MilliporeSigma, based in Sheboygan, Wis., has secured a Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pact to establish domestic nitrocellulose membrane production capacity.
The $136.7 million contract would enable MilliporeSigma to expand its industrial base to establish nitrocellulose manufacturing capability while supporting more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.
Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests with DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) spearheading the initiative in accordance with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT).
Funding was provided via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources, per authorities.