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1 1 (October 24, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejfa0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S Updated October 24,2022 FEMA's Role in Logistics Management for Disaster Response The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plays a key role in responding to domestic emergencies and disasters. Part ofFEMA's response role is logistics and supply chain management to ensure supplies such as food and water arrive at areas in need. To fulfill this role, FEMA manages vendor contracts, sources and tracks commodity shipments, and maintains lines of communication among various responders. FEMA regularly coordinates these activities with private-sector entities. National Response Framework and Emergency Support Functions FEMA's logistics and supply chain support authorities stem from the National Preparedness Systemand the National Response Framework (NRF)-interagency guidance that delineates agency roles andresponsibilities in federal responses to all types of incidents, including emergencies and major dis asters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Dis aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93- 288, as amended). The NRF organizes federal capabilities and resources for dis asterresponse into 15 emergency support functions (ESFs). Each ESF has at least one coordinating agency, primary agency, and supporting agency. Along with the General Services Administration (and 15 supporting agencies), FEMA coordinates ESF#7, logistics, assuming responsibility for centralized management of supply chain functions in support oflocal, state, tribal, territorial, insular area, and Federal governments for an actual or potential incident. That includes activities such as: * managing transportation ofmaterialfrom storage facilities and vendors to incidentsurvivors; * providing logistical supportto fire and other first responders; * coordinating the procurement of communications equipment and services; and * managing electronic data interchanges to allow for end- to-end visibility and tracking ofresponse resources. FEMAs Logistics Management Operations FEMA's supply chain resilience guide establishes procedures for FEMA, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTTs), and the private sector to maintain supply chains. Those steps are: * research and mapping, including identifying commodity suppliers andthe commodities' destinations; * analysis, including assessing the abilities of entities involved in dis aster response; * outreach, including identifying and prioritizing challenges and meeting to discuss initial analyses; * action, including developing and implementing preparedness activities; and * assessing and refining, including building relationships, updating analysis, and targeting outreach. FEMA's Logistics Supply Chain Management System oversees the agency's supply chain operations. These begin with an order for commodities, which can come from FEMA's headquarters ora regionaloffice, in anticipationof need. FEMA's Logistics Management Center approves the order, forwarding it to the Supply Chain Integration Branch, which sources the commodities and forwards the order to the TransportationManagement Branch. The Transportation Management Branch as sumes responsibility for moving commodities between locations, including by contracting with priv ate transportation companies. Like other agencies, FEMA can source contractors and supplies without full and open competition, as is usually required, when there is a need ofan unusual or compelling urgency. For eample, this might occur if a disaster so degraded an area's infrastructure that soliciting competitive bids would delay the delivery of life-s aving supplies. Another tool available to FEMA is the Defense Production Act (DPA, P.L. 81-774). The law provides the President certain authorities that can influence domestic industry in the interest of national defense. During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, FEMA invoked the DPA to strengthenthe supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE), which was scarce. FEMA used the DPA to prioritize federal governmentcontracts with private businesses to purchasePPEand to fund theprivate sector to expand domestic PPEproduction, among other activities. Private Sector Integratiun FEMA's disaster response activities require working with the private sector. This includes establishing contracts with private-sector entities to provide logistics and supply chain management support. For example, FEMA operates an advance contract programthat awards pre-disaster contracts-primarily to private companies-so that supplks and services canbe quickly deployed when a disaster occurs. In FY2022, FEMA had 101 advance contracts covering a variety of services and commodities, including provisionof bottled water, commercialmeals, generators and generator maintenance, and operations support. ncjressicnal Hes F~~*rch

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