Domestic Emergencies
Contingency contracting officers support a range of domestic emergency operations, such as natural disaster recoveries (hurricane, earthquake, flood, and fire) in locations across the United States; and preparations for health crises.
Key regulations on contracting for domestic emergencies:
Contingency Operation Simplified Acquisition Threshold
Micro-Purchase Threshold Emergency Flexibilities (FAR Subpart 18.2)
Federal Acquisition Registry (FAR) and Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS)
Additional information on contracting support for domestic emergencies can be found in:- Defense Contingency Contracting Handbook
- Office of Federal Procurement Policy’s Emergency Acquisitions Guide
The table below identifies domestic contingencies supported by the U.S. military. Contingency policies and resources are available by clicking the links within the table. Archived domestic emergencies can be found here.
| Event | Location | Year | Thresholds at FAR 13.201(g) apply* |
| Hurricane Matthew | East Coast | 2016 | No |
| Oklahoma Tornado and Storm | West South Central Region | 2013 | No |
| Hurricane Sandy | East Coast | 2012 | Yes |
| Hurricane Isaac | Gulf Coast | 2012 | No |
* The higher micro-purchase thresholds at FAR 13.201(g) are only authorized for contingencies that meet the definition of “contingency operation” at FAR 2.101 (10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13)).
The process for federal response to domestic emergencies is depicted in the figure below. Click on the figure for a larger version.
