The Trump administration has awarded a $55 million contract for N95 masks to a company with no experience producing medical supplies and whose parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last year.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency told Insider that the company, Panthera, is scheduled to deliver the masks on April 23.
In this chaotic effort to obtain supplies, the Trump administration awarded a $55 million contract to Panthera Worldwide LLC, a company with no expertise in the world of medical equipment, for N95 masks, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
Panthera's parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last fall, and one of its owners last year said it'd had no employees since May 2018, The Post reported, citing sworn testimony.
James V. Punelli, one of Panthera's executives, told The Post that the company was working with military contacts to obtain the masks.
"As with any contract if the company cannot deliver or delivers sub-standard product, the agency can use legal means against a company.".
Since mid-March, the government has purchased more than $600 million worth of masks, according to The Post. »
