FAR 4.1104—Disaster Response Registry.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 4.1104 requires contracting officers to consult the Disaster Response Registry in SAM.gov before awarding contracts for certain disaster-related work. The section applies when the Government is contracting for debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief activities performed inside the United States and its outlying areas. Its purpose is to help agencies identify local or regional sources that have registered as available for disaster response work, which can support faster, more effective, and potentially more competitive emergency contracting. In practice, this rule is a mandatory market research and source-identification step for covered disaster response acquisitions, not a separate set-aside or award preference. The cross-reference to FAR 26.205 signals that this registry consultation is part of the broader disaster response contracting framework and should be considered alongside other emergency procurement requirements.
Key Rules
Consult the registry
Contracting officers must check the Disaster Response Registry in SAM.gov when the acquisition is for covered disaster or emergency relief activities. The rule is mandatory for the listed types of work and is not optional.
Covered disaster work
The requirement applies to debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief activities. The section is focused on response work tied to disasters or emergencies, not ordinary construction or routine services.
Geographic scope
The registry must be consulted for work performed inside the United States and its outlying areas. The rule does not extend this specific requirement to overseas disaster response acquisitions.
Use SAM.gov search path
The regulation specifies the Disaster Response Registry search function within SAM.gov, using the Advanced Search path. Contracting officers should use the designated registry search rather than relying on informal lists or prior contacts.
Coordinate with FAR 26.205
The parenthetical cross-reference to FAR 26.205 indicates that this registry check is part of the disaster response contracting rules in Part 26. Contracting officers should read the two provisions together to ensure they satisfy all related disaster-response acquisition requirements.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must consult the Disaster Response Registry in SAM.gov before contracting for covered disaster or emergency relief activities within the United States and outlying areas. The contracting officer should use the prescribed search method and incorporate the registry check into the acquisition file as part of the market research or source-selection record.
Agency Acquisition Staff
Should support the contracting officer by ensuring access to SAM.gov, documenting the registry search when needed, and aligning disaster-response procurement procedures with FAR Part 26 requirements. They may also help identify whether the contemplated work falls within the covered categories.
Potential Contractors
May register in the Disaster Response Registry to increase visibility for disaster-response opportunities. While not required by this section to compete, registration can improve a firm's chances of being found for urgent response work.
Practical Implications
This is a quick but mandatory pre-award check for covered disaster-response buys, so it should be built into emergency procurement checklists.
A common pitfall is assuming that because the acquisition is urgent, the registry search can be skipped; the rule still applies unless another authority clearly changes the process.
Contracting officers should document the search in the contract file, especially when using expedited procedures, so the file shows compliance if later reviewed.
Contractors that expect to perform disaster work should keep their SAM.gov information current and consider registering in the Disaster Response Registry to improve discoverability.
Because the rule is tied to specific types of work and locations, the first practical question is whether the requirement actually falls within debris removal, supplies distribution, reconstruction, or similar emergency relief inside the United States or outlying areas.
Official Regulatory Text
Contracting officers shall consult the Disaster Response Registry via https://www.sam.gov , Search Records, Advanced Search, Disaster Response Registry Search when contracting for debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief activities inside the United States and outlying areas. (See 26.205 ).