Bill calls for fairness in federal disaster contracts

Marcia Doyle Headshot

Rep. Charles W. Boustany Jr. (R- La.) has introduced legislation that would “ensure efficiency and fairness in the awarding to federal contracts in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts.”

Introduced May 5, H.R. 1766, also called the “Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2011,” the act would stipulate that an executive agency head cannot enter into a debris removal or demolition services contract after a disaster unless the following takes place:

* All of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract

* Any work performed by subcontractor must be done by local subcontractors, except in cases where local contractors are not available to do the work

* The prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the project and will be paid a certain percentage of the overall value as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility.

The bill also would require that each agency give preference in the source selection process to companies offering debris removal or demolition services that certify “any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors.”