Centralized System for Strategic Resources Introduction Attention: ​According to recent news reports, US states are competing with each other to shop for medical supplies such as masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and ventilators. Sometimes, states are even battling with the federal government for bidding, which pushed the prices for such supplies even higher and caused a lot of chaos. Reveal Topic: A centralized system for strategic resources means that the federal government would represent all individual states and make purchases globally as a single outward-facing entity. Then resources will be coordinated and allocated to individual states. Credibility: ​New York State Governor Cuomo states that it is very problematic to keep the current chaotic and unorganized systems. It costs more for taxpayers and could be life-threatening. Central Idea: US federal government should establish a centralized system for buying, coordinating, and allocating strategic resources such as medical supplies. Preview: Today, I will talk about why the lack of a centralized system for strategic resources could be costly and even deadly and the benefits of a centralized system. Transition: Now let's first have a look at the harmful impacts of the current unorganized situation. Body I. Main Point #1 (statement of the need for action): Since the unorganized bidding for medical supplies is causing chaos and uncertainty, there should be a way to organize the bidding efforts so that all states can be allocated sufficient supplies. A. (Description of the problem) The demand for medical supplies is high across all states in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. (signs, symptoms, effects of problem) Due to an increase in coronavirus cases, the low supply of medical resources, and the existence of numerous bidders in the market, States are experiencing a surge in the need for medical supplies (Lara, Rand, and Bartley). 2. (example, narrative, or testimony) The current situation in the country has slowed down the capacity of states to procure PPEs and has also augmented the costs (Triggle). B. (Importance of problem) There is no efficient way to facilitate the process as everyone is trying to​ ​purchase the same thing. 1. (extent of problem) In the past, states in the U.S have worked closely with regional officials when faced with emergencies such as hurricanes, but the current unprecedented situation has affected all states simultaneously and has made the process murkier. a. (facts/statistics) There is a bidding war between the various states and local governments as all states in the U.S are desperate to find a solution to meet the needs of their healthcare professionals in their fight against the spread of COVID-19 (Lara, Rand, and Bartley). b. (expert/narrative) According to Casey Tingle, deputy director of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, it is not clear whether the federal administration can p.

1. Centralized System for Strategic Resources
Introduction
Attention: According to recent news reports, US states are
competing with each other to shop for medical supplies such as
masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and ventilators.
Sometimes, states are even battling with the federal government
for bidding, which pushed the prices for such supplies even
higher and caused a lot of chaos.
Reveal Topic: A centralized system for strategic resources
means that the federal government would represent all
individual states and make purchases globally as a single
outward-facing entity. Then resources will be coordinated and
allocated to individual states.
Credibility: New York State Governor Cuomo states that it is
very problematic to keep the current chaotic and unorganized
systems. It costs more for taxpayers and could be life-
threatening.
Central Idea: US federal government should establish a
centralized system for buying, coordinating, and allocating
strategic resources such as medical supplies.
Preview: Today, I will talk about why the lack of a centralized
system for strategic resources could be costly and even deadly
and the benefits of a centralized system.
Transition: Now let's first have a look at the harmful impacts of
the current unorganized situation.
Body
I. Main Point #1 (statement of the need for action): Since the
unorganized bidding for medical supplies is causing chaos and
uncertainty, there should be a way to organize the bidding
efforts so that all states can be allocated sufficient supplies.
A. (Description of the problem) The demand for medical
supplies is high across all states in the United States amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.

2. 1. (signs, symptoms, effects of problem) Due to an increase in
coronavirus cases, the low supply of medical resources, and the
existence of numerous bidders in the market, States are
experiencing a surge in the need for medical supplies (Lara,
Rand, and Bartley).
2. (example, narrative, or testimony) The current situation in
the country has slowed down the capacity of states to procure
PPEs and has also augmented the costs (Triggle).
B. (Importance of problem) There is no efficient way to
facilitate the process as everyone is trying to purchase the same
thing.
1. (extent of problem) In the past, states in the U.S have worked
closely with regional officials when faced with emergencies
such as hurricanes, but the current unprecedented situation has
affected all states simultaneously and has made the process
murkier.
a. (facts/statistics) There is a bidding war between the various
states and local governments as all states in the U.S are
desperate to find a solution to meet the needs of their healthcare
professionals in their fight against the spread of COVID-19
(Lara, Rand, and Bartley).
b. (expert/narrative) According to Casey Tingle, deputy director
of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness, it is not clear whether the federal
administration can push from its level and deliver states’
requests (Feiner).
2. (who is affected) Almost every individual in America has
been affected by this disease .
a. (facts/statistics) For instance, Louisiana has requested the
federal government to provide more than ten million units of
hand sanitizers, gloves, face shields, vents, and masks (Feiner).
b. (example/narrative) However, only 13% of the request has
been delivered as of April 3 (Feiner). Thus, states will continue
to submit bids for equipment against the federal government to
meet their individual needs.

3. Transition: Now, I am going to introduce some possible
solutions for this issue based on my research.
II. Main point #2 (present solution that satisfies need)
A. (description of problem) To address the challenge, the
United States must find a solution to meeting the demand for
PPEs as well as maintaining the asking price at a normal level.
1. (how solution satisfies needs) Hence, establishing a
centralized system can give states more bargaining power for
lower prices and can ensure that the needs of the states
desperately in need are satisfied.
2. (how solution can be implemented) A centralized purchasing
system can be implemented by the federal government following
the models during previous hazardous times.
B. (plan of action) An action plan to implement the solution
must involve the corporation of the federal and states
governments.
1. Step #1: The federal administration should lead the
centralized system, given that it has jurisdiction in every state
across the country.
2. Step #2: Besides, the states must provide accurate data about
the infections in the regions and the estimated number of PPE
units to ensure that they do not request for excess resources that
might disadvantage other states that urgently need the material.
3. Step #3: The system must be flexible to ensure that the needs
of states are met depending on demand due to the fluctuating
numbers of infections across the country.
Transition: To further clarify the issue and declare my concerns
about the possible solutions, I used some visual results to
illustrate my argument.
I. Main point #3 (visual results)
A. (describe expected results of action) It is expected that under
this system, resources can be purchased at a lower price and
that all states will have equal access to medical supplies to meet

4. their demands.
B. (describe consequences of inaction) If no such system exists,
states will continue to experience delay in the delivery of
medical equipment and a further increase in costs as a result of
the bidding war.
Conclusion
Signal ending/Review of main points:
Almost to the end of the presentation, to restate the issue, states
across the United States are experiencing a shortage of PPEs.
The absence of a unified system means that states and the
federal government and all are trying to purchase medical
resources individually, which has led to an increase in costs.
Call for action:
A centralized system for strategic resources means that the
federal government would represent all individual states and
make purchases globally as a single outward-facing entity.
Refer back to intro:
As one of the citizens in America, I do hope American people
can treat the price chaos properly and the government can issue
some orders or produce more supplies to reduce the crisis.
Sense of closure:
Thank you for listening to my speech!

5. Works Cited
Feiner, Lauren. “States are Bidding Against Each Other and the
Federal Government for
Important Medical Supplies-and it’s Driving Up Prices.” CNBC,
11 April, 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/why-states-and-the-
federal-government-are-bidding-on-p pe.html. Accessed 10 May
2020.
Lara, Jovana, et al. “Coronavirus: Bidding Wars Break out as
Cities, States, Hospitals Struggle to Procure Personal Protective
Equipment.” ABC7 Los Angeles, 3 Apr. 2020,
abc7.com/coronavirus-covid-19-ppe-personal-protection-
equipment/6072267/.
Triggle, Nick. “Coronavirus: What Has Gone Wrong with
PPE?” BBC News, BBC, 23 Apr. 2020,
www.bbc.com/news/health-52388684.
Centralized System for Strategic Resources
By Kai Jiang

6. Read introduction
Main Issue
The lack of medical supplies such as masks, PPE (personal
protective equipment), and ventilators
states are even battling with the federal government for bidding
Lots of chaos and corruptions happened
Read Introduction+first transition
Main Point #1
Since the unorganized bidding for medical supplies is causing
chaos and uncertainty, there should be a way to organize the
bidding efforts so that all states can be allocated sufficient
supplies.
The demand for medical supplies is high across all states in the
United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
1) Due to an increase in coronavirus cases, the low supply of
medical resources, and the existence of numerous bidders in the
market, States are experiencing a surge in the need for medical
supplies (Lara, Rand, and Bartley).

7. 2) The current situation in the country has slowed down the
capacity of states to procure PPEs and has also augmented the
costs (Triggle).
Main Point #1
here is no efficient way to facilitate the process as everyone is
trying to purchase the same thing.
In the past, states in the U.S have worked closely with regional
officials when faced with emergencies such as hurricanes, but
the current unprecedented situation has affected all states
simultaneously and has made the process murkier.
There is a bidding war between the various states and local
governments as all states in the U.S are desperate to find a
solution to meet the needs of their healthcare professionals in
their fight against the spread of COVID-19 (Lara, Rand, and
Bartley).
According to Casey Tingle, deputy director of the Louisiana
Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness, it is not clear whether the federal administration
can push from its level and deliver states’ requests (Feiner).
Who is effected?

8. Almost every individual in America has been affected by this
disease .
For instance, Louisiana has requested the federal government to
provide more than ten million units of hand sanitizers, gloves,
face shields, vents, and masks (Feiner).
However, only 13% of the request has been delivered as of
April 3 (Feiner). Thus, states will continue to submit bids for
equipment against the federal government to meet their
individual needs.
Main Point #2
To address the challenge, the United States must find a solution
to meeting the demand for PPEs as well as maintaining the
asking price at a normal level.
Hence, establishing a centralized system can give states more
bargaining power for lower prices and can ensure that the needs
of the states desperately in need are satisfied.
A centralized purchasing system can be implemented by the
federal government following the models during previous
hazardous times.
Main Point #2
(plan of action) An action plan to implement the solution must
involve the corporation of the federal and states governments.

9. Step #1: The federal administration should lead the centralized
system, given that it has jurisdiction in every state across the
country.
Step #2: Besides, the states must provide accurate data about
the infections in the regions and the estimated number of PPE
units to ensure that they do not request for excess resources that
might disadvantage other states that urgently need the material.
Step #3: The system must be flexible to ensure that the needs of
states are met depending on demand due to the fluctuating
numbers of infections across the country.
Main point #3
It is expected that under this system, resources can be purchased
at a lower price and that all states will have equal access to
medical supplies to meet their demands.
If no such system exists, states will continue to experience
delay in the delivery of medical equipment and a further
increase in costs as a result of the bidding war.
Conclusion
Almost to the end of the presentation, to restate the issue, states
across the United States are experiencing a shortage of PPEs.
The absence of a unified system means that states and the

10. federal government and all are trying to purchase medical
resources individually, which has led to an increase in costs.
Read the rest of the conclusion, including refer back to intro
and sense of closure
Thank You For Listening!
Works Cited
Feiner, Lauren. “States are Bidding Against Each Other and the
Federal Government for
Important Medical Supplies-and it’s Driving Up Prices.” CNBC,
11 April, 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/why-states-and-the-
federal-government-are-bidding-on-p pe.html. Accessed 10 May
2020.
Lara, Jovana, et al. “Coronavirus: Bidding Wars Break out as
Cities, States, Hospitals Struggle to Procure Personal Protective
Equipment.” ABC7 Los Angeles, 3 Apr. 2020,
abc7.com/coronavirus-covid-19-ppe-personal-protection-
equipment/6072267/.
Triggle, Nick. “Coronavirus: What Has Gone Wrong with PPE?”
BBC News, BBC, 23 Apr. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/health-
52388684.