FEMA will host a virtual public meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 15 with members of the private sector to discuss ongoing COVID-19 response issues involved with the Defense Production Act.

This meeting will provide an overview of a five-year voluntary agreement established in August 2020 as part of the Defense Production Act. This agreement aims to enhance coordination and cooperation between the federal government and private industry in response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

The voluntary agreement allows the federal government and the private sector to share more information than is typically allowed under antitrust laws. This includes information about supply chains and challenges, manufacturer capacity, and pricing consideration. FEMA established one plan of action under the agreement, focusing on PPE manufacture, allocation, and distribution. Several subcommittees and plans of action are being created under the agreement to include manufacturers and distributors of health and medical resources to coordinate efficient use of resources and delivery of supplies to the American public.

The first hour of the meeting will be open to the public and the second hour will be open only to other federal agencies and private sector companies who are signatories to the agreement.

Anyone from the public interested in listening in on the meeting can visit this link which will be live shortly before the meeting begins. Any comments or questions can be emailed before noon on Jan. 15 to OB3I@fema.dhs.gov. Any questions not addressed during the meeting may be followed up afterwards.