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The companies have yet to be named.