Customers
The NSSC helps IHS, tribal, and urban Indian (I/T/U) health programs save money and time by simplifying purchasing. By using large-volume discounts and prime vendor programs, the NSSC provides more than $50 million in annual savings each year. Our team reduces procurement complexity, while giving customers priority access to emergency supplies and coordinated response support when it’s needed most.
To become a customer of the NSSC, start by requesting a Customer Agreement from our Customer Service Team. Once you receive and submit the Customer Agreement, a 60-day advance deposit is required based on your average annual spend. Once enrolled, orders can be placed through the LINK system or prime vendor platforms. Invoices are issued monthly through LINK, and payments are made via Pay.gov within 15 business days. Additions to the Prime Vendor Program (PPV) and/or Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) programs require a 120-day lead time for coordination with federal contracting authorities.
The NSSC has a wide range of safe, reliable products from multiple warehouses ready to ship at your need. A list of currently available products is accessible to registered customers in the LINK Product Catalog
Items may be ordered electronically via LINK. In stock items are normally filled and sent out the same or next day. Delivery method is selected to meet each facility's program, location, and requirements.
Access to LINK is restricted to registered users. To request access, please email IHSNSSCCustomerService@ihs.gov.
The prices on our products are often the lowest in the nation. We purchase from thousands of different manufacturers, wholesalers, prime vendors, and buy-Indian firms. We constantly research the marketplace to find quality products at the lowest prices. We utilize contracts with Government Federal Supply Schedule, VA, DOW, GSA, Prime Vendor, IHS Area offices and Blanket Purchase Agreements. The large quantities of items purchased by the NSSC enables us to obtain volume discounts that individual facilities would not be able to realize on their own.
Federal, tribal and urban facilities receive one consolidated monthly bill for all supplies ordered during the month. A Bill For Collection (BFC) is sent to facilities monthly showing order information, credits and account balances. This eliminates the administrative cost and time required for federal, tribal, and urban facilities to pay hundreds of different vendors each month.
www.Pay.gov is the secure way for Tribal and Urban facilities to pay U.S. Federal Government Agencies. Users can also access www.Pay.gov through the LINK upon login.
Our knowledgeable and trained employees are working to make it easy for healthcare professionals, technical, and administrative staff to obtain quality, state-of-the-art, and costeffective supplies. By using the NSSC, valuable staff time can be spent providing healthcare services instead of doing supply work.
The NSSC has over 20 years’ experience as a supplier to the IHS. Our expert staff has extensive knowledge of the products, marketplace, sources of supply, government contracts, material management, and numerous other supply-related skills.
Learn more about our team here.
The NSSC does not receive any annual recurring operating funds. The only source of operating funds for the NSSC is a small Full Cost Recovery Fee (FCRF) that is added to the cost of supplies distributed each month. The FCRF is added to recover only the necessary expenses required to operate the NSSC and to provide the services offered. Contact
IHS, tribal and urban facilities have access to VA National Standardization Contract and Manufacturer Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) prices through the Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor (PPV) but this process is not automatic. The NSSC continuously reviews these contracts and agreements and takes the necessary actions to ensure that Federal, tribal and Urban facilities are able to get these prices.
The NSSC supports public health emergencies by managing and distributing key medical countermeasure (MCM) products, including supplies used during H1N1, COVID-19, and other outbreaks. With centralized storage, vendor coordination, and rapid distribution capabilities, NSSC ensures IHS, tribal, and urban Indian health programs receive critical materials quickly. This infrastructure strengthens readiness and helps facilities maintain continuity of care during urgent events.
