HHS Launches First Department-Wide PPE Demand Forecast -- Occupational Health & Safety

Bright orange and yellow construction hard hats stored side-by-side in wire rack bins.

HHS Launches First Department-Wide PPE Demand Forecast

The quarterly forecast will give PPE manufacturers advance information on anticipated federal demand, including routine purchases, stock replenishment and potential emergency needs.

By Danielle Naidu
Sep 22, 2026

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established its first recurring, department-wide process for identifying and publishing anticipated purchases of personal protective equipment covered by the Make PPE in America Act.

Each HHS division will be required to maintain a current forecast of known and reasonably anticipated PPE needs. The information is intended to give domestic manufacturers more time to plan staffing, equipment, raw materials and production capacity before orders are placed.

Forecasts must account for recurring purchases, annual and emergency stock replenishment, seasonal demand, planned program needs and potential surge requirements. The first department-wide update is due Oct. 15, 2026, followed by updates each Jan. 15, April 15 and July 15.

After each quarterly update, HHS will consolidate the information for publication through its Small Business Customer Experience platform. The department said the process will give HHS a more complete and current picture of anticipated PPE demand.

The forecast does not change employer PPE requirements or provide purchasing information directly to private employers. Its relevance for safety professionals is indirect: HHS intends to support domestic production capacity and prepare its supply chain for routine needs and possible emergency demand.

The policy follows legislation developed after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in U.S. PPE supply chains and domestic production capacity. The forecasts are intended only for acquisition planning and industry awareness and do not represent solicitations, purchasing commitments or guaranteed awards.

About the Author

Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

Product Showcase

Featured

Why Safety Technology Needs to Fit the Way People Work

Four practices for adapting safety workflows while maintaining consistent compliance data. Read Now
From Air Horns to Mass Notification: How JFKs New Terminal One Elevated Construction Safety

Lessons learned from implementing site-wide emergency notification during construction of one of the largest airport terminal projects in North America Read Now
Who Will Fill the Next Generation of Safety Roles?

Reskilling workers from operational, military and public safety roles could help address the growing shortage of OHS professionals. Read Now
- Safety Training
- Board Certification
Beyond the Hard Hat: Making Mental Health Part of Safety Culture

Recognizing the signs, starting conversations, and reducing stigma can help create safer, more connected job sites. Read Now
How Cross Border Smoke Events Are Forcing Multinational Corporations to Rethink Air Quality Policy

Effective response plans combine filtration, monitoring, remote work and respiratory protection. Read Now
Where Safety Budgets Make the Biggest Difference

Incident data, worker feedback and control effectiveness can help employers prioritize investments when resources are limited. Read Now

Artificial Intelligence

Skilled Trade Workers Turn to AI Amid Surge in Labor Demand
Trade professionals increasingly rely on automation, digital tools and continuous training to combat workforce shortages.
How Connected Safety Helps Lean Safety Teams Do More
Deploying IoT wearables and AI video analytics provides short-staffed EHS teams with continuous visibility, closing operational blind spots and stopping SIFs before they occur.
The Hidden Safety Risk of AI: Losing the Ability to Recover
AI may improve hazard detection and injury prevention, but organizations that rely too heavily on automation could inadvertently weaken the human skills and organizational resilience needed to manage unexpected events.
The Next Frontier in Fall Protection Is Prediction
By combining AI, video analytics, and real-time environmental monitoring, predictive safety systems are giving EHS leaders new tools to identify fall risks before workers are exposed to danger.
How AI-Powered Preventive Maintenance Is Improving Workplace Safety
Combining predictive AI analytics with inspection history shifts equipment maintenance from reactive emergency repairs to planned, low-risk safety controls.