Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems

Notice Type: Sources Sought

Solicitation No.: 75N98026SS01109

Posted Date: August 28, 2026

Response Date: September 4, 2026

Response Time: 1:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

NAICS Code: 339112 – Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing

Product Service Code: 6515 – Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies

Title: Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems

Disclaimer

This is a Sources Sought Notice.  This is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all domestically manufactured products that are brand name or equal to meet the requirement described herein. This notice does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.  Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to for a binding contract.  The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing a response.

Agency/Office

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO)

Description

The NIH/OLAO is seeking to obtain information regarding the availability of U.S. manufactured Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems.  The NIH uses PAPR systems to protect workers against hazards present in laboratory, clinical, and industrial  environments.  Specifically, PAPR systems provide specialized respiratory protection against hazardous gases, vapors, and particles in laboratory and healthcare settings.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff rely on PAPR systems daily to complete mission critical activities, including laboratory testing, research, and field work, that follow specialized procedures designed to minimize biosafety risk and protect against respiratory hazards.  The PAPR systems are a necessary component of respiratory protection for research, patient care, emergency response, hazardous materials response, and other activities where respiratory hazards may be present.  PAPRs provide a higher assigned protection against a broader range of hazards, including particles, gases, and vapors, depending on the approved filter, cartridge, or canister used.   In addition, the PAPR systems are used in research and patient care settings, and by first responders when entering hazardous materials settings. The filters are highly specialized, and the models are chosen in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.  These protections and materials are required to be provided to workers ensuring compliance with the OSHA regulations pertaining to workplace safety.  Research and patient care staff require these items to perform their day-to-day activities as a basic, core component to ensure worker and patient safety.

The types of PAPR Systems (brand name or equal)

See Attachment 1 - PAPR Systems List that includes the personal protective equipment types, brand, model and part numbers.

The PAPR systems salient characteristics:

1. NIOSH certification for the intended use and contaminants
2. Filter, cartridge, or canister capability matched to the biological, particulate, gas, vapor, chemical, or mixed hazard identified through the applicable risk assessment
3. An assigned protection factor sufficient for the hazard and exposure scenario
4. Approved and compatible batteries, chargers, breathing tubes, headtops, hoods, helmets, facepieces, and other components required to maintain the certification and safe function of the system
5. Sizes, headgear options, or loose-fitting configurations sufficient to accommodate the user population
6. Cleanability, disinfection compatibility, and replacement-part availability needed for repeated laboratory, clinical, field, and emergency use.

If we are not able to procure and provide the PAPR systems, research and other services will need to cease as we cannot knowingly allow staff to work in hazardous environments without appropriate respiratory protections.  Inadequate protection increases the risk of occupational exposure, personnel injury or illness, interruption of clinical, research, and  diagnostic activities and noncompliance with applicable occupational health and safety requirements. Reliable access to PAPR systems is therefore necessary to protect HHS personnel, maintain continuity of essential operations, and carry out the Department's public health, research, and emergency preparedness.

Information Submission Requirement

Please provide the following details within your response:

Provide:

1. Legal Business Name
2. UEI Number
3. Point of Contact (phone and email), and
4. Company website address, if applicable.
5. State size of business

Capability and Experience Statement

All capable vendors should respond with a capability statement demonstrating a brand name or equal product that is manufactured in the United States meeting the salient characteristics listed above.  Very importantly, within the capability statement include the following:

• Country of Origin for all components, and
• Country of Manufacture (i.e. where the finished product is made)

Response Instructions

All vendors with applicable NAICS 339112 code should submit a response to this notice.  Any potential offers should respond electronically with their capability statement by 1:00pm eastern daylight time (EDT), Friday, September 4, 2026, in writing by email to Tonia Alexander at tonia.alexander@nih.gov  with subject line to reference Sources Sought 75N98026SS01109 – Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems.

Confidentiality

Very importantly, no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response.