Working With DLA Troop Support Medical

DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain Acquisition Programs

DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain has established multiple acquisition programs for our customers to purchase medical materiel (the equipment, apparatus, and supplies of a military force or other organization).

Your company being a participant in any one or more of the following programs does not assure sales--you will need to market your company and products to the Military Services to increase sales. This could be accomplished by sending sales and marketing personnel to meet with clinical and medical logistics personnel located at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital, etc, or by speaking to clinical and logistics personnel assigned to field and deployable medical units.

Medical Prime Vendor Program (MPVP)

The MPVP is how the majority of medical items are purchased by our customers. A Prime Vendor (PV) is a single distributor of brand specific medical supplies, who provides delivery within 24 hours. Our PVs are leading distributors in their respective industries, who provide products from a variety of large and small business suppliers. PV contracts covering the entire United States, Europe, and the Pacific are in place for pharmaceuticals, medical/surgical supplies, and medical equipment.

Distribution and Pricing Agreements (DAPAs)

DAPAs are issued to suppliers of medical items by DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain, and these suppliers thereby become "DAPA-holders". DAPAs allow for the distribution of identified products at specified prices through the MPVP. Prices are deemed fair and reasonable prior to approving and issuing a DAPA.

Federal Supply Schedules (FSSs)

FSSs for medical items are awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs' (DVA) Office of Acquisition and Materiel Management's National Acquisition Center (NAC). For pharmaceutical items, if suppliers already have a FSS for an item, they can use that FSS to sell that item through the MPVP. For medical/surgical and equipment items, a previous FSS establishes the uncommitted price, but a DAPA will still need to be established to sell through the MPVP.

Medical Electronic Catalog (ECAT)

ECAT is a Net-centric ordering, distribution, and payment system providing Department of Defense and other Federal customers access to multiple manufacturer and distributor commercial catalogs at discounted prices. The program is a complementary acquisition strategy allowing customers to browse, compare, and order a wide range of pharmaceutical, laboratory, dental, optical fabrication, and medical/surgical equipment commercial items not available through Distribution and Pricing Agreements (DAPAs) under the Medical Prime Vendor program.

ECAT provides products from manufacturers and distributors to maximize the breadth and depth of its product offerings and promote competition among suppliers. Suppliers are not charged any fees to participate in the ECAT program. DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain contracting specialists negotiate discounted pricing off of the supplier's commercial catalog price. This discounted price is presented to ECAT customers as the “Total Delivered Price” of the product. This price includes all transportation/distribution and administrative costs.

Please contact the ECAT Help Desk at 800-290-8201 or email the ECAT Help Desk at DSCPECATHELP@dla.mil with any questions on the ECAT program or how to become an ECAT supplier.

Contingency Contracts

DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain, in consultation and collaboration with the Military Services and other DoD agencies, places a subset of items under contract for contingency situations such as military or humanitarian operations. In order to ensure that the healthcare industry and the industrial base can support contingency operations, DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain attempts to place products under contingency contract to improve planning and sustainment operations on behalf of the Military Services.

Solicitation Proposal Process

DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain offers various kinds of solicitations. For example, we have Customer Value Contracts (CVCs) and Multiple Award Contracts. We place notices of solicitations valued over $25,000 in the System for Award Management (SAM)  website. Buys from $2,500 to $24,999 are competed with a variety of companies that produce that product. Buys under $2,500 may be placed with single supplier. If a contract is awarded to your company, you will need to be registered in the CCR. For Equipment items such as Imaging Equipment, DINPACS, Patient Monitoring, Imaging Equipment Maintenance, or Radiation Oncology Equipment, DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain awards to every company that meets the requirements of the solicitation. If a contract is awarded to your company, you will need to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

National/NATO Stock Number (NSN) Ordering

The U.S. Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) use 13 digit NSNs to represent different types of items. The group of first four digits represents the Federal Supply Class (FSC), and the remaining 9 digit group identifies the item of supply. Multiple suppliers may be listed under a NSN. DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain's NSNs ordering in contingency situations, such as war, but also in some peacetime situations by some customers (for example, the Fleet Prime Vendor Program utilizes NSNs for ordering). Often a NSN order will come in through a MILitary STandard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (MILSTRIP) requisition. MILSTRIP is standardized format designed to permit transmission and receipt of requisitions and related documents by electrical communications, mail, telephone, and courier. A MILSTRIP requisition may be processed through the automated SPEDE program (described below), through a manual traditional Direct Vendor Delivery (DVD) purchase, or from a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) depot.

Prior to the implementation of Medical Prime Vendor Program, medical supplies were mainly procured using NSNs. The NSNs are now primarily reserved to support our readiness efforts and contingency operations. Military services have the ultimate authority to establish a National Stock Number for a new product or authorize a substitute source for any existing NSN that meet the minimum requirements of the mission. All other requirements in the area of pharmaceutical and medical/surgical supplies for the services are supported through the Prime Vendor program and the other programs described on this page. We suggest that any supplier wishing to do business with DLA Troop Support Medical Supply Chain participate in the MPVP program, ECAT, or another program described on this webpage.

DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS)

The DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) is a web-based application that provides the capability to search for, view, and submit secure quotes on Requests For Quotations (RFQs) for Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) items of supply. DIBBS also allows users to search and view Request For Proposals (RFPs), Invitations For Bid (IFBs), Awards and other procurement information related to DLA. The Procurement Automated Contract Evaluation works in conjunction with DIBBS to select and award solicitations.

Go to the DIBBS website

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