Are purchases made in response to a disaster eligible for reimbursement?

To be eligible for reimbursement, purchases made by a city must comply with federal procurement laws. Although a city may procure goods and services, under state law, without competitive bidding as an emergency, such exception does not necessarily result in compliance with federal procurement rules.  Federal law may be more stringent than state law with respect to procurement and emergency exceptions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) provides assistance with adhering to federal procurement standards and FEMA policies and guidance associated with FEMA’s Public Assistance grants.  If a city plans on filing a reimbursement claim with FEMA, the city should work with FEMA and its city attorney to competitively procure goods and services in accordance with federal regulations to reduce the likelihood of disallowance of such claim.

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1. What is the process for procuring goods or services during or after a disaster?
2. Are purchases made in response to a disaster eligible for reimbursement?