ARTICLE · 28 MARCH 2020

Coronavirus Emergency Declaration - Practical Advice For Government Contractors

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On Friday, March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act...

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Leon Fresco

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On Friday, March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This declaration has two practical impacts for government contractors:

A declaration under the Stafford Act puts the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in charge of coordinating all COVID-19 response efforts.
State and local governments can request a 75 percent cost-share for expenses related to emergency relief efforts, including food, medical supplies and any additional emergency assistance supplies and services.

The availability of additional federal funding means that state and local governments will likely seek additional services and supplies in support of emergency relief efforts. Contractors should consider taking proactive steps to ensure they are positioned to provide much-needed emergency assistance through these new

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