Why was the AHC asked to help?
Since 2016, the AHC’s SISE (
Sensitive Information Sharing Environment) trust framework has invited both industries and states to solve complex operational problems in a trusted, non-fault, operations only environment.
The SISE has proven to be a safe sustained planning environment that engages cross-disciplinary operational personnel (and in this case PPE Buyers & Suppliers) in joint problem-solving discussions that most times leads to real world results within six-eight months.
After just four meetings, an approach was decided that met the needs of all stakeholders involved.
The final solution design provided a secure, "uber-like" platform that leveraged a national vetted directory of PPE Suppliers/Manufactures already in the SISE and allow vetted PPE Buyers to get "competitive quotes" on common PPE requested items within minutes.
Additionally, the final solutions would be scalable to address an ever increasing amount of participants and/or resource request (e.g. PPE, generators, fuel, lodging, storage facilities, dry ice, cleaning/disinfectant services, etc...).
The private sector stakeholders of the SISE working group provided the resources and data needed to create this unique prototype.