The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the government agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that deals with disaster and emergency management and is responsible for providing federal leadership and coordination for populations affected by natural disasters.

FEMA’s acquisitions process starts with the solicitation of contractor bids. There are various types of solicitations, such as requests for proposals or bids, that the agency uses to issue contracts to contractors, as well as exercise certain Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities. In this blog, we’ll review how FEMA typically awards contracts.

FEMA’s Acquisition Process:

Need is Established – Once the need is established, agencies typically perform market research. For example, FedBiz Connect is a useful, publicly available database for contracting officials to find the contractors who sell what they need.

Solicitation Prepared – The procurement method is determined, and a solicitation is prepared for release.

Solicitation Announced – The announcement is usually made on SAM.gov, unless via strategic sourcing or one of FEMA’s Advanced Contracts.

Potential Contractors Locate the Solicitation/ Obtain Solicitation Package – Contractors find, download, and review ALL attachments in the package before beginning to prepare a response.

Potential Contractors Submit Bids/ Proposals – If the decision is a ‘GO’ on the solicitation, contractors prepare their responses to submit to FEMA for evaluation.

FEMA Evaluates Responses – FEMA evaluates all submissions received before the deadline.

FEMA Issues Award – FEMA issues award based on evaluation criteria.

Work Begins – Work begins immediately, as FEMA’s responsibility is disaster relief and time is of the essence.

FEMA’s Purchase Thresholds:

Micro-purchase Threshold – Purchases under the threshold may be awarded without solicitation for competitive quotations, as long as the contracting officer believes the price to be reasonable.

Supplies – $10,000
Services – $2,500
Construction – $2,000
During a Disaster – Increases to $20,000

Simplified Acquisition Threshold – Purchases above the micro-purchase threshold and below the simplified acquisition threshold are set aside for small businesses if there are two or more small business offerors.

(SAP) – $250,000
During a Disaster – Increases to $750,000

These thresholds levels were put into place to allow for less administrative details, fewer approvals, and reduced documentation. The effect has been to expand the market for small businesses to get into government contracting.

In addition, in times of a state of emergency contracting officials have emergency acquisition flexibility to make purchases as needed even on a sole source basis to meet the immediate requirements.

Therefore, it is important for businesses to get their name and capabilities in front of contracting officials to promote themselves as they would do in their commercial business.

Top FEMA Supplies & Services Procured:

FEMA uses strategic sourcing and advanced contracts for the items they procure often, including but not limited to:

Infant Products	Plastic Tarps	Blankets	Hygiene Kits
Water	Meals	Mobile Homes/RVs	Medical Equip.
Generators	Cots/Beds	Field Offices Kits	Leased Copiers
Medical Supplies	Office Supplies	Portable Toilets	Cargo Vans
Forklift Rentals	Power Tools	Temporary Labor	Janitorial Services

Registering as a FEMA Contractor

Becoming a FEMA contractor opens the door to providing essential goods and services for disaster relief efforts. First, understand the FEMA contractor requirements. The process begins with the System for Award Management (SAM) registration, making your vendor profile visible to FEMA, the federal government, and state and local agencies. Once registered, opportunities to bid on FEMA contracts, including the FEMA contracts of 2022, become available. The contract range varies, from supplying hygiene kits to temporary labor. The Disaster Response Registry is a crucial resource for those looking to become disaster relief contractors, listing those ready to deliver emergency relief.

How FEMA Contracts Work

FEMA pays contractors promptly after successfully delivering goods or services as per individual contract terms. To secure these contracts, regular maintenance of your SAM registration, updating vendor profile, and maintaining visibility in the disaster response registry is crucial. Long-term contract opportunities help meet immediate disaster response demands and contribute to long-term recovery efforts by local governments and government agencies. Working for FEMA as a contractor goes beyond being a supplier; it’s about contributing to disaster recovery.

Dive Deeper into Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

If you want a closer look into FEMA, what they buy, how they buy, when they buy, and from whom – be sure to check out our 2021 FEMA Annual Federal Spending Analysis Report, now available on our website!

The report also includes intricate details into the FEMA Advanced Contracts to use toward an increased ROI your subcontracting strategy. There are also FREE Resources related to FEMA available on our website to assist you in getting in a position to capture FEMA contracts.

Federal Buyers and Prime Contractors buy from small businesses every day. They like to buy from businesses they know… Do they know you?

FedBiz Access works with contractors to ensure their federal registrations are current and compliant. FedBiz Access has a large database and directory for federal contracting that is affordable and useful for identifying and competing for federal awards. The business development services include Targeted Market Research, Set-Aside Certifications, and GSA Schedule registrations.

Leveraging FedBiz Access for Contract Opportunities

To simplify the registration process and enhance your visibility for FEMA contracts, FedBiz Access can assist with SAM registrations, targeted market research, set-aside certifications, and GSA Schedule registrations. The aim is to ensure Federal Buyers and Prime Contractors know and trust your business, a key to securing contracts. From registration to award, FedBiz Access supports your journey to work as a FEMA contractor, assisting you in standing out in relief contractor opportunities and making a difference in natural disaster recovery.

FedBiz Access helps companies build a clear path from registration to award.