The Baker-Polito administration announced on Wednesday, December 29 that new contracts with COVID-19 at-home test manufacturers will allow municipalities and other eligible entities to order rapid test kits at state-negotiated prices.
Eligible entities include:
- Cities, towns, districts, counties, and other political subdivisions
- Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches, including all departments and elected offices therein
- Independent public authorities, commissions, and quasi-public agencies
- Local public libraries, public school districts, private schools, charter schools, and early childhood centers
- Public hospitals owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Public purchasing cooperatives
- Non-profits in either of the below categories, if they are registered with OSD as listed here
- Non-profit human and social service providers under contract with the Commonwealth; and
- Other non-profit organizations receiving public funding from state, federal, or local governments in the form of appropriated funds, grants, or contracts.
- Other states and territories with no prior approval by the State Purchasing Agent
- Other entities when designated in writing by the State Purchasing Agent (individual cities and towns or school districts in other states where the entire state is not authorized to purchase)
Currently, there are three manufacturers on the newly-establish HSP41 Category 10 Statewide Contract (SWC), but the state expects additional options to be added.
Municipalities are eligible to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase these test kits.
MAPC is here to help cities and towns navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and keep their residents safe and healthy. Making at-home tests widely available and routinely used is a critical goal for public health.
Click here to download the Contract User Guide.
Learn more about statewide contract resources for antigen test kits here.