07/ 24/ 2006
by Kay Bell
Does your company offer debris removal services? If so, Uncle Sam wants you.
Specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants your company to sign up at its new online Debris Contractor Registry. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the database will provide state and local governments with easy, 24/7 access to contractors who can provide community cleanup services.
The registry was launched June 1 in conjunction with the start of the 2006 hurricane season, but it is not restricted to jobs associated with hurricanes or other natural disasters. It is open to any contractors who specialize in debris removal. Such expertise is critical, whether the job is required following emergencies situations, such as damaging storms, or during the regular course of business.
The registry is part of Homeland Security's U.S. Public Private Partnership and is a pilot program of the National Emergency Resource Registry. So far, 280 contractors have signed up, and government officials began accessing the database on June 30.
John Shea of FEMA's public affairs office says the online registry will give governments across the nation another avenue to search for businesses and let them assess which companies will meet their debris management needs.
Signing up
You will soon be able to sign your company up on the FEMA Web site. There is no fee to list a business in the registry.
The online enrollment is self-guiding, walking new users of the system through the process. If you are registering for the first time, you will be taken to a screen with headings for personal and organizational information, as well as address and user login information where you'll create a unique login ID and password.
General information requested by the registry includes the year your business incorporated, bonding capacity and your company's Web site address, if you have one. In addition, you may enter a brief description of the services your company provides, as well as a list of references for previous debris removal work performed.
You will need a Data Universal Number System to register. A DUNS allows your company to get federal grants and lets the government track distribution of money. You can obtain a DUNS online at Dun & Bradstreet's Web site or, if you prefer, you can call the company's toll-free hotline at (866) 705-5711.
Once you have registered, you can return at any time to update your company's information.
It is to your company's advantage to provide as much information about your services and qualifications as possible and keep it up-to-date. FEMA does not verify the data you enter, nor does it endorse or recommend any contractors on the registry. Governments interested in hiring contractors will use the information that companies provide to help them determine whether a business would likely be able to meet bid requirements for pending or upcoming jobs.
If your company obtains a contract with a state or local government via the Debris Contractor Registry, the hiring government pays for the work completed. Under disaster declarations, FEMA will reimburse the hiring agency for eligible work completed.
If you have problems signing up or subsequently updating your data, you can call the registry's help desk at (703) 674-3003 (not a toll-free number) or e-mail usp3-support@mantech-ist.com for assistance.
