Overview
This section details specific exceptions to the mandatory System for Award Management (SAM) registration requirement for offerors during urgent or emergency acquisitions and establishes the use of the Disaster Response Registry.
Key Rules
- Registration Exceptions: Contractors are not required to be registered in SAM at the time of offer submission for:
- Contracts involving unusual and compelling urgency (FAR 6.302-2).
- Contracts awarded by officers deployed in military operations or conducting emergency operations.
- Contracts for work performed in Department of State-designated "danger pay" posts outside the United States.
- Disaster Response Registry: While registration may be deferred for offers, contractors must be registered in SAM to be included in the Disaster Response Registry.
- Contracting Officer Mandate: Contracting officers are required to use the SAM Disaster Response Registry to identify available contractors for debris removal, supply distribution, and reconstruction activities following a disaster.
Practical Implications
- These provisions allow the government to expedite the solicitation process during crises by removing the administrative barrier of SAM registration for initial bidding.
- To be visible for emergency relief contracts, businesses must proactively opt into the Disaster Response Registry during their standard SAM registration process.