Calling Service Contractors – Help Needed in Relief Efforts for Hurricane Katrina

Service contractors answered the Government’s call after 9/11, and continue to play a critical role in the war on terrorism. Now in this latest crisis – a natural disaster of devastating proportions with far reaching and long term impact – service contractors are stepping in again to work with Government agencies in helping those in need, putting lives back together, and starting to rebuild the areas struck by Hurricane Katrina.

While there is much confusion in this post-Katrina world related to emergency contracting authorities and elevated procurement thresholds, Government agencies and private organizations, such as Acquisition Solutions, are publicizing data on what is needed, and the special authorities available to support contingency operations. Below is a summary of this important emergency contracting information, to which CSA has provided links on its website: http://www.csa-dc.org/news/katrina.asp.

· General Services Administration (GSA)
A memorandum for civilian agencies was issued on September 7 that outlines the emergency procurement authorities authorized pursuant to the 2003 Services Acquisition Reform Act for increases to the micro-purchase threshold (to $15,000), and the simplified acquisition threshold (to $250,000).

· Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
Companies with resources to donate or sell to the response agencies (e.g., disaster recovery services) should register at the National Emergency Resources Registry at www.SERN.gov. Also FEMA procures goods and services through the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Schedule (www.gsa.gov/regions.htm).

· Department of Defense (DoD)
The DoD small business office has put relevant links for contracting opportunities related to relief efforts on its website at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/.

· Department of Interior (DoI)
Interior has significant responsibilities in the hard hit areas. On September 1, a class justification and approval was signed for other than full and open competition per FAR Part 6 along with a waiver to FAR Part 5 publication requirements. This provides coverage to DoI contracting activities that need appropriate accelerated procedures.

· Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Small Business Administration is developing a community based network that will disseminate information on small business-to-business disaster assistance, and procurement guidelines for small businesses: www.sba.gov.

· Acquisition Solutions
An Advisory has been developed outlining the special procedures for contracting in an emergency. This and other relevant information is on the AS website at http://www.acqsolinc.com/emergencycontracting/.

_____________________________

CSA is the nation’s oldest and largest association of service contractors representing over 200 companies that provide a wide array of services to Federal, state, and local governments.  CSA members perform over $40 billion in Government contracts and employ nearly 500,000 workers, with two-thirds of CSA companies using private sector union labor.  CSA members represent the diversity of the government services industry and include small businesses, 8(a)-certified companies, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned, HubZone, Native American owned firms and global multi-billion dollar corporations.  CSA promotes Excellence in Contracting by offering significant professional development opportunities for government contractors and government employees, including the only program manager certification program for service contractors.  For more information on CSA, go to:  www.csa-dc.org.