Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Learn all about disaster contracting — before the storm — on July 27

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Hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters strike the United States and its territories every year.

While tragic, these events can create billions of dollars in contracting opportunities for government contractors that desire to help communities rebuild and get back on their feet.

The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center is conducting a webinar on July 27, 2018 that will examine the federal and state funding streams related to disaster contracting, including tips on how you can best position your company “before the storm” to win disaster contracting opportunities.

To register for this free lunchtime webinar, please visit: https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events/8477.

 

FEMA faulted for awarding undeliverable contracts, delaying aid during hurricane season

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The Trump administration last year awarded contracts to companies that were ill-prepared to help victims of three major hurricanes, according to a report from Senate Democrats, leading to canceled deals and delayed delivery of essential goods.

Minority party members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., reviewed Federal Emergency Management Agency contracts for emergency tarps and plastic sheeting, both of which FEMA deploys to storm victims with roof damage as temporary relief to help them remain in their homes. The subsequent report faulted FEMA for failing to properly vet vendors, leading the agency on multiple occasions to select companies that could ultimately not deliver the supplies.

FEMA awarded contracts to two companies that had “no relevant past experience” and were either created or registered as a federal contractor within months of receiving the award. In one case, the agency last October gave two contracts worth about $40 million to a Florida company, Bronze Star, to provide 600,000 emergency tarps and 60,000 rolls of plastic sheeting. In the other, FEMA awarded a $34 million contract to Global Computers and Networks that same month to provide an additional 500,000 tarps. The agency canceled the contracts in November for failure to deliver.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.govexec.com/management/2018/04/fema-faulted-awarding-undeliverable-contracts-delaying-aid-during-hurricane-season/147333

FEMA wants counties to take charge of pre-disaster logistics

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s administrator urged county officials to arrange pre-event contracts for commodities ahead of disasters, instead of waiting for assistance that might not come.

Brock Long, speaking at the National Association of Counties legislative conference in the nation’s capital last Tuesday, said FEMA’s contracting processes during 2017’s devastating hurricane and wildfire seasons were a “huge success.” The agency secured 1,973 contracts on top of 59 that were pre-event for water, meals ready to eat, debris removal, disaster cost recovery and other services.

But in the event communities are cut off by a serious earthquake that cripples infrastructure, Long said, they may need to provide life-saving resources for 48 to 72 hours before the feds can backfill.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.routefifty.com/public-safety/2018/03/fema-brock-long-counties-disaster/146447/

Note to Our Readers: GTPAC hosted a conference in January on the subject of disaster-related contracting.  You can read a report of that conference, and download the resources that resulted from that conference, at: http://gtpac.org/2018/01/10/gtpacs-before-the-storm-event-helps-vendors-with-governments-emergency-contracting-protocols

GTPAC’s ‘Before the Storm’ event helps vendors with government’s emergency contracting protocols

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Nearly 200 vendors braved uncertain weather conditions in Atlanta on Jan. 8, 2018 to participate in an event designed to assist vendors navigate the government’s policies and procedures for engaging in disaster recovery contracting activity.

The event — dubbed “Before the Storm” — was sponsored by the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) and held at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center.

Attendees at the Jan. 8, 2018 “Before the Storm” event learned about the importance of the National Response Framework.

Attendees heard from officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Public Health Service, and GTPAC’s counseling team.

FEMA officials Annette Wright, Sammy Brunson, and Kyra Lee explained FEMA’s contracting protocols, including the important relationships with other federal, state and local agencies.

Presentation Materials Made Available

Copies of all presentation materials used during the day’s event, plus internet links to important supplementary information, are now posted on GTPAC’s training page at: http://gtpac.org/training-video.

U.S. Public Health Service’s Capt. Tom Bowman shared details of recent recovery efforts in the Virgin Islands.

Break-out workshops were conducted in the afternoon on the topics of Subcontracting, Cybersecurity, GSA and Army Corps of Engineers, and Vendor Registrations.

Attendees took advantage of free wi-fi during the event to visit on-line resources and take notes.

Need for Advance Preparation Stressed

Presenters told vendors to arrange, in advance of contracting, adequate lines of funding because of the likelihood of increased requirements and changed conditions.  Disaster recovery contracts can be demanding — requiring 24/7 service — and require flexibility in the face of changing requirements.  Too often, contractors fail because they have not adequately prepared themselves for these challenges.

Speakers stressed that vendors must be prepared to be flexible in executing disaster recovery contracts.

In addition to recommending that vendors familiarize themselves with the National Response Framework, speakers at the event told vendors to review the Stafford Act and FAR Part 18 which govern Emergency Acquisitions.

Registration for Jan. 8th ‘Before the Storm’ event now open

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If your company is interested in pursuing contract work with FEMA and other government agencies that respond to natural disaster and other national emergencies, register now to attend Georgia Tech’s “Before the Storm” event to be held Jan. 8, 2018 in Atlanta.  Registration closes at Noon on Thursday, Jan. 4th.

Organized by the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), “Before the Storm” focuses on the advance preparation vendors need to put in place in order to qualify for government emergency support contracts and subcontracts.  By attending, vendors will learn how to become “procurement ready” well before agencies like FEMA need to purchase disaster recovery supplies and services.

This event will be relevant to any vendor of supplies and services in any of the federal government’s 15 Emergency Support Function (ESF) categories.  See ESF details at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/25512.

The day-long event will be held at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.  There will be a registration fee of $30 to attend, and both breakfast and lunch are included.  Advance registration for the event is required, and no on-site registration will be allowed.  No refunds.

The link to registration for the Jan. 8th event is: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/before-the-storm-tickets-40913664873.

If you are traveling from outside metro Atlanta and need hotel accommodations, a block of rooms have been reserved until Dec. 22 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.  Hotel details are provided at the link shown above.

 

Jan. 8th ‘Before the Storm’ event to focus on government emergency support contracts and subcontracts

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If your company is interested in pursuing contract work with FEMA and other government agencies that respond to natural disaster and other national emergencies, mark your calendar now — Jan. 8, 2018 — and plan to attend “Before the Storm.”

Organized by the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), the “Before the Storm” event will focus on the advance preparation vendors need to put in place in order to qualify for government emergency support contracts and subcontracts.

Any vendor of supplies and services falling into any of the federal government’s 15 Emergency Support Function (ESF) categories should plan to attend.  See ESF details at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/25512.

The day-long event will be held at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.  There will be a registration fee of $30 to attend, and both breakfast and lunch are included.

The registration process will open in the next few days, so watch for an announcement.

Registration is now open!  There is a $30 registration fee, and both breakfast and lunch are included.  Advance registration for the event is required, and no on-site registration will be allowed.  No refunds.  The link to registration for the Jan. 8th event is: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/before-the-storm-tickets-40913664873.

Companies barely had to compete for half of the federal contracts awarded in Puerto Rico so far

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Now that Puerto Rico is moving into recovery and rebuilding after the Hurricane Maria disaster, billions of dollars in federal disaster spending are flowing to the island.  Estimates put hurricane damage at $95 billion, and Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is asking various federal agencies for $94 billion in grants.

With this much public money on the line, monitoring how U.S. tax dollars are spent in the recovery will be crucial to prevent waste, fraud, and shoddy work. The best way to do that is by awarding contracts through the open bidding process, which allows the largest number of businesses a chance to compete to offer the best deal. These types of contracts generally require more scrutiny and oversight than no-bid deals.

So far, competitive bidding hasn’t been a top priority for federal agencies responding to Hurricane Maria. Nearly half of the 540 federal contracts signed so far (as of November 16), totaling $252 million, were awarded outside the open bidding process, according to federal procurement data.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/17/16618476/puerto-rico-federal-contracts

Contractors acting as connective tissue to federal workers in wakes of Irma and Harvey

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Active duty military, National Guardsmen, first responders and volunteers are all descending on Florida and other areas to help with the Hurricane Irma efforts, but there’s one other occupation helping the government effort too.

Contractors.

Amid the 16,000 National Guard troops Florida activated, troops from U.S. Northern and Southern Command and Federal Emergency Management Agency employees, contractors are acting as the connective tissue between federal, state and local relief efforts.

One company deploying with government employees is Engility, which provides military grade communications systems to military and federal units on the ground.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/contracting/2017/09/contractors-acting-as-collective-tissue-to-federal-workers-in-wakes-of-irma-and-harvey/

Tips for disaster recovery contracting

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If you are seeking to do business with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in support of a disaster recovery effort, please be aware that in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act, FEMA seeks out local companies to perform contract work within the disaster area for goods and services related to a specific disaster.

The Army Corps of Engineers, and its contractors, actually do a lot of disaster response and recovery work such as debris removal. Use this link to access more information on contracting with the Corps in emergency situations: http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/Contracting-in-Disasters.

You can use this link — www.moveit.gsa.gov — for access to the General Services Administration (GSA) Transportation Management Services Solution (TMSS).   FEMA procures many of its transportation needs through GSA including: truckload services, air charter, barges, air freight, air ambulance, heavy hauler, rail, vehicle rental, truck rental, travel trailers, and mobile homes.

Please Note: There are companies that mimic services of Federal agencies, and these companies typically charge fees for services that your business can typically accomplish yourself.  Be aware that most, if not all, Federal Government services are free of charge.  If you are approached by letter, email or phone to buy access to federal contracting opportunities, always make it a practice to reach out to the appropriate Federal agency first to inquire about the validity of the service, specifically if a fee is associated with it.  An excellent source of no-cost assistance associated with navigating the government contracting process is the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).  You may contact GTPAC via email at: gtpacatl@innovate.gatech.edu.  If your business is located outside the state of Georgia, you can find similar no- or low-cost help at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.

Helpful Tips For Contractors:
  • Get to know the Federal Business Opportunities website www.fbo.gov (known as FedBizOpps or FBO). FedBizOpps is the single point-of-entry to search, monitor, and retrieve Federal procurement opportunities. You will also find subcontractor, supplier and teaming opportunities here.
  • Monitor the Department of Homeland Security’s planned contract opportunities on the DHS Acquisition Planning Forecast System (APFS) located at: http://apfs.dhs.gov/.
  • Accept the government purchase card or credit card. The government buys more than $5 billion in goods and services annually using purchase cards.  In emergency contracting situations, a great many government purchases are micro-purchases less than $3,500.  (Note: Effective Aug. 29, 2017, the micro-purchase threshold for disaster recovery contracting was raised to $20,000.  See details at: http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/2017/09/05/micro-purchase-and-simplified-acquisition-thresholds-raised-for-hurricane-harvey-response.)
  • Promote your business in electronic catalogs. If you are a GSA Schedule contractor, GSA Advantage and other electronic commerce initiatives will allow you to list your products or services for government browsing.
  • Publish your catalog listings on your company website. Having a website allows interested buyers to access additional information regarding your company (experience, past performance record, financial stability) after reviewing product descriptions.
  • See other helpful information at: http://gtpac.org/2017/08/31/register-free-if-you-want-to-provide-debris-removal-supplies-reconstruction-and-other-disaster-or-emergency-relief.

Beware of scams involving FEMA’s response to Hurricane Matthew

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Hurricane Matthew is being used as a platform to circulate false information to government contractors and other vendors.

femaWe want to make sure that you are aware of this situation so no one takes advantage of you, especially at a time when so many people are vulnerable to the storm hitting Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Please be on alert to the possibility of phone calls and emails which encourage you to register in a database that will give your company “priority vendor” status by “emergency managers” (implied to be FEMA officials) so that you can be given the “opportunity to help your community for disaster relief efforts and make profits at the same time.”  The services offered in these solicitations carry a price tag ranging between $195 and $1,200 for a variety of services, including a “priority listing.”

Please be advised that FEMA does NOT have a “priority vendor” program. 

FEMA does maintain a legitimate web site for vendors who wish to voluntarily provide supplemental information on the kinds of services they would like to furnish to FEMA, and there is no fee to use it.  That web site is at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/29748.

FEMA states: “Submission of the vendor profile form does not place you on a preferred list of vendors to be considered for procurements.  FEMA does not maintain such a list. The form is used to assist in secondary market research and is voluntary.  FEMA does not charge any company a basic registration fee.  There are companies that replicate services of Federal Government entities and there are typically fees associated with their services.  Most Federal Government services, if not all, are free of charge.  Always make it a practice to reach out to the appropriate Federal agency first to inquire about the validity of the service, specifically if a fee is associated with it.”

Please feel free to consult with any GTPAC counselor whenever you are in doubt about the legitimacy of any government contract-related offer.  In fact, we would appreciate it if you would share questionable solicitations with us.

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