The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is exploring whether outside providers could deliver off-site sterile processing for 21 military hospitals. The market research request estimates approximately 2,000 surgical trays per hospital monthly, with providers responsible for transportation, staffing, facilities, equipment, and quality verification. No outsourcing decision or contract award has been announced.

DHA said equipment failures can reduce a hospital’s surgical capacity by more than 90%. A 2025 steam leak shut Walter Reed’s sterile processing unit for roughly two weeks, affecting nearly 270 procedures. Brooke Army Medical Center previously reported contaminated or damaged instruments reaching operating rooms, contributing to delays, cancellations and a temporary surgical shutdown.

Off-site processing could offer backup capacity, but evaluating that option requires more than comparing processing costs. Supply chain, perioperative, and SPD leaders would need to assess transportation reliability, instrument tracking, tray availability, emergency turnaround, and accountability for quality.