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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Small business owners will have increased opportunities to participate in federal prime and subcontracting rebuilding efforts in the areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has partnered with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and other federal agencies to provide a toll-free number – 800/FED-INFO (800/333-4636) – to help small businesses learn about hurricane relief efforts, contracting and rebuilding opportunities.
A customer service representative from GSA will field the calls and direct callers to the appropriate SBA Regional representative or their backup. The SBA has designated both primary and secondary personnel from each Region to respond to these inquiries and make referrals to the SBA’s procurement center representatives and others as necessary.
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Gutierrez Announces Hurricane Contracting Information Center WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has announced the Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) that will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The HCIC is an interagency effort to provide a centralized location for information and services available throughout the government geared to help in the contracting process. The HCIC is designed to assist U.S. businesses, especially minority owned businesses and small and medium size enterprises interested in helping with the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Region. The HCIC is being staffed by representatives from various federal agencies including: The HCIC includes a Web site – www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov – that allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The Web site also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services. The HCIC will provide information and add transparency to the contracting process, but will not award contracts. Those responsibilities will remain with the specific government agencies. |
“As part of the unprecedented rebuilding effort following the devastation by these hurricanes, we want to make sure small businesses have the opportunity to seek federal contracting dollars,” said SBA Administrator Hector Barreto. “We are pleased to partner with GSA and other federal agencies to make interested small businesses aware of all possible contracting opportunities.”
“The National Contact Center, operated by GSA under the USA Services program, has responded to over 190,003 calls and e-mails via 800/FED-INFO and FirstGov.gov from citizens seeking information about hurricane recovery activities since Katrina first impacted the Gulf Coast,” said Associate Administrator of GSA’s Office of Citizen Services and Communications, M.J. Pizzella. “I am proud that GSA’s contact center will serve as a resource for small businesses to learn about contracting opportunities and I look forward to working with SBA and the federal interagency community to do whatever is necessary to rebuild the Gulf Coast.”
Small businesses interested in learning more about contracting opportunities in the affected areas can find more information on the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov. There they will find a banner titled “Information on Hurricane Contracting Opportunities.” By clicking on it, small businesses will:
- Learn about different types of contracts available to them
- Learn the procedure for registering to do business with the federal government
- Obtain a list of procurement center representatives for contracting opportunities
- Obtain specific federal and state contact information, and
- Obtain SBA district office contact information.
“In addition to informing small businesses on contracting opportunities, the SBA is also committed to provide assistance to the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita through our disaster assistance programs,” Barreto added. “Our goal is to help the region, its citizens and small businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible.”
USA Services, one of President Bush’s E-Gov initiatives, allows citizens to get information about government programs in English and in Spanish via the Internet, publications, telephone and e-mail. This involves using www.FirstGov.gov, www.Espanol.gov, the National Contact Center’s 800/FED-INFO hotline, and the National Publications Center in Pueblo, Colo.