Representatives from more than 75 North Carolina companies gathered this week on the East Carolina University campus at the Disaster Recovery Contracting Summit to learn how they can prepare to qualify and compete for disaster recovery contracts with state and federal governments.
“We want North Carolina companies helping North Carolina residents recover from disasters,” said Mike Sprayberry, North Carolina’s emergency management director. “We want more North Carolina businesses, more small-to-medium sized businesses and more minority-owned businesses participating in disaster recovery in North Carolina.”
Jointly organized by East Carolina University, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) and North Carolina Emergency Management, the event was designed to allow businesses to spend one day with contracting officers and subject matter experts, gathering all of the tools and information necessary to prepare for disaster-related contracting opportunities.
Contracting with the state and federal governments for disaster recovery work can be a complicated process, one that small and mid-sized businesses are sometimes hesitant to pursue – resulting in many contracts for recovery work going to larger out-of-state companies. The Disaster Recovery Contracting Summit brought North Carolina companies together to hear from government agencies about how to do business with the government, and how to become qualified now to bid for recovery work when the next storm arrives.
Representatives from FEMA, North Carolina Emergency Management, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses all presented information to help companies understand qualification and bidding processes.
After each storm, opportunities are available in areas like debris removal and disposal, general contracting, inspections, all construction trades, furnishing and transporting supplies, facility support services and much more. The SBTDC provides webinars and checklists to help companies get started.