Public Assistance: Purchasing Goods or Services Through Cooperative Purchasing Programs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program provides supplemental assistance to states, tribes, and local governmental entities, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations (hereinafter referred to as applicants). FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (2018 PA Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG) [V3.0]) provides comprehensive information regarding the assistance that FEMA can provide and the requirements applicants must meet in order to receive the assistance. The purpose of this Fact Sheet is to provide key information regarding the use of cooperative purchasing programs by non-state applicants for procurements above the simplified acquisition threshold. Failure to follow federal contracting requirements may jeopardize FEMA funding for costs associated with that contract.