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• New and non-traditional PPE demands have created shortages in the market.
• Industry-wide air cargo capacity has declined due to fleets being grounded causing tremendous delays in transportation of products and resulting in increased costs.
• Vendors have moved to an allocation model for high demand products such as masks, gowns, wipes, etc. Many vendors have stopped taking on new customers and shifted order priorities to healthcare clients.
• Critical PPE products are competing for raw material inputs. N95 mask production is hampered by the availability of melt-blown, non-woven fabric which also serves as a key input into products such as isolation gowns and diapers.
• Assembly line style manufacturing plants with employees that work near one another have experienced surges in virus resulting in facility closures and additional pressures on the supply chain.
• Significant delays in customs and border control processes. Shipments taking 30-45 days to be received.

• The just-in-time inventory method will not be reliable for high demand/hard to get items. Plan and place your orders well in advance of your needs.
• For high demand inventory items, order 3 months’ worth of inventory at a time and place re-orders when you have depleted 50% of your inventory.
• Work with Emory's Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) to determine any supply needs for your labs that are new requirements as a result of COVID.
• Communicate with your school's business office any issues you are experiencing with supplies. The business offices are working very closely with central procurement to obtain supplies that are in the high demand/hard to get category.

• N95 respirators – not necessary for most labs. EHSO will advise if your work requires an N95 respirator and will require that you set up an appointment for a fit test. 
• KN95 masks and 3-ply surgical masks
• Isolation gowns
• Individual sizes of hand sanitizers and bottles of wipes continue to be high demand/hard to get items. Campus Services will be placing hand sanitizer stations in buildings across campus. Labs should continue to use standard disinfectant solutions in their respective areas.

Procurement has established a central inventory stockroom. This stockroom will maintain inventory levels where possible for high demand/hard to get PPE and supplies. In order to access this inventory, please work with your school’s business officer or designee who is in contact with central procurement.  Additional information is available on the Personal Protective Equipment Stockroom job aid.

All other supplies not listed under high demand inventory items are readily available in Emory Express. Use normal procurement procedures within your school or organization to obtain these supplies. Should you encounter difficulty in obtaining needed supplies, please work with your school’s business officer or designee who is in contact with central procurement.

Yes, at this time all Emory Express suppliers are able to fulfill orders. Please note that items should continue to be shipped to your regular university office address when ordering.

• Please use the following e-mail addresses: strategicprocurement@emory.edu
• You may also contact individual Central Procurement employees using their direct phone or e-mail.

The availability of hand sanitizer solutions fluctuates significantly in the marketplace. Campus Services will be placing hand sanitizer stations in buildings across campus.

COVID 19 speed types have been established for tracking and accounting purposes. Please check with your school’s business office for further guidance on what can be charged to these speed types.