Request for Information - FEMA Public-Assistance Technical Assistance (PA-TAC) VI Contract

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) Contracts to support FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) activities, serving as a follow-on to the PA-TAC V contract. The primary goal is to provide qualified contractor personnel to assist FEMA in delivering the PA Program effectively and efficiently in response to Presidentially declared disasters and other emergencies.

The contract will involve up to ten (10) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, awarded competitively within five defined zones (Atlantic, East, Central, West, HQ & CRC). Key services include:

• Site Inspection (SI) support
• Field Technical support
• Program Delivery Manager (PDMG) support
• Technical support for equipment rates and the PA Community Disaster Loan (CDL) Program
• PA appeals, audits, and arbitration support
• PA program analysis
• Cost Estimating Format (CEF) support
• Consolidated Resource Center (CRC) support
• National-level mission support tasks (training, planning, project management)

Contractors must adhere to quality standards outlined in the PWS and applicable documents. Performance will be monitored via a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). Specific reporting requirements include a Management Plan, Quality Control Plan (QCP), Training Plan, Security Startup Roster, Final Voucher and Closeout Tracker, and Annual/Final Reports.

The contract includes a base period and four option periods, extending from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2031. The Place of Performance will be specified at the Task Order Proposal Request (TOPR) level and may include contractor sites, FEMA offices, or remote locations within the U.S. and its territories.

• Personnel: Requires qualified personnel with specific labor categories (detailed in Table 1), including Key Personnel (Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager) with defined experience and qualifications. Background investigations (Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 4) are mandatory for all personnel based on risk designation.
• Security: Adherence to strict security protocols, including safeguarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), IT security awareness training, privacy training, and background investigations.
• Compliance: Must comply with all applicable federal regulations, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, CFR, FAR, and DHS directives.
• Reporting: Regular reporting on performance, personnel, and contract status is required.
• Use of Local Firms: Contractors are encouraged to utilize local firms where feasible.
• Contract Type: Hybrid IDIQ with Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Labor Hour (LH), and Time & Materials (T&M) CLINs.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains vendor questions and FEMA's responses regarding a Request for Information (RFI) related to PA-TAC VI. It aims to clarify requirements and gather feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• PWS Clarity: Vendors were asked if the draft PWS is clear and sufficient for proposal development. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Proposal Timeline: The RFI questioned if 30 days is sufficient for proposal preparation for a full trade-off best value source selection. Vendors were asked to provide a reasonable timeframe if 30 days is insufficient. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Company Capabilities: Vendors were asked to detail their ability to perform all requirements, including current capabilities, staff availability, and mobilization speed for concurrent FEMA operations. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Small Business Limitations: Certified Small Businesses were asked about their ability to meet requirements while conforming to FAR 52.219-14(e)(1), Limitations on Subcontracting. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Financial Resources: Vendors were questioned on their financial capacity to meet base contract requirements and sustain out-of-pocket expenditures, specifically addressing the development of PA-related training and provision of services under PWS 4, given the proposed guaranteed minimum funding. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Labor Rates: Vendors were asked for recommendations to enable proposing the lowest fully-burdened labor rates and any associated tradeoffs or risks. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• Labor Categories: The sufficiency of proposed labor categories and quantities in PWS 2.3 was questioned, along with suggestions for inclusions/exclusions. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).
• General PWS Comments: Vendors were invited to provide any concerns, comments, or recommendations regarding the draft PWS. (No specific response provided in the extracted text).

This RFI and its responses (when available) will inform the final solicitation by clarifying requirements, potentially adjusting timelines, and ensuring the PWS is clear and achievable for potential bidders. The questions highlight key areas of concern for vendors regarding capability, financial capacity, and proposal preparation.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct market research regarding industry capabilities and interest for Public Assistance Technical Assistance Contracts (PA-TAC VI). This is not a solicitation, and no contract will be awarded from this RFI. FEMA is seeking industry comments on a draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) to inform future acquisition strategies.

FEMA is requesting feedback on the following:

• Clarity, conciseness, and sufficiency of the draft PWS for proposal development.

• Adequacy of a 30-day proposal preparation timeframe for a full trade-off best value source selection.

• Company capabilities to perform all requirements, including staff mobilization for concurrent operations.

• Ability of Small Businesses to meet subcontracting limitations (FAR 52.219-14(e)(1)).

• Financial resources to meet contract requirements, including training and other applicable conditions, given the proposed minimum funding.

• Recommendations for achieving the lowest fully-burdened labor rates and any associated trade-offs.

• Sufficiency of proposed Labor Categories and quantities, and suggestions for additions/deletions.

• General concerns, comments, or recommendations regarding the draft PWS.

• The draft PWS outlines support for the Public Assistance (PA) Program and FEMA in CONUS and OCONUS.

• The NAICS code for this procurement is 541611.

• Responses are voluntary and will not be paid for.

• Submissions must be in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format.

• A capability statement (max 3 pages) and answers in an attached Q&A spreadsheet are required.

• Responses must be emailed to Sharon Edwards (sharon.edwards3@fema.dhs.gov) and Erich Ducote (erich.ducote@fema.dhs.gov) with the subject line: “RFI Response – (Company Name), PA-TAC VI”.

• Responses are due by Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 2:00 pm ET.

• Respondents will not be automatically notified of any future solicitation.

• Interested parties should monitor www.fbo.gov for official announcements.