“… On March 18, 2020, I declared that health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19 meet the criteria specified in section 101(b) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4511(b)), including that they are essential to the national defense.”
“Sec. 2. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to exercise authority under Public Law 85-804, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), to the same extent and subject to the same conditions and limitations as the head of an executive department or agency listed in section 21 of Executive Order 10789 of November 14, 1958 (Authorizing Agencies of the Government to Exercise Certain Contracting Authority in Connection with National-Defense Functions and Prescribing Regulations Governing the Exercise of Such Authority), as amended, with respect to contracts performed in support of efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to combat the virus. This authority may only be exercised with regard to transactions directly responsive to the COVID-19 national emergency…” Read the memorandum here.
Source: Memorandum on Authorizing the Exercise of Authority under Public Law 85-804 – April 10, 2020. White House.
