$415M pact for N95 decon system

U.S. Health & Human Services awarded a $415M contract to Battelle Memorial Institute’s for 60 Critical Care Decontamination Systems (CCDS) that can decontaminate up to 80,000 used N95 respirators per system/per day enabling mask reuse up to 20 times. Six of those units have already been delivered to New York (2), and one each to Columbus, Ohio; Boston; Chicago; and Tacoma, Wash., providing the ability to sterilize 3.4M masks a week, reducing the need for new masks by the same number. All 60 systems will be available by early May. Once delivered, the 60 units will allow 4.8M masks to be sterilized per day (nearly 34M a week). (Source: DoD 04/13/20) https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2148352/dod-contract-for-60-n95-critical-care-decontamination-units-415m-contract-each/ The Ohio-based company announced that its decontamination services for N95 respirator masks will be offered at no charge to healthcare providers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government contract will cover Battelle’s associated costs of staffing and training system operators who will be deployed across the country to help process previously worn respirator masks. The Battelle CCDSTM uses concentrated, vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (VPHP) and works by exposing used respirator masks to the validated concentration level for 2.5 hours to decontaminate biological contaminates, including SARS-CoV-2 which causes the COVID-19 illness. (Source: Battelle 04/10/20)