REGION 1 – FEMA recently awarded a $41,882,742 grant to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for the joint endeavor with the Operational Services Division. The two worked collaboratively to procure emergency materials and equipment on behalf of state agencies, municipalities, and private non-profits critical to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts response to COVID-19.
MEMA and its partners at Department of Public Health (DPH) pre-positioned purchased equipment and emergency supplies by storing and managing their allocation using its own order request system.
MEMA and DPH receives and manages the distribution of emergency materials and equipment on behalf of 351 cities and municipalities, state agencies, private non-profits, group homes, congregate facilities, funeral homes, emergency responders and essential healthcare facilities so they were able to perform, and continue to perform, emergency essential operations in response to COVID-19.
FEMA obligated more than $2 billion related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, as of May 6.
“In an effort to advance the sourcing of large quantities of critical supplies, MEMA and its partners at DPH played an integral role in providing end-to-end procurement for the purchase and distribution of critical supplies”, said Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA operations in New England. “We are pleased to provide this grant to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to continue the exemplary work being done in providing the resources necessary to fight the effects of COVID-19.
This project is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program that reimburses eligible applicants for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a major disaster. Eligible applicants include the state, federally recognized tribal governments, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. Project applications are submitted from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), which coordinates the process with eligible applicants.
FEMA awarded funding for this project directly to MEMA who works directly with the applicant to ensure all terms and conditions of the award are met before funding is disbursed.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters