Strategic National Stockpile

The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is part of the federal medical response infrastructure and can supplement medical countermeasures (MCM) needed by states, tribal nations, and territories during public health emergencies. The supplies, medicines, and devices for lifesaving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term, stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of these materials may not be available or sufficient.  The SNS is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency's Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR).

The SNS manages a 13 billion dollar portfolio of MCM to respond to:

• chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats;
• burn and blast events;
• emerging infectious diseases and pandemics, and
• natural disasters.

Nevertheless, the formulary will not cover every possible threat and the SNS works closely with commercial supply chain partners to secure MCM required for any public health response.

SNS warehouses are professionally managed by commercial third-party vendors at warehouses located strategically around the country.  Transportation is also provided by third-party commercial vendors.  MCM are typically distributed from SNS warehouses to a CDPH warehouse and from there to local health jurisdictions or healthcare providers depending on the type of response. 

MCM may be requested from the SNS by the Governor or the Governor's designated representative.  Several pathways are available to request MCM, the ASPR Region 9 Regional Emergency Coordinators, the CDC Emergency Operations Center, and via a Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency resource request form.  Phone calls allow for an expedited request process when warranted.