# DLA Energy and FEMA's partnership continues

/ Published Oct. 25, 2017
FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, 
As it has in the past, Defense Logistics Agency Energy supports hurricane relief efforts for recovery across the nation. So far, this year has been a challenging hurricane season and although it’s a coordinated effort to get the job done, one of the most dedicated team members is Contracting Officer Georgia Dotson.

“There are a lot of moving parts and awesome people involved in making the support a success,” Dotson said. “Fuel is the feeding line of an entire area to recover from a disaster, and I help to make that happen.”  

DLA Energy is the executive agent for Class III products, petroleum, oil and lubricants, and has been providing support to Federal Emergency Management Agency through its multi-purpose fuel contingency contract since September 2005. Since Aug. 25, just before Hurricane Harvey made landfall, the contract was activated and Dotson assumed the role of managing the contract. 

“This contingency contract is activated by FEMA and has a five-year performance period covering the continental U.S. for diesel and gasoline,” she said. “Once activated, I coordinate between FEMA and the contractor to provide fuel requirements to the designated Incident Support Base location, which is normally close to the affected area.”

Dotson executes contracting authority and coordination of contracting action which includes acting as business advisor, buyer, negotiator, administrator during the duration of the contract.

“Once the contract has demobilized, a complete reconciliation is performed between FEMA, Task Force Americas and contractor,” she said. 

To assist with the hurricane relief in Puerto Rico, DLA Energy is providing support to the territory and Dotson is working with a team to add the territory to the FEMA contract for diesel, gasoline and propane. A contract that originally only covered the 48 continental states. 

“Between relief efforts in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, DLA Energy has provided more than 380,000 gallons of gasoline and 1.3 million gallons of diesel,” she said.  

Dotson finds the work she does to be challenging and satisfying especially knowing she is able to assist others during a difficult time.

“I receive self-satisfaction of knowing that by awarding a fuel contract, I can make a difference,” she said. “The FEMA contract is a primary example of how that works. The fuel being provided is going to generators at hospitals so that they can continue providing care to the community and shelters to people who have lost their homes.”

TFA, a team of DLA Energy Americas employees, has supported FEMA relief operations since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas. The task force is currently in Puerto Rico assisting FEMA and 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. With the current contract Dotson controls, 114 trucks are on the ground containing 299,000 gallons of diesel and 55,000 of gasoline. During this hurricane season, 13 orders have been placed for diesel and gasoline.

“As a contracting officer, my primary responsibility is to support the warfighter, DOD and federal civilian agencies,” Dotson said. “I have multiple long-term contracts in the continental U.S. and overseas, providing various types of fuel to different locations.”

Dotson became a contracting officer in 2010, and this is her first time supporting FEMA during a hurricane season since transferring to her current division.