The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), working through the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium (BioMaP‑Consortium), has released a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP 26‑04‑NBR) focused on Sustainment of PPE Capacities – Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR). ASPR’s Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC) is seeking projects that will sustain and strengthen domestic NBR production capacity as a core input into nitrile gloves and related PPE used in medical and biomanufacturing settings.
NBR is a critical feedstock for nitrile gloves, which remain a frontline barrier for healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical countermeasure production. The RPP explicitly ties this effort to lessons from COVID‑19 and other public health emergencies, emphasizing the need for PPE supply chains that can meet both surge demand and non‑emergency, day‑to‑day requirements.
What This RPP Is Looking For
Under RPP 26‑04‑NBR, ASPR IBMSC and BARDA want projects that:
Support or expand NBR manufacturing capacity to enable sustained production of nitrile gloves and other PPE.
Cover the full array of NBR‑related inputs, including consumables, raw materials, components, equipment, and enabling infrastructure.
Drive NBR production all the way to Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 10, meaning full‑rate, commercial‑scale manufacturing with stable quality, validated processes, trained staff, and continuous improvement in place.
Performers are expected to propose end‑to‑end plans that include installation, qualification, and commissioning of equipment, utilities and raw materials, approved SOPs, completed validation runs, and a U.S. Government demonstration of NBR plant operations representative of full‑scale production.
The general objective is clear: ensure PPE used by frontline workers in biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and medical countermeasure delivery is backed by a resilient, domestic NBR supply chain that can stand up to future public health emergencies.
Program Structure, Eligibility, And Deadlines
This RPP is issued under BARDA’s BioMaP Other Transaction Authority (OTA 75A50123D00003). Selected projects will be executed as Project Agreements under the BioMaP Base Agreement.
Key dates include:
Issue date: August 6, 2026
Proposal due date: September 8, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET
Anticipated period of performance: Up to 24 months, with start targeted in Q2 FY 2027.
Offerors must:
Be members of the BioMaP‑Consortium prior to award, and certify they will abide by the latest Base Agreement terms and conditions.
Attest that all work will be performed within the U.S. and territories, with the performer wholly U.S. owned and operated and headquartered in the U.S., unless a future Agreement Officer Authorization is obtained.
Provide a letter of bondability for construction‑related activities, plus an explanation of any relevant contract terminations, defaults, or financial events since March 2020 so the government can assess risk.
Proposals must include a full Technical Proposal and full Cost Proposal using the mandatory template, along with additional documentation listed in Attachment D. White papers are not used for this RPP; submissions go straight to full proposal.
The government anticipates one or more awards but reserves the right to make one, multiple, or no awards depending on the quality of responses and available funding. If a single optimal team is not identified, BARDA may direct multiple awards to cover subsets of key tasks.
How This Fits Into The Broader PPE And Industrial Base Strategy
This RPP is part of a broader ASPR/BARDA push to harden the PPE and medical countermeasure manufacturing base. BioMaP‑Consortium itself exists to expand domestic industrial capacity across critical drugs, vaccines, consumables, and manufacturing inputs. NBR sits at the intersection of industrial chemistry and frontline protection: if NBR production stalls, nitrile glove supply falters, and every downstream sector feels the impact.
By explicitly requiring projects to reach MRL 10 for NBR manufacturing and tying awards to U.S.‑based, U.S.‑owned capabilities, ASPR and BARDA are signaling that domestic PPE supply is not just a procurement issue; it is infrastructure. This is an opportunity for chemical manufacturers, glove producers, and supply chain partners to position themselves as long‑term pillars of U.S. PPE readiness rather than short‑term surge suppliers.
EverGlade is a national advisory firm helping innovators navigate the federal funding ecosystem. We support companies across the funding lifecycle, from early-stage strategy through proposal development, negotiations, and post-award execution, ensuring you win the award and deliver the program.
For additional information on where your capabilities could plug into this opportunity, schedule a conversation with our team.
