DCA's Disaster Recovery Workshops

April 20, 2013

Dear Local Official:

 As local government units recover from Hurricane Sandy and prepare to rebuild, the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) wishes to remind local units of their statutory obligation to comply with certain pre-advertising and post-award reporting requirements for public contracts, which are outlined in a guidance letter viewable online at http://www.state.nj.us/comptroller/news/docs/procurement_guidance_letter_01_29_13.pdf. The fact that repair or rebuilding contracts are related to Hurricane Sandy does not exempt local contracting units from complying with these requirements, and local units should not assume that the public exigency exception to the notification requirements will apply to any Sandy related contract.  OSC is, however, mindful that some of these contracts may be time sensitive in nature.  Local units should be aware that they may request a waiver of the 30 day pre-advertisement period from OSC, and that OSC intends to make its best efforts at expedited review of Sandy related repair or replacement contracts that are submitted for review with a written request for a waiver.  Please review the attached letter for further details and guidance on the matter

LFN 2013-08 Community Disaster Loan Program administered through FEMA

Here is a short booklet put out by Homeland Security that you may find informative