Disaster response contracts
When national emergencies or natural disasters occur, supplies and services need to be rushed to affected areas quickly. Small businesses can contract with the federal government to assist in relief and recovery efforts following a major disaster.
Read to Learn More About Contracting and Disaster Relief Efforts??? Start here…
FEMA has emergency support functions, which means other federal agencies are responsible for relief efforts. In many cases, FEMA is NOT your direct customer or contact. Find your capability within the functions below:
National Response Framework | FEMA.gov
Agencies have Emergency Response Contracts in place long before a disaster happens. If you are interested in bidding on direct contracts with federal agencies, keep an eye on SAM for opportunities. These opportunities usually only occur every 5 years or so. If you are interested in subcontracting with companies with contracts already in place, you will reach out to those companies directly.
If you are reading this DURING a disaster, it is more than likely too late for the current situation. Even contract holders already have their subcontractors lined up for the year. It is best to wait until the season slows down, and then start reaching out to contract holders for future opportunities.
If you are interested in learning more about government contracting, including disaster response, please register for Alabama APEX Accelerator services. Your advisor will walk you through the DoD-suggested steps to becoming a successful federal contractor.
APEX Accelerator | Online Registration
For additional information, please refer to our PowerPoint training slides below. These slides were taken from a disaster response training event that we hosted in 2024.
Disaster Response Contracting slides – Oct2024
Disaster Response Registry
Government agencies search the Disaster Response Registry of the System for Award Management (SAM) to find contractors that can help respond to disasters. The registry lists contractors that offer debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief supplies and services. Your business needs to be registered in SAM to be eligible for disaster relief contracting opportunities. On average, it takes 2-3 days to complete the registration process. Once your registration is active, you’ll be added to the Disaster Response Registry.
During registration, you must indicate you want to participate in the Disaster Response Registry and provide the required information on the Disaster Response Information page within the Assertions module.
Local firms affected by a Presidential major disaster or emergency declaration may be given contracting preference.
Your local APEX advisor can help with any SAM registration questions; APEX is an official resource for government contracting assistance.
Do I need to PAY to be listed in the Disaster Response Registry in SAM?
NO. It is FREE to register and maintain your registration in SAM. Be cautious when reviewing emails that offer to create a SAM registration for a fee. If you get an email, text message, or phone call asking for money or payment of any amount, be very cautious. These parties do not represent the U.S. government. You engage third party vendors at your own risk.
Where are disaster response solicitations posted?
Federal agencies will be posting solicitations for disaster related contracts. Search contract opportunities within SAM using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code or use in combination with a keyword such as hurricane or disaster to see what opportunities are being posted right now.
Interested contractors can also pursue state and local opportunities. FEMA lists contact information for each state on its website.