The Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing has operated the country’s organ transplant network for almost 40 years. But it is unclear what role UNOS will have in the transplantation of kidneys, livers and other organs after Dec. 29.

The nonprofit’s contract ends that day, and the federal government has given UNOS no information about how it plans to manage the network afterward, said Paige Adrians, a spokesperson for UNOS.

The government has said it will break up UNOS’ contract into pieces and divvy up its work among multiple contractors. But the health department has not issued task orders or begun the process of transitioning the work. And it is unclear if any progress is being made during the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1.

UNOS has already furloughed some sta

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