https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/m...us-mask-order/ar-BB13wbLP?ocid=ob-fb-enus-280
Maryland Cancels Big Coronavirus-Mask Order
A formation of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly past the Washington Monument as a collaborative salute to first responders and other essential personnel, on May 2.
The state of Maryland has canceled a large order of coronavirus supplies from a politically connected company and asked state law-enforcement officials to investigate the matter, Maryland officials said.
Procurement officials with the state said they took action after waiting for more than 30 days for $12.5 million worth of masks and ventilators the state ordered from Blue Flame Medical LLC, a company launched a few weeks ago by a one-time fundraiser for the Republican party.
Get news and analysis on politics, policy, national security and more, delivered right to your inbox
The former fundraiser, Mike Gula, provided a letter to The Wall Street Journal that said Maryland’s order for roughly 1.5 million N95 masks was seized by government officials in China, where they were manufactured. Mr. Gula switched to a new supplier and plans to deliver the masks shortly, along with a separate $4 million order for more than 100 ventilators to the state, according to a Blue Flame Medical official.
“We have determined that since it has been one month since the order was placed with no confirmation of shipment, we are in the process of cancelling the order and have referred this matter to the Attorney General,” according to a spokesman for the Maryland Department of General Services. A spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office declined to comment.
Bing COVID-19 tracker: Latest numbers by country and state
The back-and-forth is a reflection of the chaotic and unregulated marketplace that has emerged as states, hospitals and first responders scramble to buy face masks, gloves, gowns and other protective medical supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic. A far-flung group of players have sought to connect buyers with manufacturers, many of which are in China.
Many of the players in this new marketplace weren’t in the medical-supply business at the beginning of March.
Mr. Gula was a prominent fundraiser for dozens of Republican lawmakers and other public officials. In a little over a decade, he and the Washington-based firm he founded raised tens of millions of dollars for GOP candidates.
As the coronavirus spread to the U.S. earlier this year, Mr. Gula and a fellow Republican political consultant in California began considering tapping their contacts to try selling protective medical supplies to firefighters, police officers, hospitals and governments
In late March, Mr. Gula sent an email, a copy of which was reviewed by the Journal, to Republican lawmakers, lobbyists and others saying he was quitting fundraising to start a new business.
A few days later, he launched a website for Blue Flame Medical. “We are the largest global network of COVID-19 medical suppliers,” the company said on the website. “Only the highest quality product delivered with the fastest service.”
