February 24th, 2006
FEMA wants IT system to manage disaster donations
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently posted a notice that it is looking for IT vendors that can create a central repository for tracking information on disaster-related donations, Washington Technology reports. The obvious choice is Aidmatrix, a Dallas-based nonprofit that
Hours after Hurrican Katrina struck … [was] setting up temporary IT systems to mobilize, warehouse, track and distribute private donations of food and other goods and services for victims of the disaster. Since then, it has raised more than $1 million and coordinated distribution of 30 million pounds of food aid in 34 Gulf Coast communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
This being the government, naturally FEMA has to look for alternative sources, but FEMA may negotiate a sole-source contract with Aidmatrix.
FEMA intends to deploy the new software in May. It is looking for an IT solution that can interact with federal agencies, integrate with private donations systems run by groups such as the American Red Cross, Adventist Community Services and Second Harvest and expand upon current capabilities, among other requirements.
