Contracts and Procurement: Procurement Methods
  • In order to obtain contracts, Applicants must use eligible procurement methods and document the process. Applicants must use one of the following procurement methods and document each in a unique way:
  • Micro-purchase
    • The purchase of supplies or services
    • Documentation should show that the aggregate dollar amount of which does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold
  • Small purchase procedure
    • A simple and informal procurement method for securing services, supplies, or other property
    • Documentation should show that the services, supplies, or other property do not cost more than the simplified acquisition threshold set by the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 48 CFR Subpart 2.1
    • Applicants must submit additional documentation for procurements in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, such as a cost price analysis
  • Sealed bid (formal advertising)
    • A publicly solicited bid
    • Documentation should show a firm fixed price contract awarded to the lowest bidder
  • Competitive proposal
    • Conducted with more than one source submitting an offer and generally used when conditions are not appropriate for the use of sealed bids
    • Documentation should include records of the sources who bid, what they bid, and the process to select the awardee
    • FEMA may reimburse costs incurred under a contract procured through a noncompetitive proposal as well in limited circumstances
  • Noncompetitive procurement
    • Procurement through solicitation of a proposal from only one source or inadequate competition
    • Documentation should include a description of the unique features that prohibit competition; documented research conducted to verify the vendor as the only known source; a description of the marketplace to include distributors, dealers, resellers, etc.; known compatibility issues; and/or timing issues
    • This type of procurement may only be used when (a) full and open competition is infeasible because: (i) the item is only available from a single source; (ii) it is a case of public exigency or emergency; (iii) authorization is provided by the awarding agency; or (iiii) competition is determined inadequate after solicitation of a number of sources; as well as (b) a cost analysis is performed to determine cost reasonableness