Massachusetts Creates Manufacturing Emergency Response Team

To strengthen the fight against COVID-19, Massachusetts creates the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) and announces additional funding for PPE manufacturers.

In an effort to bolster the fight against COVID-19, Massachusetts has created the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT). The Team will be issuing grants to certain qualified companies to enhance their production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by healthcare workers within the Commonwealth. Here is what interested companies need to know:

Who is the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team?

The Massachusetts Manufacturing Emergency Response Team is made up of members from academia, industry, and government. Members include The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), MIT, MIT Lincoln Labs, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), and industry partners. Others that are interested in joining the effort may submit a request here.

What is the Goal of the M-ERT?

To increase the manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by healthcare workers in their fight against COVID-19 within Massachusetts. See below for priority PPE items as of 4/17/2020:

1. Invasive or Multifunctional Ventilators – FDA certified
2. N95 Respirators – FDA certified
3. Surgical Masks
4. Surgical Gowns S/M/L/XL
5. Sanitizer wipes (cans)
6. Nasopharyngeal swab – FDA approved for testing
7. Nasopharyngeal swab – Non FDA approved for testing
8. Viral transport medium, ml
9. Procedure Masks
10. Nitrile Exam Gloves S/M/L/XL

What Funding is Available?

Over $9M in funding is being administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for production of this equipment. Companies can apply for grants ranging from $200,000 to $2M.

An additional $1M in funding will also be available for workforce training grants and will be provided at up to $80,000 per company.

Who is Eligible for Grants?

• Manufacturing and contributing companies within Massachusetts looking to increase their in-state production of PPE and other critical equipment
• Certain non-manufacturing companies demonstrating their direct tie to the production of PPE. Other application requirements apply in these cases.

How Are Applications Being Evaluated?

Reasonableness: The funding amount is reasonable related to the production increase being promised. Companies providing matching funds will be prioritized

Legitimacy: Companies will be reviewed for their ability to fulfill the production being promised

Items: What items is the company offering to produce in relation to the priority list

Amount: Companies offering to produce larger volumes of PPE will be given priority

Timeline: Shorter timeframes until production will be given priority

How Can I Apply?

Applications can be submitted online here. Applications are being reviewed weekly on a rolling basis.

For assistance with this program or any other program, please contact a member of Withum’s professional team.

Author: Robert Traester, CPA, MST | rtraester@withum.com