WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, today praised the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announcement that it will work together with the Small Business Association (SBA) to award Hurricane Katrina recovery contracts to small and minority-owned businesses in the Gulf Coast in lieu of continuing to have the work done by four firms that previously were awarded sole-source contracts.
FEMA will award 36, five-year, contracts to small and small disadvantaged businesses registered with the SBA for temporary housing maintenance and support for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery.
“I am pleased to learn that FEMA will award these 36 contracts to small and small disadvantaged businesses in the Gulf Coast region,” said Senator Collins. “These awards are a step toward fulfilling Acting Director Paulison’s pledge to compete the requirements contained in the four large sole source contracts awarded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These contracts will help provide work to those who live in the affected area and aid the economic recovery of the region. I do, however, remain concerned that some of the requirements contained in the large sole source contracts will not be competed, as Mr. Paulison promised my committee last year.”
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