Plan of Action To Establish a National Strategy for the Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) To Respond to COVID-19; Implemented Under the Voluntary Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare Resources Necessary To Respond to a Pandemic, 79020-79028 [2020-26986]
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79020
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 8, 2020 / Notices
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, 202–856–2202, fema-prepare@
fema.dhs.gov.
This
proposed information collection
previously published in the Federal
Register on July 10, 2020, at 85 FR
41622 with a 60 day public comment
period. No comments were received.
The purpose of this notice is to notify
the public that FEMA will submit the
information collection abstracted below
to the Office of Management and Budget
for review and clearance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Individual & Community
Preparedness Division (ICPD) Youth
Preparedness Council (YPC)
Application Form.
Type of information collection:
Revision of a currently approved
information collection.
OMB Number: 1660–0144.
Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA
Form 008–0–0–24. Title: Individual &
Community Preparedness Division
(ICPD) Youth Preparedness Council
(YPC) Application Form.
Abstract: This application form is
used to select interested council
members based on dedication to public
service, efforts in making a difference in
their community, and potential for
expanding their impact as a national
advocate for youth preparedness.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households, State, local or Tribal
government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
200.
Estimated Number of Responses: 200.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 283.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Cost: $2,997.
Estimated Respondents’ Operation
and Maintenance Costs: $0.
Estimated Respondents’ Capital and
Start-Up Costs: $72,796.
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Comments
Comments may be submitted as
indicated in the ADDRESSES caption
above. Comments are solicited to (a)
evaluate whether the proposed data
collection is necessary for the proper
performance of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) evaluate the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those
17:19 Dec 07, 2020
Maile Arthur,
Acting Records Management Branch Chief,
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer,
Mission Support, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020–26909 Filed 12–7–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–27–P
Collection of Information
VerDate Sep<11>2014
who are to respond, including through
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Jkt 253001
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID FEMA–2020–0016]
Plan of Action To Establish a National
Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
To Respond to COVID–19;
Implemented Under the Voluntary
Agreement for the Manufacture and
Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary To Respond to a
Pandemic
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
announces the activation of a Plan of
Action to establish a National Strategy
for the manufacture, allocation, and
distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to respond to COVID–
19 implemented under the Voluntary
Agreement for the manufacture and
distribution of critical healthcare
resources necessary to respond to a
pandemic. This Notice contains the text
of the Plan of Action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Glenn, Office of Business,
Industry, Infrastructure Integration,
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, (202) 212–1666, and email
OB3I@fema.dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Section 708 of the Defense Production
Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C. 4558, allows the
President to provide for the formation of
voluntary agreements and plans of
action by the private sector to help
provide for the national defense. This
authority was delegated to the Secretary
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of Homeland Security generally in
section 401 of Executive Order 13603,1
‘‘National Defense Resources
Preparedness,’’ and specifically for
response to COVID–19 in section 3 of
Executive Order 13911,2 ‘‘Delegating
Additional Authority Under the Defense
Production Act With Respect to Health
and Medical Resources To Respond to
the Spread of COVID–19.’’ The
Secretary of Homeland Security has
delegated these authorities to the FEMA
Administrator in Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Delegation
09052 Rev. 00, ‘‘Delegation of Defense
Production Act Authority to the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency,’’ (Jan. 3, 2017),
and DHS Delegation 09052 Rev. 00.1,
‘‘Delegation of Defense Production Act
Authority to the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency’’ (Apr. 1, 2020), respectively.
Background
FEMA sought and received approval
from the Attorney General, after
consultation with the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), to begin
consultation with the private sector, as
required by Section 708(c)(2). Pursuant
to that approval, on May 12, 2020,
FEMA posted an announcement of a
public meeting and request for
comments to develop a Voluntary
Agreement in the Federal Register (85
FR 28031). FEMA held a public meeting
on May 21, 2020, and accepted public
comments until June 5, 2020.3 FEMA
received 34 public comments and
considered these comments when
preparing the Voluntary Agreement.4
The Attorney General, in consultation
with the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission, made the required finding
that the purpose of the Voluntary
Agreement may not reasonably be
achieved through an agreement having
less anticompetitive effect or without
any Voluntary Agreement. Pursuant to
Sec. 708(f)(1)(B) of the DPA, the
Department of Justice separately
published this finding in the Federal
Register on August 17, 2020 as a notice
(85 FR 50049). The FEMA
Administrator, as the Sponsor of the
agreement, certified in writing that the
agreement was necessary to help
provide for the national defense. FEMA
provided notice of the formation and the
1 77
FR 16651 (Mar. 22, 2012).
FR 18403 (Apr. 1, 2020).
3 The original comment period was extended to
allow commentators additional time to respond.
FEMA posted notices of extension to
www.regulations.gov under the Docket ID for this
notice, FEMA–2020–0016.
4 Available on www.regulations.gov under the
Docket ID for this notice.
2 85
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text of the Voluntary Agreement in the
Federal Register on August 17, 2020 (85
FR 50035).
On October 13, 2020, FEMA held a
virtual meeting to implement the
Voluntary Agreement for the
Manufacture and Distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic (see 85 FR
63567). A portion of the meeting was
open to the public. One objective of this
meeting was to discuss the activation of
the first Plan of Action under the
Voluntary Agreement to identify more
efficient methods of allocating and
distributing Personal Protective
Equipment to meet national demand
and ways of expanding the production
of critical healthcare resources, with an
initial focus on the manufacture of N95
masks. From this meeting, FEMA
incorporated public comments and
feedback from the U.S. Department of
Justice and the Federal Trade
Commission to develop the Plan of
Action.
The Attorney General, in consultation
with the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission, made the required finding
that the purposes of section 708(c)(1) of
the DPA cannot reasonably be achieved
without any Plan of Action, or by a plan
of action having less anticompetitive
effects than the proposed Plan of
Action. Pursuant to section 708(f)(1)(B)
of the DPA, the Department of Justice is
separately publishing this finding in the
Federal Register as a notice. The FEMA
Administrator has certified in writing
that this Plan of Action is necessary to
help provide for the national defense.
Text of the Plan of Action to Establish
a National Strategy for the manufacture,
allocation, and distribution of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) to respond
to COVID–19 implemented under the
voluntary agreement for the
MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION
OF CRITICAL HEALTHCARE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO
RESPOND TO A PANDEMIC
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Table of Contents
Preface
I. Purpose
II. Authorities
III. General Provisions
A. Definitions
B. Plan of Action Participation
C. Effective Date and Duration of
Participation
D. Withdrawal
E. Plan of Action Activation and
Deactivation
F. Rules and Regulations
G. Modification and Amendment
H. Expenses
I. Record Keeping
IV. Antitrust Defense
V. Terms and Conditions
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17:19 Dec 07, 2020
Jkt 253001
A. Plan of Action Execution
B. Information Management and
Responsibilities
C. Oversight
VI. Establishment of the Sub-Committees
VII. Application and Agreement
VIII. Assignment
Preface
Pursuant to section 708 of the Defense
Production Act of 1950 (DPA), as
amended (50 U.S.C. 4558), the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Administrator (Administrator),
after consultation with the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), the Attorney General of
the United States (Attorney General),
and the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), developed a
Voluntary Agreement for the
Manufacture and Distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic (Voluntary
Agreement), 85 FR 50035 (August 17,
2020). The Voluntary Agreement, which
operates through a series of Plans of
Action, maximizes the manufacture and
efficient distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources nationwide to
respond to a pandemic by establishing
unity of effort between Participants and
the Federal Government for integrated
coordination, planning, information
sharing with FEMA, as authorized by
FEMA, and allocation and distribution
of Critical Healthcare Resources.
This document establishes a Plan of
Action (Plan) for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) to Respond
to COVID–19. This Plan will be
implemented under the Voluntary
Agreement by several Sub-Committees:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID–
19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N–95 and other
Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial
Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional SubCommittees under this Plan of Action,
so long as:
(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one
specific and well-defined category of
PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is
recommended by the Sub-Committee to
Define COVID–19 PPE Requirements.
The purpose of the Plan and the SubCommittees is to maximize the
manufacture and efficient distribution
of selected types of critical PPE and
create a prioritization protocol for EndUsers based upon their demonstrated or
projected requirements including
geographic and regional circumstances.
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The primary goal of the Plan is to create
a mechanism to immediately meet
exigent PPE requests anywhere in the
Nation and to ensure that actions to
support PPE stockpiling and reserves do
not interfere with immediate
requirements that would result in an
unacceptable risk to healthcare
providers or other potential PPE
recipients. When the requirements of
the Plan are met, it affords SubCommittee Participants defenses to civil
and criminal actions brought under the
antitrust laws (or any similar law of any
state) for actions taken within the scope
of the Plan. The Plan is designed to
foster a close working relationship
among FEMA, HHS, and Sub-Committee
Participants to address national defense
needs through cooperative action under
the direction and active supervision of
FEMA.
I. Purpose
A pandemic may present conditions
that pose a direct threat to the national
defense of the United States or its
preparedness programs such that,
pursuant to DPA section 708(c)(1), an
agreement to collectively coordinate,
plan, and collaborate for the
manufacture and distribution of PPE is
necessary for the national defense. This
Plan of Action to Establish a National
Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) to Respond
to COVID–19 is established under the
Voluntary Agreement and establishes
five Sub-Committees to oversee and
implement the Plan. The Plan and SubCommittees will optimize the
manufacture and the efficient
distribution of selected types of critical
PPE and create a prioritization protocol
for End-Users based upon their
demonstrated or projected requirements
and taking into account geographic and
regional circumstances for stabilization
and reduction of COVID–19 exposure.
II. Authorities
Section 708, Defense Production Act
(50 U.S.C. 4558); sections 402(2) &
501(b), Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121–5207); sections 503(b)(2)(B)
& 504(a)(10) & (16) of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
313(b)(2)(B), 314(a)(10) & (16)); sections
201, 301, National Emergencies Act (50
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); section 319, Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d);
Executive Order (E.O.) 13911, 85 FR
18403 (March 27, 2020); Prioritization
and Allocation of Certain Scarce or
Threatened Health and Medical
Resources for Domestic Use, 85 FR
20195 (April 10, 2020). Pursuant to DPA
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section 708(f)(1)(A), the Administrator
certifies that this Plan is necessary for
the national defense.
III. General Provisions
A. Definitions
Administrator
The FEMA Administrator is the
Sponsor of the Voluntary Agreement.
Pursuant to a delegation or redelegation
of the functions given to the President
by DPA section 708, the Administrator
proposes and provides for the
development and carrying out of the
Voluntary Agreement, including
through the development and
implementation of Plans of Action. The
Administrator is responsible for
carrying out all duties and
responsibilities required by 50 U.S.C.
4558 and 44 CFR part 332 and for
appointing one or more Chairpersons to
manage and administer the Committee
and all Sub-Committees formed to carry
out the Voluntary Agreement.
Agreement
The Voluntary Agreement for the
Manufacture and Distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic (Voluntary
Agreement).
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Allocation
The process of determining and
directing the relative distribution among
one or more competing requests from
End-Users for the same PPE. Through
the Allocation process, FEMA—with
participation from Sub-Committee
Participants—will assess the actual
needs of End-Users and determine how
to divide the available and projected
supply of PPE to minimize impacts to
life, safety, and economic disruption
associated with shortages of critical
PPE. Allocation will take place only
under Exigent Circumstances. FEMA
retains decision-making authority for all
Allocation under this Plan.
Attendees
Subject matter experts, invited by the
Chairperson or a Sub-Committee
Chairperson to attend meetings
authorized under the Voluntary
Agreement or this Plan of Action, to
provide technical advice or to represent
other government agencies or interested
parties. Invitations to attendees will be
extended as required for Committee or
Sub-Committee meetings and
deliberations.
Chairperson
FEMA senior executive(s), appointed
by the Administrator, to chair the
Committee for the Distribution of
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17:19 Dec 07, 2020
Jkt 253001
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic (Committee).
The Chairperson shall be responsible for
the overall management and
administration of the Committee, the
Voluntary Agreement, and Plans of
Action developed under the Voluntary
Agreement while remaining under the
supervision of the Administrator; shall
initiate, or approve in advance, each
meeting held to discuss problems,
determine policies, recommend actions,
and make decisions necessary to carry
out the Voluntary Agreement; appoint
one or more co-Chairpersons to chair
the Committee, and otherwise shall
carry out all duties and responsibilities
assigned to him. With the approval of
the Administrator, the Chairperson may
create one or more Sub-Committees, and
may appoint one or more SubCommittee Chairpersons to chair the
Sub-Committees, as appropriate.
Committee
Committee for the Distribution of
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic established
under the Voluntary Agreement.
Competitively Sensitive Information
Competitively Sensitive Information
that is shared pursuant to this Plan of
Action may include any Document or
other tangible thing or oral transmission
that contains financial, business,
commercial, scientific, technical,
economic, or engineering information or
data, including, but not limited to
• Financial statements and data,
• customer and supplier lists,
• price and other terms of sale to
customers,
• sales records, projections and
forecasts,
• inventory levels,
• capacity and capacity utilization,
• cost information,
• sourcing and procurement
information,
• manufacturing and production
information,
• delivery and shipping information,
• systems and data designs, and
• methods, techniques, processes,
procedures, programs, codes, or
similar information, whether tangible
or intangible, and regardless of the
method of storage, compilation, or
recordation, if the owner thereof has
taken reasonable measures to protect
the information from disclosure to the
public or competitors. These
measures may be evidenced by
marking or labeling the items as
‘‘competitively sensitive information’’
during submission to FEMA or in the
Participant’s customary and existing
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treatment of such information
(regardless of labeling).
All Competitively Sensitive
Information provided by a SubCommittee Participant as described
herein is deemed Competitively
Sensitive Information, except for
Information that:
a. Is published or has been made
publicly available at the time of
disclosure by the Sub-Committee
Participant;
b. was in the possession of, or was
lawfully and readily available to, FEMA
from another source at the time of
disclosure without breaching any
obligation of confidentiality applicable
to the other source; or
c. was independently developed or
acquired without reference to or
reliance upon the Sub-Committee
Participant’s Competitively Sensitive
Information;
Where information deemed
Competitively Sensitive Information is
required to be disclosed by law,
regulation, or court order, the
‘‘Competitively Sensitive’’ (or
substantially similar) label will continue
to attach to all information and
portion(s) of documents that are not
made public through the required
disclosure.
Document
Any information, on paper or in
electronic/audio/visual format,
including written, recorded, and graphic
materials of every kind, in the
possession, custody, or control of the
Participant and used or shared in the
course of participation in the Voluntary
Agreement or a subsequent Plan of
Action.
End-User
This includes all direct and ancillary
medical support including, but not
limited to, hospitals, independent
healthcare providers, nursing homes,
medical laboratories, dental care
providers, independent physician
offices, first responders, alternate care
facilities and the general public that
reasonably represents the totality of the
nation’s professional or medical
response to COVID–19. ‘‘End-User’’ may
also include essential workers necessary
to maintain or restore critical
infrastructure operations, including but
not limited to law enforcement,
education, food and agriculture, energy,
water and wastewater, and public works
personnel.
Exigent Circumstances
As determined by the Chairperson,
the actual or forecasted shortage of a
particular type or types of PPE which
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likely cannot be fulfilled via usual
market mechanisms for an acute, critical
time period, and where immediate and
substantial harm is projected to occur
from lack of intervention.
Pandemic
A Pandemic is defined as an epidemic
that has spread to human populations
across a large geographic area that is
subject to one or more declarations
under the National Emergencies Act, the
Public Health Service Act, or the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, or if the
Administrator determines that one or
more declarations is likely to occur and
the epidemic poses a direct threat to the
national defense or its preparedness
programs. For example, Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (COVID–19).
Participant
An individual, partnership,
corporation, association, or private
organization, other than a federal
agency, that has substantive capabilities,
resources or expertise to carry out the
purpose of the Voluntary Agreement,
that has been specifically invited to
participate in the Voluntary Agreement
by the Chairperson, and that has applied
and agreed to the terms of the Voluntary
Agreement. ‘‘Participant’’ includes a
corporate or non-corporate entity
entering into the Voluntary Agreement
and all subsidiaries and affiliates of that
entity in which that entity has 50
percent or more control either by stock
ownership, board majority, or
otherwise. The Administrator may
invite Participants to join the Voluntary
Agreement at any time during its
effective period.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Objects that provide measures of
safety protection for healthcare workers,
first responders, critical infrastructure
personnel and/or the general public for
the response to the Pandemic. These
PPE items may include, but are not
limited to, face coverings, filtering
facepiece respirators, face shields,
isolation and surgical gowns,
examination and surgical gloves, suits,
and foot coverings.
Plan of Action (Plan)
This document. A documented
method, pursuant to 50 U.S.C.
4558(b)(2), proposed by FEMA to
implement a particular set of activities
under the Voluntary Agreement,
through a Sub-Committee focused on a
particular Critical Healthcare Resource,
or pandemic response workstream or
functional area necessary for the
national defense.
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Jkt 253001
Plan of Action Agreement
A separate commitment made by
Participants upon invitation and
agreement to participate in a Plan of
Action as part of one or more SubCommittees. Completing the Plan of
Action Agreement confers
responsibilities on the Participant
consistent with those articulated in the
Plan of Action and affords Participants
a defense against antitrust claims under
section 708 for actions taken to develop
or carry out the Plan of Action and the
appropriate Sub-Committee(s), as
described in Section IV below.
Representatives
The representatives the Administrator
identifies and invites to the Committee
from FEMA, HHS, and other federal
agencies with equities in this Plan, and
empowered to speak on behalf of their
agencies’ interests. The Attorney
General and the Chairman of the FTC,
or their delegates, may also attend any
meeting as a Representative.
Sub-Committee
A body formed by the Administrator
from select Participants to implement a
Plan of Action.
Sub-Committee Chairperson
FEMA official, appointed by the
Chairperson, to chair a Sub-Committee
to implement a Plan of Action. The SubCommittee Chairperson shall be
responsible for the overall management
and administration of the SubCommittee in furtherance of this Plan of
Action while remaining under the
supervision of the Administrator and
the Chairperson.
Sub-Committee Members
Collectively the Sub-Committee
Chairperson(s), Representatives, and
Sub-Committee Participants. Jointly
responsible developing and executing
this Plan.
Sub-Committee Participant
A subset of Participants of the
Committee, that have been specifically
invited to participate in a SubCommittee by the Sub-Committee
Chairperson, and that have applied and
agreed to the terms of this Plan and
signed the Plan of Action Agreement.
The Sub-Committee Chairperson may
invite Participants in the Committee to
join a Sub-Committee as a SubCommittee Participant at any time
during the Plan’s effective period.
B. Plan of Action Participation
This Plan will be carried out by a
subset of the Participants in the
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79023
Voluntary Agreement through several
Sub-Committees:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID–
19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N–95 and other
Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial
Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional SubCommittees under this Plan of Action,
so long as:
(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one
specific and well-defined category of
PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is
recommended by the Sub-Committee to
Define COVID–19 PPE Requirements.
Each Sub-Committee will consist of
the (1) Sub-Committee Chairperson(s),
(2) Representatives from FEMA, HHS,
the Department of Justice (DOJ), and
other federal agencies with equities in
this Plan, and (3) Sub-Committee
Participants that have substantive
capabilities, resources or expertise to
carry out the purpose of this Plan and
have signed the Plan of Action
Agreement. The Chairperson shall invite
Sub-Committee Participants who, in his
or her determination, are reasonably
representative of the appropriate
industry or segment of such industry.
Other Attendees—invited by the SubCommittee Chairperson as subject
matter experts to provide technical
advice or to represent the interests of
other government agencies or interested
parties—may also participate in SubCommittee meetings. The naming of
these Sub-Committees does not commit
the Administrator to creating them
unless and until circumstances dictate.
C. Effective Date and Duration of
Participation
This Plan is effective immediately
upon satisfaction of the requirements of
DPA section 708(f)(1). This Plan shall
remain in effect until terminated in
accordance with 44 CFR 332.4. It shall
be effective for no more than five (5)
years from August 17, 2020, when the
requirements of DPA section 708(f)(1)
were satisfied for the Voluntary
Agreement, unless otherwise terminated
pursuant to DPA section 708(h)(9) and
44 CFR 332.4 or extended as set forth in
DPA section 708(f)(2). No action may
take place under this Plan until it is
activated, as described in Section III(E),
below.
D. Withdrawal
Participation in the Plan is voluntary,
as is the acceptance of most obligations
under the Plan. Sub-Committee
Participants may withdraw from this
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Plan or from an individual SubCommittee at any point, subject to the
fulfillment of obligations previously
agreed upon by the Participant prior to
the date of withdrawal. Note that the
obligations outlined in V.B regarding
information management and associated
responsibilities apply once a party has
shared or received information through
a Sub-Committee, and remain in place
after the party’s withdrawal from the
Sub-Committee or Plan. If a SubCommittee Participant indicates an
intent to withdraw from the Plan due to
a modification or amendment of the
Plan (described below), the SubCommittee Participant will not be
required to perform actions directed by
that modification or amendment.
Withdrawal from the Plan will
automatically trigger withdrawal from
all Sub-Committees; however, a
Participant may withdraw from a SubCommittee without also withdrawing
from the Plan or other Sub-Committees.
To withdraw from the Plan or from an
individual Sub-Committee, a Participant
must provide written notice to the
Administrator at least fifteen (15)
calendar days prior to the effective date
of that Sub-Committee Participant’s
withdrawal specifying the scope of
withdrawal. Following receipt of such
notice, the Administrator will inform
the other Sub-Committee Participants of
the date and the scope of the
withdrawal.
Upon the effective date of the
withdrawal from the Plan, the SubCommittee Participant must cease all
activities under the Plan. Upon the
effective date of the withdrawal from
one or more Sub-Committee(s), the SubCommittee Participant must cease all
activities under the Plan that pertain to
the withdrawn Sub-Committee(s).
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E. Plan of Action Activation and
Deactivation
The Administrator, in consultation
with the Chairperson and SubCommittee Chairperson, will invite a
select group of Participants in the
Voluntary Agreement to form the
following Sub-Committees, which will
be responsible for implementing this
Plan:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID–
19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N–95 and other
Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial
Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional SubCommittees under this Plan of Action,
so long as:
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(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one
specific and well-defined category of
PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is
recommended by the Sub-Committee to
Define COVID–19 PPE Requirements.
This Plan will be activated for each
invited Participant when the Participant
executes a Plan of Action Agreement,
and a Participant may not participate in
a Sub-Committee until the Plan of
Action Agreement is executed.
Participants will be invited to join this
Plan at the discretion of the Chairperson
or the Sponsor to the Voluntary
Agreement. Participants will be further
invited to attend specific meetings of
one or more Sub-Committees at the
discretion of the Chairperson.
F. Rules and Regulations
Sub-Committee Participants
acknowledge and agree to comply with
all provisions of DPA section 708, as
amended, and regulations related
thereto which are promulgated by
FEMA, the Department of Homeland
Security, HHS, the Attorney General,
and the FTC. FEMA has promulgated
standards and procedures pertaining to
voluntary agreements in 44 CFR part
332. The Administrator shall inform
Participants of new rules and
regulations as they are issued.
G. Modification and Amendment
The Administrator, after consultation
with the Attorney General and the
Chairman of the FTC, may terminate or
modify, in writing, this Plan at any time.
The Attorney General, after consultation
with the Chairman of the FTC and the
Administrator, may terminate or
modify, in writing, this Plan at any time.
Sub-Committee Participants may
propose modifications or amendments
to the Plan or to the Sub-Committees at
any time.
Where possible, material
modifications to the Plan or a SubCommittee will be subject to a 30
calendar day delayed implementation
and opportunity for notice and
comment by Sub-Committee
Participants to the Chairperson. This
delayed implementation period may be
shortened or eliminated if the
Administrator deems it necessary. The
Administrator shall inform SubCommittee Participants of modifications
or amendments to the Plan or to the
Sub-Committees as they are proposed
and issued.
The Administrator, after consultation
with the Attorney General and the
Chairman of the FTC, may remove SubCommittee Participants from the Plan or
from a Sub-Committee at any time. The
Attorney General, after consultation
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with the Chairman of the FTC and the
Administrator, may remove SubCommittee Participants from this Plan
or from a Sub-Committee at any time. If
a Participant is removed from the Plan
or from a Sub-Committee, the
Participant may request written notice
of the reasons for removal from the
Chairperson, who shall provide such
notice in a reasonable time period.
H. Expenses
Participation in this Plan or in a SubCommittee does not confer funds to
Sub-Committee Participants, nor does it
limit or prohibit any pre-existing source
of funds. Unless otherwise specified, all
expenses, administrative or otherwise,
incurred by Sub-Committee Participants
associated with participation in this
Plan or a Sub-Committee shall be borne
exclusively by the Sub-Committee
Participants.
I. Record Keeping
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson
shall have primary responsibility for
maintaining records in accordance with
44 CFR part 332 and shall be the official
custodian of records related to carrying
out this Plan. Each Sub-Committee
Participant shall maintain for five years
all minutes of meetings, transcripts,
records, documents, and other data,
including any communications with
other Sub-Committee Participants or
with any other member of the SubCommittee, including drafts, related to
the carrying out of this Plan or
incorporating data or information
received in the course of carrying out
this Plan. Each Sub-Committee
Participant agrees to produce to the
Administrator, the Attorney General,
and the Chairman of the FTC upon
request any item that this section
requires the Participant to maintain.
Any record maintained in accordance
with 44 CFR part 332 shall be available
for public inspection and copying,
unless exempted on the grounds
specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1), (3) or (4)
or identified as privileged and
confidential information in accordance
with DPA section 705(d), and 44 CFR
332.5.
IV. Antitrust Defense
Under the provisions of DPA
subsection 708(j), each Sub-Committee
Participant in this Plan shall have
available as a defense to any civil or
criminal action brought for violation of
the antitrust laws (or any similar law of
any State) with respect to any action to
develop or carry out this Plan, that such
action was taken by the Sub-Committee
Participant in the course of developing
or carrying out this Plan, that the Sub-
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Committee Participant complied with
the provisions of DPA section 708 and
the rules promulgated thereunder, and
that the Sub-Committee Participant
acted in accordance with the terms of
the Voluntary Agreement and this Plan.
Except in the case of actions taken to
develop this Plan, this defense shall be
available only to the extent the SubCommittee Participant asserting the
defense demonstrates that the action
was specified in, or was within the
scope of, this Plan and within the scope
of the appropriate Sub-Committee(s),
including being taken at the direction
and under the active supervision of
FEMA.
This defense shall not apply to any
actions taken after the termination of
this Plan. Immediately upon
modification of this Plan, no defense to
antitrust claims under Section 708 shall
be available to any subsequent action
that is beyond the scope of the modified
Plan. The Sub-Committee Participant
asserting the defense bears the burden of
proof to establish the elements of the
defense. The defense shall not be
available if the person against whom the
defense is asserted shows that the action
was taken for the purpose of violating
the antitrust laws.
V. Terms and Conditions
As the sponsoring agency, FEMA will
maintain oversight over Sub-Committee
activities and direct and supervise
actions taken to carry out this Plan,
including by retaining decision-making
authority over actions taken pursuant to
the Plan to ensure such actions are
necessary to address a direct threat to
the national defense. The Attorney
General and the Chairman of the FTC
will monitor activities of the SubCommittees to ensure they execute their
responsibilities in a manner consistent
with this Plan and their actions have the
least anticompetitive effects possible.
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A. Plan of Action Execution
This Plan will be used to support the
following objectives to respond to a
Pandemic by maximizing the
manufacture and efficient distribution
of selected types of critical PPE and
creating a prioritization protocol for
End-Users based upon their
demonstrated or projected requirements
and taking into account geographic and
regional circumstances. Each SubCommittee will undertake the following
Objectives for the PPE item(s) within its
area of jurisdiction.
1. Objectives
(1) Optimize the timely production of
sufficient quantities of PPE to reduce
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loss of life and transmission of the
COVID–19 virus.
(2) Ensure PPE is distributed
effectively across the whole community
nationally based on risk.
(3) Balance restoration and
maintenance of the nation’s stockpile of
PPE with near-term requirements.
(4) Establish a process for FEMA
Allocation of PPE nationwide.
(5) Ensure ongoing competition in the
manufacture and distribution of PPE to
the greatest extent possible under the
DPA.
2. Actions
Sub-Committee Participants may be
asked to support these objectives by
taking the following specific actions:
(1) Assist the Chairperson in
identifying which types of critical PPE
should be included within each SubCommittee. Identification will be based
upon each item’s importance to the
national response to COVID–19 and
whether it can be reasonably inferred,
based upon the best evidence available,
that that current and projected supply
measured against current and projected
demand may not adequately meet the
PPE requirements to all identified EndUsers or regional or geographic areas of
the country as result of measures taken
to respond to COVID–19.
(2) Provide input to the Chairperson
in creating a prioritized list of PPE EndUsers by categories for each type of
critical PPE identified by each SubCommittee, and ascertaining the relative
demand and supply of PPE among and
within those End User categories.
Prioritization shall be decided by the
Chairperson, based upon each item’s
importance, reflecting the consensus
views of the Sub-Committee Members
that it represents the most effective way
to save lives and prevent the
transmission of the COVID–19 virus.
This list may be updated throughout the
life of the Plan of Action based upon
either short term or long-term demands.
These categories should be considered
holistically in terms of the Whole-ofNation response to COVID–19.
(3) Evaluate the domestic supply of
PPE and identify when the expansion of
the domestic manufacture of PPE may
be necessary, as directed and decided by
the Chairperson.
(4) Provide information, assist, and
validate, as necessary as decided by the
Chairperson, demand projections for
PPE.
(5) Create a process for and
collaborate in the evaluation of
competing claims for PPE from EndUsers.
(6) Prepare a general strategy to
accomplish the activities listed in
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79025
V(A)(2)(7) below regarding activities in
Exigent Circumstances consistent with
the decisions made by the Chairperson.
(7) In Exigent Circumstances, with
review and concurrence in all possible
instances by DOJ in consultation with
FTC:
• Facilitate maximum availability of
PPE to the nation or particular
geographies by deconflicting
overlapping demands from the
collective Participants’ customer base,
as directed and decided by the
Chairperson.
• Facilitate maximum availability of
PPE to the nation or particular
geographies by deconflicting
overlapping supply chain demands
placed upon Members, as directed and
decided by the Chairperson.
• Facilitate the efficient distribution
of PPE by deconflicting overlapping
distribution chain activities of Members,
as directed and decided by the
Chairperson.
• Create a process for and collaborate
in the Allocation of PPE nationwide or
in particular geographies consistent
with the decisions made by the
Chairperson.
• Create a process for and collaborate
in meeting any other exigent
requirements throughout the nation or
particular geographies consistent with
the overall strategy prepared by this
Sub-Committee.
(8) Provide data and information
necessary to validate the efforts of the
Sub-Committee including the actual and
planned amounts of PPE to be
distributed throughout the Nation, as
determined by the Chairperson.
(9) Provide feedback to the SubCommittee on the outcomes of the
collective efforts of the Sub-Committee
Members and any impediments or
bottlenecks.
(10) Advise the Chairperson whether
additional Participants or Attendees
should be invited to join this Plan of
Action and Sub-Committee.
(11) Carry out other activities
regarding critical PPE as identified by
Sub-Committees under this Plan as
determined and directed by the
Chairperson necessary to address the
COVID–19 virus’ direct threat to the
national defense, where such activities
have been reviewed and approved by
DOJ and FTC and received concurrence
from Sub-Committee members.
B. Information Management and
Responsibilities
FEMA will request only that data and
information from Sub-Committee
Participants that is necessary to meet
the objectives of the Plan and consistent
with the scope of the relevant Sub-
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Committees. Upon signing a Plan of
Action Agreement for this Plan, FEMA
requests that Participants endeavor to
cooperate with diligence and speed, and
to the extent permissible under this
Plan, and share with FEMA data and
information necessary to meet the
objectives of this Plan.
Sub-Committee Participants agree to
share with FEMA the following data
with diligence and speed, to the extent
permissible under this Plan, and abide
by the following guidelines, where
feasible and consistent with the data
that is owned by each Sub-Committee
Participant:
(1) In general, Participants will not be
asked to share Competitively Sensitive
Information directly with other
Participants.
(2) FEMA will only request direct
sharing of Competitively Sensitive
Information among Participants during
Exigent Circumstances where there is a
mission critical need or timeline such
that sharing only through FEMA is
impractical or threatens the outcome of
the Plan or Sub-Committee action. Such
requests, if made, will be only among
Participants whose participation is
necessary to meet the objectives of the
Plan, will be limited in scope to the
greatest extent possible, and will be
shared only pursuant to safeguards
subject to prior review and audit by DOJ
and FTC. Direct sharing of
Competitively Sensitive Information
with other Participants will be limited
in scope and circumstances to the
greatest extent possible. Participants
may not share Competitively Sensitive
Information directly with other
Participants unless specifically
requested by FEMA, in consultation
with DOJ and FTC. All Competitively
Sensitive Information delivered to
FEMA or to another Sub-Committee
Participant shall be delivered by secure
means, for example, password-protected
or encrypted electronic files or drives
with the password/key delivered by
separate communication or method or
via upload to an appropriately secure
web portal as directed by FEMA. All
data delivered to the web portal
designated by FEMA is deemed to be
Competitively Sensitive Information.
(3) To allow FEMA to identify and
appropriately protect documents
containing Competitively Sensitive
Information by the Sub-Committee
Participant providing the documents,
the Sub-Committee Participant will
make good faith efforts to designate any
Competitively Sensitive Information by
placing restrictive markings on
documents and things considered to be
competitively sensitive, the restrictive
markings being sufficiently clear in
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wording and visibility to indicate the
restricted nature of the data. The SubCommittee Participant will identify
Competitively Sensitive Information
that is disclosed verbally by oral
warning. Information designated as
competitively sensitive will, to the
extent allowed by law, be presumed to
constitute trade secrets, or commercial
or financial information, and be
provided by the Sub-Committee
Participant to FEMA with the
expectation that it will be kept
confidential by both parties, as such
terms are understood in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) of the Freedom
of Information Act and federal judicial
interpretations of this statute. FEMA
agrees that to the extent any information
designated as competitively sensitive by
a Sub-Committee Participant is
responsive to a request for disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act,
FEMA will consult with the SubCommittee Participant and afford the
Participant ten (10) working days to
object to any disclosure by FEMA.
(4) FEMA will make good faith efforts
to appropriately recognize unmarked
Documents containing Competitively
Sensitive Information as Competitively
Sensitive Information. However, FEMA
cannot guarantee that all unmarked
Documents will be recognized as being
Competitively Sensitive Information
and protected from disclosure to third
parties. If the unmarked Documents
have not been disclosed without
restriction outside of FEMA, the SubCommittee Participant may retroactively
request to have appropriate designations
placed on the Documents. If the
unmarked Documents have been
disclosed without restriction outside of
FEMA, FEMA will, to the extent
practicable, remove any requested
information from public forums
controlled by FEMA and will work
promptly to request that a receiving
party return or destroy disclosed
unmarked Documents if requested by
the Sub-Committee Participant.
(5) Competitively Sensitive
Information may be used by FEMA,
alone or in combination with additional
information, including Documents and
Competitively Sensitive Information
received from third parties, to support
FEMA’s implementation of this Plan of
Action as determined by the
Chairperson. In all situations, FEMA
will aggregate and anonymize
Competitively Sensitive Information to
the greatest extent possible to protect
the interests retained by the owners of
the data while still allowing the
objectives of the Plan of Action and
Sub-Committee to be achieved. To the
greatest extent possible, such
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aggregation will render the
competitively sensitive nature of the
Competitively Sensitive Information of
the Sub-Committee Participant no
longer recognizable in a commercially
sensitive manner, and without sufficient
information to enable, by inference or
otherwise, attribution to Sub-Committee
Participant or its affiliates (as clearly
identified and disclosed to FEMA). Any
disclosure of Competitively Sensitive
Information by FEMA, within or outside
a Sub-Committee, will be subject to
review and approval by DOJ and FTC.
(6) Except as otherwise expressly
permitted by applicable federal law,
FEMA shall not disclose any
Competitively Sensitive Information or
use any Competitively Sensitive
Information for any purpose other than
in connection with the purposes of this
Plan of Action, and FEMA will not sell
any Competitively Sensitive Information
of any Sub-Committee Participant.
(7) Except as described below, FEMA
may disclose Competitively Sensitive
Information only to its employees,
officers, directors, contractors, agents,
and advisors (including attorneys,
accountants, consultants, and financial
advisors). Any individual with access to
Competitively Sensitive Information
will be expected to comply with the
terms of this Plan of Action.
a. Information Sharing within the
Sub-Committee: FEMA may share
Competitively Sensitive Information
with Sub-Committee Participants and
Federal Representatives of the Plan of
Action, and their respective employees,
officers, directors, contractors, agents,
and advisors (including attorneys,
accountants, consultants, and financial
advisors) where there is a need to know
and where disclosure is reasonably
necessary in furtherance of
implementing the Plan of Action. FEMA
will aggregate and anonymize data prior
to sharing with the Sub-Committee
Participants to the greatest extent
possible while still allowing the
objectives of the Plan of Action to be
achieved, and will not share data—
particularly to competitors of the
submitter—prior to consultation with
and approval by the DOJ and FTC.
i. Sub-Committee Participants, when
providing Competitively Sensitive
Information to FEMA, may request that
this Information not be shared with
other Sub-Committee Participants.
Where these requests are made in good
faith and are reasonable in nature,
FEMA will respect these requests to the
greatest extent possible and will consult
the owner of the data prior to any
release made to Sub-Committee
Participants.
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b. Restricted Reports. FEMA may
communicate Competitively Sensitive
Information to appropriate government
officials through Restricted Reports. The
information contained in Restricted
Reports shall be aggregated and
anonymized to the greatest extent
possible, while recognizing that these
officials may need a certain amount of
granularity and specificity of
information to appropriately respond to
COVID–19. FEMA will aim to aggregate
data to the County level, and will not
share Restricted Reports prior to
consultation and approval from the DOJ
and FTC. FEMA may disclose Restricted
Reports to relevant White House and
Administration officials and State
Governors, and their respective
employees, officers, directors,
contractors, agents, and advisors
(including attorneys, accountants,
consultants, and financial advisors) who
have a need to know and to whom such
disclosure is reasonably necessary
solely in furtherance of the
implementation of this Plan of Action.
FEMA shall take appropriate action (by
instructions, agreement, or otherwise) to
ensure that receiving parties comply
with all data-sharing confidentiality and
obligations under this Plan of Action as
if such persons or entities had been
parties to this Plan of Action.
c. Public Reports. FEMA may share
information with the public through
Public Reports. Data contained in Public
Reports shall be fully aggregated and
anonymized. Public Reports shall be
aggregated to at least a state level and
may be publicly disclosed after
consultation and approval from the DOJ
and FTC.
(8) Where possible and not obviated
by Exigent Circumstances, FEMA will
notify Sub-Committee Participants prior
to the release of any Competitively
Sensitive Information that has not been
fully aggregated and anonymized. In
consultation with DOJ and FTC, FEMA
will consider any good-faith requests
made by Sub-Committee members to
hold the release of data or requests for
further aggregation or anonymization. In
general, FEMA will not provide
notification prior to the release of Public
Reports, under the presumption that the
data in these reports has already been
fully anonymized and de-identified.
(9) Any party receiving Competitively
Sensitive Information through this Plan
shall use such information solely for the
purposes outlined in the Plan and take
steps, such as imposing previously
approved firewalls or tracking usage, to
prevent misuse of the information.
Disclosure and use of Competitively
Sensitive Information will be limited to
the greatest extent possible, and any
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party receiving Competitively Sensitive
Information shall follow the procedures
outlined in paragraph 7 above.
(10) At the conclusion of a
Participant’s involvement in a Plan—
due to the deactivation of the Plan or
due to the Participant’s withdrawal or
removal—each Participant will be
requested to sequester any and all
Competitively Sensitive Information
received through participation in the
Plan. This sequestration shall include
the deletion of all Competitively
Sensitive Information unless required to
be kept pursuant to the Record Keeping
requirements as described supra,
Section I, 44 CFR part 332, or any other
provision of law.
C. Oversight
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson is
responsible for ensuring that the
Attorney General, or suitable delegate(s)
from the DOJ, and the FTC Chairman, or
suitable delegate(s) from the FTC, have
awareness of activities under this Plan,
including activation, deactivation, and
scheduling of meetings. The Attorney
General, the FTC Chairman, or their
delegates may attend Sub-Committee
meetings and request to be apprised of
any activities taken in accordance with
activities under this Plan. DOJ or FTC
Representatives may request and review
any proposed action by the SubCommittee or Sub-Committee
Participants undertaken pursuant to this
Plan, including the provision of data. If
any DOJ or FTC Representative believes
any actions proposed or taken are not
consistent with relevant antitrust
protections provided by the DPA, he or
she shall provide warning and guidance
to the Sub-Committee as soon as the
potential issue is identified. If questions
arise about the antitrust protections
applicable to any particular action,
FEMA may request DOJ, in consultation
with the FTC, provide an opinion on the
legality of the action under relevant
DPA antitrust protections.
VI. Establishment of the SubCommittees
This Plan establishes Sub-Committees
to implement the Plan to Establish a
National Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) to Respond
to COVID–19 to provide the Federal
Government and the Participants a
forum to maximize the manufacture and
efficient distribution of selected types of
critical PPE and to create a prioritization
protocol based upon identified types of
PPE End-Users and their demonstrated
or projected requirements, and
demonstrated or projected geographic
and regional areas of need. The outcome
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should include a framework to
expeditiously meet any PPE needs in
Exigent Circumstances anywhere in the
Nation, and to ensure that actions to
support PPE stockpiling and reserves do
not interfere with immediate
requirements that would result in an
unacceptable risk to healthcare
providers or other potential PPE
recipients. A Sub-Committee
Chairperson designated by the
Chairperson will convene and preside
over each Sub-Committee. SubCommittees will not be used for contract
negotiations or contract discussions
between the Participants and the
Federal Government; such negotiations
or discussions will be in accordance
with applicable federal contracting
policies and procedures. However, this
shall not limit any discussion within a
Sub-Committee about the operational
utilization of existing and potential
contracts between the Participants and
Representatives when seeking to align
their use with overall manufacturing
and distribution efforts consistent with
this Plan.
Each Sub-Committee will consist of
designated Representatives from FEMA,
HHS, other federal agencies with
equities in this Plan, and each SubCommittee Participant. The Attorney
General and Chairman of the FTC, or
their delegates, may also join each SubCommittee and attend meetings at their
discretion. Attendees may also be
invited at the discretion of a SubCommittee Chairperson as subject
matter experts, to provide technical
advice, or to represent other government
agencies, but will not be considered part
of the Sub-Committee.
To the extent necessary to respond to
the Pandemic, only at the explicit
direction of a Sub-Committee
Chairperson, and subject to the
provisions of Section V(B), SubCommittee Members may be asked to
provide technical advice, share
information, help identify and validate
places and resources of the greatest
need, help project future manufacturing
and distribution demands, assist in
identifying and resolving the allocation
of scarce resources amongst all
necessary public and private sector
domestic needs under Exigent
Circumstances, and take any other
necessary actions to maximize the
timely manufacture and distribution of
PPE as determined necessary by FEMA
to respond to the Pandemic. A SubCommittee Chairperson or his or her
designee, at the Sub-Committee
Chairperson’s sole discretion, will make
decisions on these issues in order to
ensure the maximum efficiency and
effectiveness in the use of Sub-
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Committee Member’s resources. All
Sub-Committee Participants will be
invited to open Sub-Committee
meetings. For selected Sub-Committee
meetings, attendance may be limited to
designated Sub-Committee Participants
to meet specific operational
requirements, as determined by FEMA.
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson
shall notify the Attorney General, the
Chairman of the FTC, Representatives,
and Participants of the time, place, and
nature of each meeting and of the
proposed agenda of each meeting to be
held to carry out this Plan of Action.
Additionally, each Sub-Committee
Chairperson shall provide for
publication in the Federal Register of a
notice of the time, place, and nature of
each meeting. If a meeting is open, a
Federal Register notice will be
published reasonably in advance of the
meeting. A Sub-Committee Chairman
may restrict attendance at meetings only
on the grounds outlined by 44 CFR
332.5(c)(1)–(3). If a meeting is closed, a
Federal Register notice will be
published within ten (10) days of the
meeting and will include the reasons
why the meeting is closed pursuant to
44 CFR 332.3(c)(2).
The Sub-Committee Chairperson shall
establish the agenda for each meeting,
be responsible for adherence to the
agenda, and provide for a written
summary or other record of each
meeting and provide copies of
transcripts or other records to FEMA,
the Attorney General, the Chairman of
the FTC, and all Sub-Committee
Participants. The Chairperson shall take
necessary actions to protect from public
disclosure any data discussed with or
obtained from Sub-Committee
Participants which a Sub-Committee
Participant has identified as a trade
secret or as privileged and confidential
in accordance with DPA sections
708(h)(3) and 705(d), or which qualifies
for withholding under 44 CFR 332.5.
VII. Application and Agreement
The Sub-Committee Participant
identified below hereby agrees to join in
the Federal Emergency Management
Agency sponsored Plan of Action to
Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) under the Voluntary
Agreement for the Manufacture and
Distribution of Healthcare Resources
Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic
and to become a Participant in one or
more Sub-Committees established by
this Plan. This Plan will be published in
the Federal Register. This Plan is
authorized under section 708 of the
Defense Production Act of 1950, as
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amended. Regulations governing the
Voluntary Agreement for the
Manufacture and Distribution for the
Manufacture and Distribution of
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic and all
subsequent Plans of Action appear at 44
CFR part 332. The applicant, as a SubCommittee Participant, agrees to comply
with the provisions of section 708 of the
Defense Production Act of 1950, as
amended, the regulations at 44 CFR part
332, and the terms of this Plan.
VIII. Assignment
No Sub-Committee Participant may
assign or transfer this Plan, in whole or
in part, or any protections, rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of the Sub-Committee
Chairperson. When requested, the SubCommittee Chairperson will respond to
written requests for consent within 10
(ten) business days of receipt.
lllllllllllllllllll
(Company name)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Name of authorized representative)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Signature of authorized representative)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Date)
lllllllllllllllllll
Sub-Committee Chairperson
lllllllllllllllllll
(Date)
Pete Gaynor,
Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020–26986 Filed 12–7–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–19–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
[OMB Control Number 1615–0035]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Extension, Without Change,
of a Currently Approved Collection;
Application To Adjust Status From
Temporary to Permanent Resident
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: 30-Day notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) will be
submitting the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. The purpose of this notice is to
allow an additional 30 days for public
comments.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and
will be accepted until January 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or
suggestions regarding the item(s)
contained in this notice, especially
regarding the estimated public burden
and associated response time, must be
submitted via the Federal eRulemaking
Portal website at https://
www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID
number USCIS–2008–0019. All
submissions received must include the
OMB Control Number 1615–0035 in the
body of the letter, the agency name and
Docket ID USCIS–2008–0019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy,
Regulatory Coordination Division,
Samantha Deshommes, Chief,
Telephone number (240) 721–3000
(This is not a toll-free number;
comments are not accepted via
telephone message.). Please note contact
information provided here is solely for
questions regarding this notice. It is not
for individual case status inquiries.
Applicants seeking information about
the status of their individual cases can
check Case Status Online, available at
the USCIS website at https://
www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS
Contact Center at (800) 375–5283; TTY
(800) 767–1833.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments
The information collection notice was
previously published in the Federal
Register on August 07, 2020, at 85 FR
47979, allowing for a 60-day public
comment period. USCIS did receive one
comment in connection with the 60-day
notice.
You may access the information
collection instrument with instructions,
or additional information by visiting the
Federal eRulemaking Portal site at:
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
USCIS–2008–0019 in the search box.
The comments submitted to USCIS via
this method are visible to the Office of
Management and Budget and comply
with the requirements of 5 CFR
1320.12(c). All submissions will be
posted, without change, to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov, and will include
any personal information you provide.
Therefore, submitting this information
makes it public. You may wish to
consider limiting the amount of
personal information that you provide
in any voluntary submission you make
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79020-79028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26986]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2020-0016]
Plan of Action To Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) To Respond to COVID-19; Implemented Under the Voluntary
Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary To Respond to a Pandemic
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announces the
activation of a Plan of Action to establish a National Strategy for the
manufacture, allocation, and distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to respond to COVID-19 implemented under the Voluntary
Agreement for the manufacture and distribution of critical healthcare
resources necessary to respond to a pandemic. This Notice contains the
text of the Plan of Action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Glenn, Office of Business,
Industry, Infrastructure Integration, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, (202) 212-1666, and email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Section 708 of the Defense Production Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C. 4558,
allows the President to provide for the formation of voluntary
agreements and plans of action by the private sector to help provide
for the national defense. This authority was delegated to the Secretary
of Homeland Security generally in section 401 of Executive Order
13603,\1\ ``National Defense Resources Preparedness,'' and specifically
for response to COVID-19 in section 3 of Executive Order 13911,\2\
``Delegating Additional Authority Under the Defense Production Act With
Respect to Health and Medical Resources To Respond to the Spread of
COVID-19.'' The Secretary of Homeland Security has delegated these
authorities to the FEMA Administrator in Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Delegation 09052 Rev. 00, ``Delegation of Defense
Production Act Authority to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency,'' (Jan. 3, 2017), and DHS Delegation 09052 Rev.
00.1, ``Delegation of Defense Production Act Authority to the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency'' (Apr. 1,
2020), respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 77 FR 16651 (Mar. 22, 2012).
\2\ 85 FR 18403 (Apr. 1, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
FEMA sought and received approval from the Attorney General, after
consultation with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to begin
consultation with the private sector, as required by Section 708(c)(2).
Pursuant to that approval, on May 12, 2020, FEMA posted an announcement
of a public meeting and request for comments to develop a Voluntary
Agreement in the Federal Register (85 FR 28031). FEMA held a public
meeting on May 21, 2020, and accepted public comments until June 5,
2020.\3\ FEMA received 34 public comments and considered these comments
when preparing the Voluntary Agreement.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The original comment period was extended to allow
commentators additional time to respond. FEMA posted notices of
extension to www.regulations.gov under the Docket ID for this
notice, FEMA-2020-0016.
\4\ Available on www.regulations.gov under the Docket ID for
this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, made the required finding that the purpose of
the Voluntary Agreement may not reasonably be achieved through an
agreement having less anticompetitive effect or without any Voluntary
Agreement. Pursuant to Sec. 708(f)(1)(B) of the DPA, the Department of
Justice separately published this finding in the Federal Register on
August 17, 2020 as a notice (85 FR 50049). The FEMA Administrator, as
the Sponsor of the agreement, certified in writing that the agreement
was necessary to help provide for the national defense. FEMA provided
notice of the formation and the
[[Page 79021]]
text of the Voluntary Agreement in the Federal Register on August 17,
2020 (85 FR 50035).
On October 13, 2020, FEMA held a virtual meeting to implement the
Voluntary Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic (see 85 FR
63567). A portion of the meeting was open to the public. One objective
of this meeting was to discuss the activation of the first Plan of
Action under the Voluntary Agreement to identify more efficient methods
of allocating and distributing Personal Protective Equipment to meet
national demand and ways of expanding the production of critical
healthcare resources, with an initial focus on the manufacture of N95
masks. From this meeting, FEMA incorporated public comments and
feedback from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade
Commission to develop the Plan of Action.
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, made the required finding that the purposes
of section 708(c)(1) of the DPA cannot reasonably be achieved without
any Plan of Action, or by a plan of action having less anticompetitive
effects than the proposed Plan of Action. Pursuant to section
708(f)(1)(B) of the DPA, the Department of Justice is separately
publishing this finding in the Federal Register as a notice. The FEMA
Administrator has certified in writing that this Plan of Action is
necessary to help provide for the national defense.
Text of the Plan of Action to Establish a National Strategy for the
manufacture, allocation, and distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to respond to COVID-19 implemented under the voluntary
agreement for the MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CRITICAL HEALTHCARE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO A PANDEMIC
Table of Contents
Preface
I. Purpose
II. Authorities
III. General Provisions
A. Definitions
B. Plan of Action Participation
C. Effective Date and Duration of Participation
D. Withdrawal
E. Plan of Action Activation and Deactivation
F. Rules and Regulations
G. Modification and Amendment
H. Expenses
I. Record Keeping
IV. Antitrust Defense
V. Terms and Conditions
A. Plan of Action Execution
B. Information Management and Responsibilities
C. Oversight
VI. Establishment of the Sub-Committees
VII. Application and Agreement
VIII. Assignment
Preface
Pursuant to section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950
(DPA), as amended (50 U.S.C. 4558), the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Administrator (Administrator), after consultation with
the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the
Attorney General of the United States (Attorney General), and the
Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), developed a Voluntary
Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic (Voluntary Agreement), 85
FR 50035 (August 17, 2020). The Voluntary Agreement, which operates
through a series of Plans of Action, maximizes the manufacture and
efficient distribution of Critical Healthcare Resources nationwide to
respond to a pandemic by establishing unity of effort between
Participants and the Federal Government for integrated coordination,
planning, information sharing with FEMA, as authorized by FEMA, and
allocation and distribution of Critical Healthcare Resources.
This document establishes a Plan of Action (Plan) for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to Respond to COVID-19. This Plan will be implemented
under the Voluntary Agreement by several Sub-Committees:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID-19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N-95 and other Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional Sub-Committees under this Plan of
Action, so long as:
(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one specific and well-defined
category of PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is recommended by the Sub-Committee to Define
COVID-19 PPE Requirements.
The purpose of the Plan and the Sub-Committees is to maximize the
manufacture and efficient distribution of selected types of critical
PPE and create a prioritization protocol for End-Users based upon their
demonstrated or projected requirements including geographic and
regional circumstances. The primary goal of the Plan is to create a
mechanism to immediately meet exigent PPE requests anywhere in the
Nation and to ensure that actions to support PPE stockpiling and
reserves do not interfere with immediate requirements that would result
in an unacceptable risk to healthcare providers or other potential PPE
recipients. When the requirements of the Plan are met, it affords Sub-
Committee Participants defenses to civil and criminal actions brought
under the antitrust laws (or any similar law of any state) for actions
taken within the scope of the Plan. The Plan is designed to foster a
close working relationship among FEMA, HHS, and Sub-Committee
Participants to address national defense needs through cooperative
action under the direction and active supervision of FEMA.
I. Purpose
A pandemic may present conditions that pose a direct threat to the
national defense of the United States or its preparedness programs such
that, pursuant to DPA section 708(c)(1), an agreement to collectively
coordinate, plan, and collaborate for the manufacture and distribution
of PPE is necessary for the national defense. This Plan of Action to
Establish a National Strategy for the Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Respond to
COVID-19 is established under the Voluntary Agreement and establishes
five Sub-Committees to oversee and implement the Plan. The Plan and
Sub-Committees will optimize the manufacture and the efficient
distribution of selected types of critical PPE and create a
prioritization protocol for End-Users based upon their demonstrated or
projected requirements and taking into account geographic and regional
circumstances for stabilization and reduction of COVID-19 exposure.
II. Authorities
Section 708, Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. 4558); sections
402(2) & 501(b), Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121-5207); sections 503(b)(2)(B) &
504(a)(10) & (16) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
313(b)(2)(B), 314(a)(10) & (16)); sections 201, 301, National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); section 319, Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); Executive Order (E.O.) 13911, 85 FR 18403
(March 27, 2020); Prioritization and Allocation of Certain Scarce or
Threatened Health and Medical Resources for Domestic Use, 85 FR 20195
(April 10, 2020). Pursuant to DPA
[[Page 79022]]
section 708(f)(1)(A), the Administrator certifies that this Plan is
necessary for the national defense.
III. General Provisions
A. Definitions
Administrator
The FEMA Administrator is the Sponsor of the Voluntary Agreement.
Pursuant to a delegation or redelegation of the functions given to the
President by DPA section 708, the Administrator proposes and provides
for the development and carrying out of the Voluntary Agreement,
including through the development and implementation of Plans of
Action. The Administrator is responsible for carrying out all duties
and responsibilities required by 50 U.S.C. 4558 and 44 CFR part 332 and
for appointing one or more Chairpersons to manage and administer the
Committee and all Sub-Committees formed to carry out the Voluntary
Agreement.
Agreement
The Voluntary Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of
Critical Healthcare Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic
(Voluntary Agreement).
Allocation
The process of determining and directing the relative distribution
among one or more competing requests from End-Users for the same PPE.
Through the Allocation process, FEMA--with participation from Sub-
Committee Participants--will assess the actual needs of End-Users and
determine how to divide the available and projected supply of PPE to
minimize impacts to life, safety, and economic disruption associated
with shortages of critical PPE. Allocation will take place only under
Exigent Circumstances. FEMA retains decision-making authority for all
Allocation under this Plan.
Attendees
Subject matter experts, invited by the Chairperson or a Sub-
Committee Chairperson to attend meetings authorized under the Voluntary
Agreement or this Plan of Action, to provide technical advice or to
represent other government agencies or interested parties. Invitations
to attendees will be extended as required for Committee or Sub-
Committee meetings and deliberations.
Chairperson
FEMA senior executive(s), appointed by the Administrator, to chair
the Committee for the Distribution of Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic (Committee). The Chairperson shall be responsible
for the overall management and administration of the Committee, the
Voluntary Agreement, and Plans of Action developed under the Voluntary
Agreement while remaining under the supervision of the Administrator;
shall initiate, or approve in advance, each meeting held to discuss
problems, determine policies, recommend actions, and make decisions
necessary to carry out the Voluntary Agreement; appoint one or more co-
Chairpersons to chair the Committee, and otherwise shall carry out all
duties and responsibilities assigned to him. With the approval of the
Administrator, the Chairperson may create one or more Sub-Committees,
and may appoint one or more Sub-Committee Chairpersons to chair the
Sub-Committees, as appropriate.
Committee
Committee for the Distribution of Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic established under the Voluntary Agreement.
Competitively Sensitive Information
Competitively Sensitive Information that is shared pursuant to this
Plan of Action may include any Document or other tangible thing or oral
transmission that contains financial, business, commercial, scientific,
technical, economic, or engineering information or data, including, but
not limited to
Financial statements and data,
customer and supplier lists,
price and other terms of sale to customers,
sales records, projections and forecasts,
inventory levels,
capacity and capacity utilization,
cost information,
sourcing and procurement information,
manufacturing and production information,
delivery and shipping information,
systems and data designs, and
methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, codes,
or similar information, whether tangible or intangible, and regardless
of the method of storage, compilation, or recordation, if the owner
thereof has taken reasonable measures to protect the information from
disclosure to the public or competitors. These measures may be
evidenced by marking or labeling the items as ``competitively sensitive
information'' during submission to FEMA or in the Participant's
customary and existing treatment of such information (regardless of
labeling).
All Competitively Sensitive Information provided by a Sub-Committee
Participant as described herein is deemed Competitively Sensitive
Information, except for Information that:
a. Is published or has been made publicly available at the time of
disclosure by the Sub-Committee Participant;
b. was in the possession of, or was lawfully and readily available
to, FEMA from another source at the time of disclosure without
breaching any obligation of confidentiality applicable to the other
source; or
c. was independently developed or acquired without reference to or
reliance upon the Sub-Committee Participant's Competitively Sensitive
Information;
Where information deemed Competitively Sensitive Information is
required to be disclosed by law, regulation, or court order, the
``Competitively Sensitive'' (or substantially similar) label will
continue to attach to all information and portion(s) of documents that
are not made public through the required disclosure.
Document
Any information, on paper or in electronic/audio/visual format,
including written, recorded, and graphic materials of every kind, in
the possession, custody, or control of the Participant and used or
shared in the course of participation in the Voluntary Agreement or a
subsequent Plan of Action.
End-User
This includes all direct and ancillary medical support including,
but not limited to, hospitals, independent healthcare providers,
nursing homes, medical laboratories, dental care providers, independent
physician offices, first responders, alternate care facilities and the
general public that reasonably represents the totality of the nation's
professional or medical response to COVID-19. ``End-User'' may also
include essential workers necessary to maintain or restore critical
infrastructure operations, including but not limited to law
enforcement, education, food and agriculture, energy, water and
wastewater, and public works personnel.
Exigent Circumstances
As determined by the Chairperson, the actual or forecasted shortage
of a particular type or types of PPE which
[[Page 79023]]
likely cannot be fulfilled via usual market mechanisms for an acute,
critical time period, and where immediate and substantial harm is
projected to occur from lack of intervention.
Pandemic
A Pandemic is defined as an epidemic that has spread to human
populations across a large geographic area that is subject to one or
more declarations under the National Emergencies Act, the Public Health
Service Act, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, or if the Administrator determines that one or more
declarations is likely to occur and the epidemic poses a direct threat
to the national defense or its preparedness programs. For example,
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Participant
An individual, partnership, corporation, association, or private
organization, other than a federal agency, that has substantive
capabilities, resources or expertise to carry out the purpose of the
Voluntary Agreement, that has been specifically invited to participate
in the Voluntary Agreement by the Chairperson, and that has applied and
agreed to the terms of the Voluntary Agreement. ``Participant''
includes a corporate or non-corporate entity entering into the
Voluntary Agreement and all subsidiaries and affiliates of that entity
in which that entity has 50 percent or more control either by stock
ownership, board majority, or otherwise. The Administrator may invite
Participants to join the Voluntary Agreement at any time during its
effective period.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Objects that provide measures of safety protection for healthcare
workers, first responders, critical infrastructure personnel and/or the
general public for the response to the Pandemic. These PPE items may
include, but are not limited to, face coverings, filtering facepiece
respirators, face shields, isolation and surgical gowns, examination
and surgical gloves, suits, and foot coverings.
Plan of Action (Plan)
This document. A documented method, pursuant to 50 U.S.C.
4558(b)(2), proposed by FEMA to implement a particular set of
activities under the Voluntary Agreement, through a Sub-Committee
focused on a particular Critical Healthcare Resource, or pandemic
response workstream or functional area necessary for the national
defense.
Plan of Action Agreement
A separate commitment made by Participants upon invitation and
agreement to participate in a Plan of Action as part of one or more
Sub-Committees. Completing the Plan of Action Agreement confers
responsibilities on the Participant consistent with those articulated
in the Plan of Action and affords Participants a defense against
antitrust claims under section 708 for actions taken to develop or
carry out the Plan of Action and the appropriate Sub-Committee(s), as
described in Section IV below.
Representatives
The representatives the Administrator identifies and invites to the
Committee from FEMA, HHS, and other federal agencies with equities in
this Plan, and empowered to speak on behalf of their agencies'
interests. The Attorney General and the Chairman of the FTC, or their
delegates, may also attend any meeting as a Representative.
Sub-Committee
A body formed by the Administrator from select Participants to
implement a Plan of Action.
Sub-Committee Chairperson
FEMA official, appointed by the Chairperson, to chair a Sub-
Committee to implement a Plan of Action. The Sub-Committee Chairperson
shall be responsible for the overall management and administration of
the Sub-Committee in furtherance of this Plan of Action while remaining
under the supervision of the Administrator and the Chairperson.
Sub-Committee Members
Collectively the Sub-Committee Chairperson(s), Representatives, and
Sub-Committee Participants. Jointly responsible developing and
executing this Plan.
Sub-Committee Participant
A subset of Participants of the Committee, that have been
specifically invited to participate in a Sub-Committee by the Sub-
Committee Chairperson, and that have applied and agreed to the terms of
this Plan and signed the Plan of Action Agreement. The Sub-Committee
Chairperson may invite Participants in the Committee to join a Sub-
Committee as a Sub-Committee Participant at any time during the Plan's
effective period.
B. Plan of Action Participation
This Plan will be carried out by a subset of the Participants in
the Voluntary Agreement through several Sub-Committees:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID-19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N-95 and other Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional Sub-Committees under this Plan of
Action, so long as:
(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one specific and well-defined
category of PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is recommended by the Sub-Committee to Define
COVID-19 PPE Requirements.
Each Sub-Committee will consist of the (1) Sub-Committee
Chairperson(s), (2) Representatives from FEMA, HHS, the Department of
Justice (DOJ), and other federal agencies with equities in this Plan,
and (3) Sub-Committee Participants that have substantive capabilities,
resources or expertise to carry out the purpose of this Plan and have
signed the Plan of Action Agreement. The Chairperson shall invite Sub-
Committee Participants who, in his or her determination, are reasonably
representative of the appropriate industry or segment of such industry.
Other Attendees--invited by the Sub-Committee Chairperson as subject
matter experts to provide technical advice or to represent the
interests of other government agencies or interested parties--may also
participate in Sub-Committee meetings. The naming of these Sub-
Committees does not commit the Administrator to creating them unless
and until circumstances dictate.
C. Effective Date and Duration of Participation
This Plan is effective immediately upon satisfaction of the
requirements of DPA section 708(f)(1). This Plan shall remain in effect
until terminated in accordance with 44 CFR 332.4. It shall be effective
for no more than five (5) years from August 17, 2020, when the
requirements of DPA section 708(f)(1) were satisfied for the Voluntary
Agreement, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to DPA section
708(h)(9) and 44 CFR 332.4 or extended as set forth in DPA section
708(f)(2). No action may take place under this Plan until it is
activated, as described in Section III(E), below.
D. Withdrawal
Participation in the Plan is voluntary, as is the acceptance of
most obligations under the Plan. Sub-Committee Participants may
withdraw from this
[[Page 79024]]
Plan or from an individual Sub-Committee at any point, subject to the
fulfillment of obligations previously agreed upon by the Participant
prior to the date of withdrawal. Note that the obligations outlined in
V.B regarding information management and associated responsibilities
apply once a party has shared or received information through a Sub-
Committee, and remain in place after the party's withdrawal from the
Sub-Committee or Plan. If a Sub-Committee Participant indicates an
intent to withdraw from the Plan due to a modification or amendment of
the Plan (described below), the Sub-Committee Participant will not be
required to perform actions directed by that modification or amendment.
Withdrawal from the Plan will automatically trigger withdrawal from all
Sub-Committees; however, a Participant may withdraw from a Sub-
Committee without also withdrawing from the Plan or other Sub-
Committees. To withdraw from the Plan or from an individual Sub-
Committee, a Participant must provide written notice to the
Administrator at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the
effective date of that Sub-Committee Participant's withdrawal
specifying the scope of withdrawal. Following receipt of such notice,
the Administrator will inform the other Sub-Committee Participants of
the date and the scope of the withdrawal.
Upon the effective date of the withdrawal from the Plan, the Sub-
Committee Participant must cease all activities under the Plan. Upon
the effective date of the withdrawal from one or more Sub-Committee(s),
the Sub-Committee Participant must cease all activities under the Plan
that pertain to the withdrawn Sub-Committee(s).
E. Plan of Action Activation and Deactivation
The Administrator, in consultation with the Chairperson and Sub-
Committee Chairperson, will invite a select group of Participants in
the Voluntary Agreement to form the following Sub-Committees, which
will be responsible for implementing this Plan:
(1) Sub-Committee to Define COVID-19 PPE Requirements,
(2) Sub-Committee for N-95 and other Medical Respirators,
(3) Sub-Committee for Gloves,
(4) Sub-Committee for Gowns, and
(5) Sub-Committee for Eye and Facial Coverings.
FEMA may establish additional Sub-Committees under this Plan of
Action, so long as:
(1) The Sub-Committee addresses one specific and well-defined
category of PPE; and
(2) The Sub-Committee is recommended by the Sub-Committee to Define
COVID-19 PPE Requirements.
This Plan will be activated for each invited Participant when the
Participant executes a Plan of Action Agreement, and a Participant may
not participate in a Sub-Committee until the Plan of Action Agreement
is executed. Participants will be invited to join this Plan at the
discretion of the Chairperson or the Sponsor to the Voluntary
Agreement. Participants will be further invited to attend specific
meetings of one or more Sub-Committees at the discretion of the
Chairperson.
F. Rules and Regulations
Sub-Committee Participants acknowledge and agree to comply with all
provisions of DPA section 708, as amended, and regulations related
thereto which are promulgated by FEMA, the Department of Homeland
Security, HHS, the Attorney General, and the FTC. FEMA has promulgated
standards and procedures pertaining to voluntary agreements in 44 CFR
part 332. The Administrator shall inform Participants of new rules and
regulations as they are issued.
G. Modification and Amendment
The Administrator, after consultation with the Attorney General and
the Chairman of the FTC, may terminate or modify, in writing, this Plan
at any time. The Attorney General, after consultation with the Chairman
of the FTC and the Administrator, may terminate or modify, in writing,
this Plan at any time. Sub-Committee Participants may propose
modifications or amendments to the Plan or to the Sub-Committees at any
time.
Where possible, material modifications to the Plan or a Sub-
Committee will be subject to a 30 calendar day delayed implementation
and opportunity for notice and comment by Sub-Committee Participants to
the Chairperson. This delayed implementation period may be shortened or
eliminated if the Administrator deems it necessary. The Administrator
shall inform Sub-Committee Participants of modifications or amendments
to the Plan or to the Sub-Committees as they are proposed and issued.
The Administrator, after consultation with the Attorney General and
the Chairman of the FTC, may remove Sub-Committee Participants from the
Plan or from a Sub-Committee at any time. The Attorney General, after
consultation with the Chairman of the FTC and the Administrator, may
remove Sub-Committee Participants from this Plan or from a Sub-
Committee at any time. If a Participant is removed from the Plan or
from a Sub-Committee, the Participant may request written notice of the
reasons for removal from the Chairperson, who shall provide such notice
in a reasonable time period.
H. Expenses
Participation in this Plan or in a Sub-Committee does not confer
funds to Sub-Committee Participants, nor does it limit or prohibit any
pre-existing source of funds. Unless otherwise specified, all expenses,
administrative or otherwise, incurred by Sub-Committee Participants
associated with participation in this Plan or a Sub-Committee shall be
borne exclusively by the Sub-Committee Participants.
I. Record Keeping
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson shall have primary responsibility
for maintaining records in accordance with 44 CFR part 332 and shall be
the official custodian of records related to carrying out this Plan.
Each Sub-Committee Participant shall maintain for five years all
minutes of meetings, transcripts, records, documents, and other data,
including any communications with other Sub-Committee Participants or
with any other member of the Sub-Committee, including drafts, related
to the carrying out of this Plan or incorporating data or information
received in the course of carrying out this Plan. Each Sub-Committee
Participant agrees to produce to the Administrator, the Attorney
General, and the Chairman of the FTC upon request any item that this
section requires the Participant to maintain. Any record maintained in
accordance with 44 CFR part 332 shall be available for public
inspection and copying, unless exempted on the grounds specified in 5
U.S.C. 552(b)(1), (3) or (4) or identified as privileged and
confidential information in accordance with DPA section 705(d), and 44
CFR 332.5.
IV. Antitrust Defense
Under the provisions of DPA subsection 708(j), each Sub-Committee
Participant in this Plan shall have available as a defense to any civil
or criminal action brought for violation of the antitrust laws (or any
similar law of any State) with respect to any action to develop or
carry out this Plan, that such action was taken by the Sub-Committee
Participant in the course of developing or carrying out this Plan, that
the Sub-
[[Page 79025]]
Committee Participant complied with the provisions of DPA section 708
and the rules promulgated thereunder, and that the Sub-Committee
Participant acted in accordance with the terms of the Voluntary
Agreement and this Plan. Except in the case of actions taken to develop
this Plan, this defense shall be available only to the extent the Sub-
Committee Participant asserting the defense demonstrates that the
action was specified in, or was within the scope of, this Plan and
within the scope of the appropriate Sub-Committee(s), including being
taken at the direction and under the active supervision of FEMA.
This defense shall not apply to any actions taken after the
termination of this Plan. Immediately upon modification of this Plan,
no defense to antitrust claims under Section 708 shall be available to
any subsequent action that is beyond the scope of the modified Plan.
The Sub-Committee Participant asserting the defense bears the burden of
proof to establish the elements of the defense. The defense shall not
be available if the person against whom the defense is asserted shows
that the action was taken for the purpose of violating the antitrust
laws.
V. Terms and Conditions
As the sponsoring agency, FEMA will maintain oversight over Sub-
Committee activities and direct and supervise actions taken to carry
out this Plan, including by retaining decision-making authority over
actions taken pursuant to the Plan to ensure such actions are necessary
to address a direct threat to the national defense. The Attorney
General and the Chairman of the FTC will monitor activities of the Sub-
Committees to ensure they execute their responsibilities in a manner
consistent with this Plan and their actions have the least
anticompetitive effects possible.
A. Plan of Action Execution
This Plan will be used to support the following objectives to
respond to a Pandemic by maximizing the manufacture and efficient
distribution of selected types of critical PPE and creating a
prioritization protocol for End-Users based upon their demonstrated or
projected requirements and taking into account geographic and regional
circumstances. Each Sub-Committee will undertake the following
Objectives for the PPE item(s) within its area of jurisdiction.
1. Objectives
(1) Optimize the timely production of sufficient quantities of PPE
to reduce loss of life and transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
(2) Ensure PPE is distributed effectively across the whole
community nationally based on risk.
(3) Balance restoration and maintenance of the nation's stockpile
of PPE with near-term requirements.
(4) Establish a process for FEMA Allocation of PPE nationwide.
(5) Ensure ongoing competition in the manufacture and distribution
of PPE to the greatest extent possible under the DPA.
2. Actions
Sub-Committee Participants may be asked to support these objectives
by taking the following specific actions:
(1) Assist the Chairperson in identifying which types of critical
PPE should be included within each Sub-Committee. Identification will
be based upon each item's importance to the national response to COVID-
19 and whether it can be reasonably inferred, based upon the best
evidence available, that that current and projected supply measured
against current and projected demand may not adequately meet the PPE
requirements to all identified End-Users or regional or geographic
areas of the country as result of measures taken to respond to COVID-
19.
(2) Provide input to the Chairperson in creating a prioritized list
of PPE End-Users by categories for each type of critical PPE identified
by each Sub-Committee, and ascertaining the relative demand and supply
of PPE among and within those End User categories. Prioritization shall
be decided by the Chairperson, based upon each item's importance,
reflecting the consensus views of the Sub-Committee Members that it
represents the most effective way to save lives and prevent the
transmission of the COVID-19 virus. This list may be updated throughout
the life of the Plan of Action based upon either short term or long-
term demands. These categories should be considered holistically in
terms of the Whole-of-Nation response to COVID-19.
(3) Evaluate the domestic supply of PPE and identify when the
expansion of the domestic manufacture of PPE may be necessary, as
directed and decided by the Chairperson.
(4) Provide information, assist, and validate, as necessary as
decided by the Chairperson, demand projections for PPE.
(5) Create a process for and collaborate in the evaluation of
competing claims for PPE from End-Users.
(6) Prepare a general strategy to accomplish the activities listed
in V(A)(2)(7) below regarding activities in Exigent Circumstances
consistent with the decisions made by the Chairperson.
(7) In Exigent Circumstances, with review and concurrence in all
possible instances by DOJ in consultation with FTC:
Facilitate maximum availability of PPE to the nation or
particular geographies by deconflicting overlapping demands from the
collective Participants' customer base, as directed and decided by the
Chairperson.
Facilitate maximum availability of PPE to the nation or
particular geographies by deconflicting overlapping supply chain
demands placed upon Members, as directed and decided by the
Chairperson.
Facilitate the efficient distribution of PPE by
deconflicting overlapping distribution chain activities of Members, as
directed and decided by the Chairperson.
Create a process for and collaborate in the Allocation of
PPE nationwide or in particular geographies consistent with the
decisions made by the Chairperson.
Create a process for and collaborate in meeting any other
exigent requirements throughout the nation or particular geographies
consistent with the overall strategy prepared by this Sub-Committee.
(8) Provide data and information necessary to validate the efforts
of the Sub-Committee including the actual and planned amounts of PPE to
be distributed throughout the Nation, as determined by the Chairperson.
(9) Provide feedback to the Sub-Committee on the outcomes of the
collective efforts of the Sub-Committee Members and any impediments or
bottlenecks.
(10) Advise the Chairperson whether additional Participants or
Attendees should be invited to join this Plan of Action and Sub-
Committee.
(11) Carry out other activities regarding critical PPE as
identified by Sub-Committees under this Plan as determined and directed
by the Chairperson necessary to address the COVID-19 virus' direct
threat to the national defense, where such activities have been
reviewed and approved by DOJ and FTC and received concurrence from Sub-
Committee members.
B. Information Management and Responsibilities
FEMA will request only that data and information from Sub-Committee
Participants that is necessary to meet the objectives of the Plan and
consistent with the scope of the relevant Sub-
[[Page 79026]]
Committees. Upon signing a Plan of Action Agreement for this Plan, FEMA
requests that Participants endeavor to cooperate with diligence and
speed, and to the extent permissible under this Plan, and share with
FEMA data and information necessary to meet the objectives of this
Plan.
Sub-Committee Participants agree to share with FEMA the following
data with diligence and speed, to the extent permissible under this
Plan, and abide by the following guidelines, where feasible and
consistent with the data that is owned by each Sub-Committee
Participant:
(1) In general, Participants will not be asked to share
Competitively Sensitive Information directly with other Participants.
(2) FEMA will only request direct sharing of Competitively
Sensitive Information among Participants during Exigent Circumstances
where there is a mission critical need or timeline such that sharing
only through FEMA is impractical or threatens the outcome of the Plan
or Sub-Committee action. Such requests, if made, will be only among
Participants whose participation is necessary to meet the objectives of
the Plan, will be limited in scope to the greatest extent possible, and
will be shared only pursuant to safeguards subject to prior review and
audit by DOJ and FTC. Direct sharing of Competitively Sensitive
Information with other Participants will be limited in scope and
circumstances to the greatest extent possible. Participants may not
share Competitively Sensitive Information directly with other
Participants unless specifically requested by FEMA, in consultation
with DOJ and FTC. All Competitively Sensitive Information delivered to
FEMA or to another Sub-Committee Participant shall be delivered by
secure means, for example, password-protected or encrypted electronic
files or drives with the password/key delivered by separate
communication or method or via upload to an appropriately secure web
portal as directed by FEMA. All data delivered to the web portal
designated by FEMA is deemed to be Competitively Sensitive Information.
(3) To allow FEMA to identify and appropriately protect documents
containing Competitively Sensitive Information by the Sub-Committee
Participant providing the documents, the Sub-Committee Participant will
make good faith efforts to designate any Competitively Sensitive
Information by placing restrictive markings on documents and things
considered to be competitively sensitive, the restrictive markings
being sufficiently clear in wording and visibility to indicate the
restricted nature of the data. The Sub-Committee Participant will
identify Competitively Sensitive Information that is disclosed verbally
by oral warning. Information designated as competitively sensitive
will, to the extent allowed by law, be presumed to constitute trade
secrets, or commercial or financial information, and be provided by the
Sub-Committee Participant to FEMA with the expectation that it will be
kept confidential by both parties, as such terms are understood in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) of the Freedom of Information Act
and federal judicial interpretations of this statute. FEMA agrees that
to the extent any information designated as competitively sensitive by
a Sub-Committee Participant is responsive to a request for disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act, FEMA will consult with the Sub-
Committee Participant and afford the Participant ten (10) working days
to object to any disclosure by FEMA.
(4) FEMA will make good faith efforts to appropriately recognize
unmarked Documents containing Competitively Sensitive Information as
Competitively Sensitive Information. However, FEMA cannot guarantee
that all unmarked Documents will be recognized as being Competitively
Sensitive Information and protected from disclosure to third parties.
If the unmarked Documents have not been disclosed without restriction
outside of FEMA, the Sub-Committee Participant may retroactively
request to have appropriate designations placed on the Documents. If
the unmarked Documents have been disclosed without restriction outside
of FEMA, FEMA will, to the extent practicable, remove any requested
information from public forums controlled by FEMA and will work
promptly to request that a receiving party return or destroy disclosed
unmarked Documents if requested by the Sub-Committee Participant.
(5) Competitively Sensitive Information may be used by FEMA, alone
or in combination with additional information, including Documents and
Competitively Sensitive Information received from third parties, to
support FEMA's implementation of this Plan of Action as determined by
the Chairperson. In all situations, FEMA will aggregate and anonymize
Competitively Sensitive Information to the greatest extent possible to
protect the interests retained by the owners of the data while still
allowing the objectives of the Plan of Action and Sub-Committee to be
achieved. To the greatest extent possible, such aggregation will render
the competitively sensitive nature of the Competitively Sensitive
Information of the Sub-Committee Participant no longer recognizable in
a commercially sensitive manner, and without sufficient information to
enable, by inference or otherwise, attribution to Sub-Committee
Participant or its affiliates (as clearly identified and disclosed to
FEMA). Any disclosure of Competitively Sensitive Information by FEMA,
within or outside a Sub-Committee, will be subject to review and
approval by DOJ and FTC.
(6) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by applicable federal
law, FEMA shall not disclose any Competitively Sensitive Information or
use any Competitively Sensitive Information for any purpose other than
in connection with the purposes of this Plan of Action, and FEMA will
not sell any Competitively Sensitive Information of any Sub-Committee
Participant.
(7) Except as described below, FEMA may disclose Competitively
Sensitive Information only to its employees, officers, directors,
contractors, agents, and advisors (including attorneys, accountants,
consultants, and financial advisors). Any individual with access to
Competitively Sensitive Information will be expected to comply with the
terms of this Plan of Action.
a. Information Sharing within the Sub-Committee: FEMA may share
Competitively Sensitive Information with Sub-Committee Participants and
Federal Representatives of the Plan of Action, and their respective
employees, officers, directors, contractors, agents, and advisors
(including attorneys, accountants, consultants, and financial advisors)
where there is a need to know and where disclosure is reasonably
necessary in furtherance of implementing the Plan of Action. FEMA will
aggregate and anonymize data prior to sharing with the Sub-Committee
Participants to the greatest extent possible while still allowing the
objectives of the Plan of Action to be achieved, and will not share
data--particularly to competitors of the submitter--prior to
consultation with and approval by the DOJ and FTC.
i. Sub-Committee Participants, when providing Competitively
Sensitive Information to FEMA, may request that this Information not be
shared with other Sub-Committee Participants. Where these requests are
made in good faith and are reasonable in nature, FEMA will respect
these requests to the greatest extent possible and will consult the
owner of the data prior to any release made to Sub-Committee
Participants.
[[Page 79027]]
b. Restricted Reports. FEMA may communicate Competitively Sensitive
Information to appropriate government officials through Restricted
Reports. The information contained in Restricted Reports shall be
aggregated and anonymized to the greatest extent possible, while
recognizing that these officials may need a certain amount of
granularity and specificity of information to appropriately respond to
COVID-19. FEMA will aim to aggregate data to the County level, and will
not share Restricted Reports prior to consultation and approval from
the DOJ and FTC. FEMA may disclose Restricted Reports to relevant White
House and Administration officials and State Governors, and their
respective employees, officers, directors, contractors, agents, and
advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, and financial
advisors) who have a need to know and to whom such disclosure is
reasonably necessary solely in furtherance of the implementation of
this Plan of Action. FEMA shall take appropriate action (by
instructions, agreement, or otherwise) to ensure that receiving parties
comply with all data-sharing confidentiality and obligations under this
Plan of Action as if such persons or entities had been parties to this
Plan of Action.
c. Public Reports. FEMA may share information with the public
through Public Reports. Data contained in Public Reports shall be fully
aggregated and anonymized. Public Reports shall be aggregated to at
least a state level and may be publicly disclosed after consultation
and approval from the DOJ and FTC.
(8) Where possible and not obviated by Exigent Circumstances, FEMA
will notify Sub-Committee Participants prior to the release of any
Competitively Sensitive Information that has not been fully aggregated
and anonymized. In consultation with DOJ and FTC, FEMA will consider
any good-faith requests made by Sub-Committee members to hold the
release of data or requests for further aggregation or anonymization.
In general, FEMA will not provide notification prior to the release of
Public Reports, under the presumption that the data in these reports
has already been fully anonymized and de-identified.
(9) Any party receiving Competitively Sensitive Information through
this Plan shall use such information solely for the purposes outlined
in the Plan and take steps, such as imposing previously approved
firewalls or tracking usage, to prevent misuse of the information.
Disclosure and use of Competitively Sensitive Information will be
limited to the greatest extent possible, and any party receiving
Competitively Sensitive Information shall follow the procedures
outlined in paragraph 7 above.
(10) At the conclusion of a Participant's involvement in a Plan--
due to the deactivation of the Plan or due to the Participant's
withdrawal or removal--each Participant will be requested to sequester
any and all Competitively Sensitive Information received through
participation in the Plan. This sequestration shall include the
deletion of all Competitively Sensitive Information unless required to
be kept pursuant to the Record Keeping requirements as described supra,
Section I, 44 CFR part 332, or any other provision of law.
C. Oversight
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson is responsible for ensuring that the
Attorney General, or suitable delegate(s) from the DOJ, and the FTC
Chairman, or suitable delegate(s) from the FTC, have awareness of
activities under this Plan, including activation, deactivation, and
scheduling of meetings. The Attorney General, the FTC Chairman, or
their delegates may attend Sub-Committee meetings and request to be
apprised of any activities taken in accordance with activities under
this Plan. DOJ or FTC Representatives may request and review any
proposed action by the Sub-Committee or Sub-Committee Participants
undertaken pursuant to this Plan, including the provision of data. If
any DOJ or FTC Representative believes any actions proposed or taken
are not consistent with relevant antitrust protections provided by the
DPA, he or she shall provide warning and guidance to the Sub-Committee
as soon as the potential issue is identified. If questions arise about
the antitrust protections applicable to any particular action, FEMA may
request DOJ, in consultation with the FTC, provide an opinion on the
legality of the action under relevant DPA antitrust protections.
VI. Establishment of the Sub-Committees
This Plan establishes Sub-Committees to implement the Plan to
Establish a National Strategy for the Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Respond to
COVID-19 to provide the Federal Government and the Participants a forum
to maximize the manufacture and efficient distribution of selected
types of critical PPE and to create a prioritization protocol based
upon identified types of PPE End-Users and their demonstrated or
projected requirements, and demonstrated or projected geographic and
regional areas of need. The outcome should include a framework to
expeditiously meet any PPE needs in Exigent Circumstances anywhere in
the Nation, and to ensure that actions to support PPE stockpiling and
reserves do not interfere with immediate requirements that would result
in an unacceptable risk to healthcare providers or other potential PPE
recipients. A Sub-Committee Chairperson designated by the Chairperson
will convene and preside over each Sub-Committee. Sub-Committees will
not be used for contract negotiations or contract discussions between
the Participants and the Federal Government; such negotiations or
discussions will be in accordance with applicable federal contracting
policies and procedures. However, this shall not limit any discussion
within a Sub-Committee about the operational utilization of existing
and potential contracts between the Participants and Representatives
when seeking to align their use with overall manufacturing and
distribution efforts consistent with this Plan.
Each Sub-Committee will consist of designated Representatives from
FEMA, HHS, other federal agencies with equities in this Plan, and each
Sub-Committee Participant. The Attorney General and Chairman of the
FTC, or their delegates, may also join each Sub-Committee and attend
meetings at their discretion. Attendees may also be invited at the
discretion of a Sub-Committee Chairperson as subject matter experts, to
provide technical advice, or to represent other government agencies,
but will not be considered part of the Sub-Committee.
To the extent necessary to respond to the Pandemic, only at the
explicit direction of a Sub-Committee Chairperson, and subject to the
provisions of Section V(B), Sub-Committee Members may be asked to
provide technical advice, share information, help identify and validate
places and resources of the greatest need, help project future
manufacturing and distribution demands, assist in identifying and
resolving the allocation of scarce resources amongst all necessary
public and private sector domestic needs under Exigent Circumstances,
and take any other necessary actions to maximize the timely manufacture
and distribution of PPE as determined necessary by FEMA to respond to
the Pandemic. A Sub-Committee Chairperson or his or her designee, at
the Sub-Committee Chairperson's sole discretion, will make decisions on
these issues in order to ensure the maximum efficiency and
effectiveness in the use of Sub-
[[Page 79028]]
Committee Member's resources. All Sub-Committee Participants will be
invited to open Sub-Committee meetings. For selected Sub-Committee
meetings, attendance may be limited to designated Sub-Committee
Participants to meet specific operational requirements, as determined
by FEMA.
Each Sub-Committee Chairperson shall notify the Attorney General,
the Chairman of the FTC, Representatives, and Participants of the time,
place, and nature of each meeting and of the proposed agenda of each
meeting to be held to carry out this Plan of Action. Additionally, each
Sub-Committee Chairperson shall provide for publication in the Federal
Register of a notice of the time, place, and nature of each meeting. If
a meeting is open, a Federal Register notice will be published
reasonably in advance of the meeting. A Sub-Committee Chairman may
restrict attendance at meetings only on the grounds outlined by 44 CFR
332.5(c)(1)-(3). If a meeting is closed, a Federal Register notice will
be published within ten (10) days of the meeting and will include the
reasons why the meeting is closed pursuant to 44 CFR 332.3(c)(2).
The Sub-Committee Chairperson shall establish the agenda for each
meeting, be responsible for adherence to the agenda, and provide for a
written summary or other record of each meeting and provide copies of
transcripts or other records to FEMA, the Attorney General, the
Chairman of the FTC, and all Sub-Committee Participants. The
Chairperson shall take necessary actions to protect from public
disclosure any data discussed with or obtained from Sub-Committee
Participants which a Sub-Committee Participant has identified as a
trade secret or as privileged and confidential in accordance with DPA
sections 708(h)(3) and 705(d), or which qualifies for withholding under
44 CFR 332.5.
VII. Application and Agreement
The Sub-Committee Participant identified below hereby agrees to
join in the Federal Emergency Management Agency sponsored Plan of
Action to Establish a National Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
under the Voluntary Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of
Healthcare Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic and to become a
Participant in one or more Sub-Committees established by this Plan.
This Plan will be published in the Federal Register. This Plan is
authorized under section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as
amended. Regulations governing the Voluntary Agreement for the
Manufacture and Distribution for the Manufacture and Distribution of
Healthcare Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic and all
subsequent Plans of Action appear at 44 CFR part 332. The applicant, as
a Sub-Committee Participant, agrees to comply with the provisions of
section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, the
regulations at 44 CFR part 332, and the terms of this Plan.
VIII. Assignment
No Sub-Committee Participant may assign or transfer this Plan, in
whole or in part, or any protections, rights or obligations hereunder
without the prior written consent of the Sub-Committee Chairperson.
When requested, the Sub-Committee Chairperson will respond to written
requests for consent within 10 (ten) business days of receipt.
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Sub-Committee Chairperson
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Pete Gaynor,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020-26986 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-19-P