FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 11, 2005

 

GUTIERREZ ANNOUNCES HURRICANE
CONTRACTING INFORMATION CENTER
One-Stop Shop to Help U.S. Businesses Participate in Hurricane Rebuilding Efforts

Washington, D.C. - Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced the Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) that will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.

“ The administration is reaching out to companies of all sizes, especially minority-owned enterprises, to guarantee that those seeking to join the rebuilding efforts can navigate federal agencies and bid for contracts with ease,” Gutierrez said. “This center provides the necessary information to U.S. businesses to participate in Gulf Coast contracting, subcontracting and reconstruction .”

The HCIC is an interagency effort to provide a centralized location for information and services available throughout the government geared to help in the contracting process. The HCIC is designed to assist U.S. businesses, especially minority owned businesses and small and medium size enterprises interested in helping with the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Region. The HCIC is being staffed by representatives from various federal agencies including:

Department of Commerce	Department of Defense
Department of Energy	Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security	Department of Labor
Department of Transportation	Department of Education
General Services Administration	Small Business Administration
United States Department of Agriculture	Department of Housing and Urban Development

The HCIC includes a website (www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov) that allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast . The website also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services.

The HCIC also includes a call center (1-888-4USADOC) with representatives from different government agencies onsite to provide information on rebuilding opportunities. The call center will help businesses navigate the state and federal contracting process.

The HCIC will provide information and add transparency to the contracting process, but will not award contracts. Those responsibilities will remain with the specific government agencies.

 

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