Hurricane Katrina Recovery: Contracting Opportunities

Publication Date: September 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Business

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Abstract:

Companies unfamiliar with the federal procurement process may find useful information at several government websites, including those of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Usually, agency solicitations for goods and services valued at amounts over $25,000 may be found on the government's Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) posted several hurricane recovery related solicitations on FedBizOpps following Hurricane Katrina, some agencies may be posting solicitations, and offering other types of access to contracting opportunities, on their individual websites. Monitoring several federal government websites, instead of just FedBizOpps, may be an effective way to track contracting opportunities related to Hurricane Katrina recovery and reconstruction efforts. Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and as codified in 42 U.S.C. 5150, preference is to be given, in the expenditure of federal funds for major disaster or emergency assistance activities, to private organizations, companies, and individuals residing or doing business primarily in the affected area. However, this provision does not guarantee that these groups and individuals will be awarded any contracts.