Skip to main content

Office of Supply Chain Optimization

Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC)

The Office of Supply Chain Optimization (SCO) leads the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) efforts to build a more resilient, transparent, and secure medical supply chain for the nation. Housed within ASPR's Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC), SCO identifies the most vulnerable supply chains supporting the U.S. healthcare and public health (HPH) sectors and develops actionable strategies to mitigate those risks.

By leveraging data analytics, economic forecasting, industry engagement, and forward-looking assessments, SCO helps ensure the availability of critical medical products before, during, and after national emergencies. Its work spans both routine preparedness and surge support during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and infant formula shortage (Operation Fly Formula).

Mission and Core Functions

SCO's mission is to strengthen the Public Health Industrial Base (PHIB) by:

  • Identifying supply chain vulnerabilities across essential medical goods and technologies;
  • Monitoring and assessing real-time risks to supply chain stability;

  • Conducting economic, industrial, and market analyses to forecast future demand;

  • Supporting domestic manufacturing and sourcing resilience;

  • Providing strategic insight to inform federal investments and emergency response efforts.

SCO continuously monitors global and domestic supply chain dynamics and collaborates with industry, academia, and interagency partners to maintain visibility into emerging risks and production capabilities.

Key Program Activities

This division conducts Industrial Base Assessments (IBAs) to identify systemic risks and single points of failure in the supply chains for critical medical products—such as vaccines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Assessments include domestic and international dependency mapping, capacity evaluations, and risk mitigation planning. The division also proposes policy and investment options to diversify sourcing, promote onshore production, and strengthen response readiness.

The Surveillance Division monitors and analyzes domestic and global events that may disrupt the availability of essential medical supplies. Key risk factors include:

  • Natural disasters and climate-related disruptions

  • Geopolitical tensions or trade policy changes

  • Economic volatility or inflation

  • Labor disputes and workforce shortages

  • Industrial accidents or manufacturing shutdowns

This division also leads the development of trusted partnerships with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and industry associations to promote information sharing and enhance supply chain situational awareness across the public and private sectors.

Through its Market and Economic Analyses (MEAs), this division assesses the demand for medical countermeasures and healthcare products over a multi-year horizon. MEAs compare projected national healthcare needs to current and anticipated industrial capabilities, identifying gaps in capacity, redundancy, and responsiveness. These insights directly support:

  • Preparedness planning and national stockpiling

  • Procurement strategies and sourcing decisions

  • Domestic industrial base expansion and innovation

  • Public health emergency response and recovery actions

MEAs have been completed for a wide range of essential products, including PPE, diagnostics, ventilators, and APIs, and are updated regularly to reflect evolving conditions and needs.

SCO also leads innovative supply chain solutions to increase resiliency within the public health industrial base. One prime example is the DS-MRN, a secure digital infrastructure of medical product designs and a network of cross-industry manufacturers ready to produce them during disruptions. When fully implemented, the DS-MRN will strengthen and broaden collaborations between U.S. Government, manufacturing, and healthcare industries to: (1) stabilize patient access, (2) leverage American manufacturing might, (3) augment response assets such as the SNS, and (4) impact resilience at a national scale saving many lives.

Integrated within SCO, the Supply Chain Control Tower (SCCT) harnesses data-driven insights, advanced tools, and cutting-edge models to equip the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) with the capabilities needed to anticipate and mitigate disruptions within the domestic medical supply chain. In the event of disruptions, the SCCT delivers actionable insights and strategic recommendations to facilitate rapid recovery and ensure the continuity of critical medical supply chains.

The work of SCO supports the broader mission of ASPR to protect the American people from public health threats by ensuring the medical supply chain is responsive, reliable, and resilient. By providing strategic insights, real-time monitoring, and forward-leaning planning, SCO helps reduce the frequency and severity of product shortages and ensures rapid, coordinated action when emergencies arise.

For more information or to contact an IBMSC SCO team member, email: IBMSC.SupplyChain@hhs.gov .