Overview
FAR 6.208 implements the statutory authority of the Stafford Act, allowing contracting officers to restrict competition to local businesses located within a Presidentially declared disaster or emergency area.
Key Rules
- Statutory Authority: The rule fulfills requirements under 42 U.S.C. 5150, which prioritizes local recovery efforts.
- Eligibility Criteria: Competition is restricted to offerors who reside or primarily conduct business in the specific geographic area affected by the disaster or emergency.
- Administrative Streamlining: No separate justification or Determination and Findings (D&F) is required under FAR Part 6 to execute this type of set-aside.
- Geographic Boundaries: The set-aside area must be within the scope of a Presidential disaster declaration or additional areas identified by the Department of Homeland Security.
- Regulatory Reference: This section operates in conjunction with the specific procedures found in FAR Subpart 26.2.
Practical Implications
- Local Economic Support: This provision ensures that federal recovery funds stay within the impacted community, bolstering the local economy during a crisis.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: By waiving the need for formal justifications, the FAR allows contracting officers to rapidly deploy local set-asides to meet urgent disaster-relief needs.