Effective August 31, 2009, certain applicants for federal Public Assistance funding resulting from damages incurred from hurricanes Katrina and Rita may participate in a new arbitration process pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-5. The new arbitration system is designed to further recovery efforts by providing final adjudication of particular disputes involving projects in excess of $500,000 by an independent, neutral panel of arbitrators.
For specific information on eligibility for this process, including filing deadlines, please see 44 CFR § 206.209 (PDF 47KB) and Frequently Asked Questions. The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) will be providing the arbitration services through three judge panels.
When seeking arbitration, the Public Assistance applicant must simultaneously file a written request with the CBCA, FEMA, and the State. See 44 CFR § 206.209(e)(2). The State may choose to file a recommendation in support of, or in opposition to, the applicant’s request for arbitration. Such recommendation must be filed simultaneously with the CBCA, FEMA, and the applicant. See 44 CFR § 206.209(e)(3). FEMA must simultaneously file its written response to the applicant’s request for arbitration with the CBCA, the applicant, and the State. See 44 CFR § 206.209(e)(4). The parties must submit filings by either courier or overnight delivery service (such as Federal Express, DHL, United Parcel Service, or the United States Postal Service overnight delivery). See 44 CFR § 206.209(e)(5). All overnight deliveries, except by the United States Postal Service (USPS), should be addressed to CBCA’s street address. USPS overnight deliveries must be addressed to the CBCA mailing address. The CBCA requires that each party submit three (3) copies of all filings to the CBCA, and one (1) copy each to the other parties.
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
Where to Submit:
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA)
1800 F ST., NW, Washington, 20405
Sixth Floor, 1800 M St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
- CBCA Clerk of the Board
- 202-606-8800
- Fax: 202-606-0019
- www.cbca.gsa.gov
If from Louisiana, please also send your request to:
- FEMA
ATTN: Gary Jones
Acting Regional Administrator
800 N. Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76209
- State
Deputy Director Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)
7667 Independence Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 925-7500
If from Texas, please also send your request to:
- FEMA
ATTN: Gary Jones
Acting Regional Administrator
800 N. Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76209
- State
ATTN: Ben Patterson
State Coordinating Officer
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, TX 78777-0220
If from Mississippi, please also send your request to:
- FEMA
ATTN: Valerie Rhoads, RM 230
FEMA Region IV
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
- State
ATTN: Thomas M. Womack
Executive Director
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 5644
Pearl, MS 39288
If from Alabama, please also send your request to:
- FEMA
ATTN: Valerie Rhoads, RM 230
FEMA Region IV
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
- State
ATTN: Mr. William B. (Brock) Long, Director
Alabama Emergency Management Agency
Post Office Drawer 2160
Clanton, Alabama 35046-2160
If you have any administrative questions regarding the CBCA's process, you may contact the Clerk of the Board at: Phone (202) 606-8800; and Fax (202) 606-0019. See also the CBCA’s webpage at www.cbca.gsa.gov.
Arbitration Request Documents
Applicant: State of Louisiana Facility Planning and Control
Docket #: CBCA-1741-FEMA
- Applicant Request (PDF 3.89MB)
- FEMA Response Document 1 (PDF 7.01MB)
- FEMA Response Document 2 (PDF 8.55MB)
Applicant: Moss Point School District
Docket #: CBCA-1800-FEMA
Applicant: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Docket # : CBCA-1760-FEMA
Applicant: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Docket # : CBCA-1761-FEMA
Applicant: State of Louisiana Facility, Planning, and Control Repair/Replacement Charity Hospital
Docket #: CBCA-1768-FEMA
Applicant: Mississippi State Port Authority
Docket #: CBCA-1757-FEMA
Applicant: Forrest County Board of Supervisors
Docket#: CBCA-1772-FEMA
Applicant: University of Southern Mississippi
Docket # : CBCA-1781-FEMA
Applicant: City of Westwego
Docket #: CBCA-1783-FEMA
Applicant: West Cameron Port Commission
Docket # : CBCA-1775-FEMA
Applicant: St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Department
Docket #: CBCA-1776-FEMA
Applicant: Sabine Pass Port Authority
Docket # : CBCA-1787-FEMA
Applicant: Jefferson Parish
Docket #: CBCA-1780-FEMA
- Applicant Request Letter (PDF 88KB)
- Applicant Request Submission (PDF 613KB)
- FEMA Response Document (PDF 5MB)
Applicant: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Docket #: CBCA-1759-FEMA
Applicant: Bay St. Louis - Waveland School District
Docket #: CBCA-1739-FEMA
Applicant: St. Tammany Parish
Docket #: CBCA-1778-FEMA
Applicant: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Docket #: CBCA-1758-FEMA
If you need an accessible version of any of these documents, please contact Tod Wells at tod.wells@dhs.gov.