ASPR Launches $2.04 Million Digital Stockpile & Manufacturing Response Network Prize Challenge to Strengthen U.S. Medical Supply Resilience
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced the launch of the DS-MRN Challenge: Digital Stockpile & Manufacturing Response Network. The challenge is led by ASPR’s Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC) and will award up to $2.04 million for innovative solutions that strengthen the nation’s ability to rapidly produce and distribute critical medical products during public health emergencies and supply chain disruptions.
The challenge invites innovators from industry, academia, nonprofit organizations, and government to develop concepts for a future Digital Stockpile & Manufacturing Response Network. Through a three-phase competition, participants will design and validate approaches that strengthen domestic medical manufacturing, supply chain coordination, and emergency response capabilities.
“America's medical supply resilience depends not only on what we stockpile today, but on how quickly we can mobilize domestic manufacturing capabilities tomorrow,” said John Knox, ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. “The DS-MRN Prize Challenge is an opportunity to harness American innovation to develop new models for secure information sharing, distributed manufacturing, and coordinated response. The ideas generated through this challenge could help shape the future of medical supply preparedness and strengthen our nation's health security.”
Addressing a Critical National Health Security Need
Discussions across public and private sectors have identified opportunities to improve how manufacturing specifications, technical expertise, and production capabilities are shared and mobilized during emergencies. While manufacturers can often expand production during a crisis, response times may still be insufficient to meet urgent national demand.
The envisioned DS-MRN would create a secure digital infrastructure that stores manufacturing specifications and connects them with a network of vetted domestic manufacturers ready to produce critical medical products during shortages. By establishing these relationships and technical assets before an emergency, the United States could[GA1.1][JR1.2] respond more quickly to supply chain disruptions and public health crises.
Competition Structure
The competition includes three phases: Concept Development, Innovation Development, and Live Validation.
Up to eight finalists will receive $5,000 prizes in Phase 1 and advance to an in-person pitch event in Washington, D.C. Up to three pitch event winners will receive $150,000 each. Phase 2 winning teams will refine and mature their concepts through two development milestones, with up to $150,000 in additional milestone prizes available per team. Finalists advancing to the Live Validation phase will test their solutions in real-world simulations and compete for a share of up to $1.1 million. In total, ASPR may award up to $2.04 million in prizes.
ASPR will host a series of DS-MRN Challenge Prize virtual information sessions beginning in July 2026. To register for the events or to learn more about the competition, visit the prize challenge website.
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