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Notice of Debarment of Dr. Peter Daszak — Department of Health & Human Services

Summary

A letter from the HHS Suspension and Debarment Official to Paul Hurst, Esq., of Steptoe LLP, counsel for Dr. Peter Daszak, giving notice that HHS has debarred Daszak, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. (EHA), from United States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs. It follows a May 21, 2024 Notice of Suspension and Proposed Debarment, a December 11, 2024 Amended Notice, and responses submitted on Daszak's behalf from July 22, 2024 to January 15, 2025. The debarment, under the Nonprocurement Common Rule at 2 C.F.R. § 180, is for five years and counts the period since May 21, 2024, so Daszak remains ineligible through May 20, 2029.

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Full text

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES                                         Office of the Secretary
                                                                                  Washington, D.C. 20201




VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Paul Hurst, Esq.
Steptoe LLP
1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Email: phurst@steptoe.com

        Re: Notice of Debarment of Dr. Peter Daszak

Dear Mr. Hurst:

        In a May 21, 2024, Notice of Suspension and Proposed Debarment (Notice) and Action Referral
Memorandum (ARM), and December 11, 2024, Amended Notice and Amended ARM, sent by electronic
mail, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified your client, Dr. Peter
Daszak, that HHS had suspended him and proposed him for debarment from participating in United
States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs, related to his role as the former
President and Chief Executive Officer of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. (EHA). The suspension and proposed
debarment actions were based on information that Dr. Daszak lacks the present responsibility to
participate in United States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs. The Notice
and Amended Notice also provided Dr. Daszak with an opportunity to submit information and argument
in opposition to the suspension and proposed debarment actions. On July 22, 2024, September 19, 2024,
January 13, 2025, and January 15, 2025, you provided responses and information for consideration by
me, as the HHS Suspension and Debarment Official (SDO), on Dr. Daszak’s behalf.

        After considering the information in the administrative record in this matter, including the
information presented in the above-mentioned responses, I have determined that a period of debarment
for Dr. Daszak is necessary to protect the Federal Government’s business interests. This debarment action
is being taken pursuant to the Nonprocurement Common Rule at 2 C.F.R. § 180, which HHS adopted and
gave regulatory effect to at 2 C.F.R. § 376.10. The basis for my decision is set forth in the enclosed ARM
for Final Debarment, dated the same date as this Notice.

         Dr. Daszak’s debarment is for a period of five years, effective as of the date of this Notice,
pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 180.630(b), 2 C.F.R. § 180.625(b), and 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(d). The period of
ineligibility during Dr. Daszak’s suspension and proposed debarment, which was effective May 21, 2024,
will be included in the period of debarment. Therefore, under the five-year period of debarment, Dr.
Daszak will remain ineligible through May 20, 2029. The debarment is effective for covered transactions
subject to the prohibitions of 2 C.F.R. § 180 and contracts that are subject to the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (48 C.F.R. Chapter 1), throughout the executive branch of the United States Federal
Government unless an agency head or an authorized designee grants an exception in writing.

                                                Sincerely,




                                                Suspension and Debarment Official and
                                                 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions

Enclosure: Action Referral Memorandum for Final Debarment Decision

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