Streamlining FEMA Procurement Procedures Act of 2025
This bill permits local governments to use certain procurement methods for hiring construction managers under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA's) Public Assistance (PA) program. It also raises to $3 million the maximum project cost threshold for PA’s simplified procedures.
Under existing regulations governing procurement using federal funds, local governments hiring a construction manager at risk (i.e., contractor who oversees construction and is responsible for costs exceeding a maximum project price) must consider the prices of proposals as a primary selection factor. Currently, local governments may not use qualifications-based procurement, where price is not used as a primary selection factor, unless it is only for architectural and engineering services.
The bill requires FEMA to issue regulations allowing local governments to hire construction managers at risk using qualifications-based procurement, regardless of the types of services procured, when using PA funds to restore or replace disaster-damaged facilities.
Also, the bill increases from $1 million to $3 million the project cost threshold below which FEMA is authorized to provide PA funds based on approved cost estimates rather than the documented incurred costs required to receive PA funds for larger projects.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5533 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5533
To direct the President to ensure that local governments may use
Construction Manager at Risk procurement methods in carrying out
certain activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 2025
Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the President to ensure that local governments may use
Construction Manager at Risk procurement methods in carrying out
certain activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlining FEMA Procurement
Procedures Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. USE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK PROCUREMENT METHODS.
(a) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall issue such regulations as
are necessary to ensure that, with respect to any activity carried out
under section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172), a local government may use
Construction Manager at Risk procurement methods, including
qualifications-based procurement procedures, for the acquisition of any
goods or services, whether professional, technical, construction-
related, or non-professional, necessary to complete such activity.
(b) Simplified Procedure.--Section 422(a) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189(a)) is
amended by striking ``$1,000,000'' each place it appears and inserting
``$3,000,000''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
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