1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |FEMA to Release New Emergency Management Priorities and Allocation System to Govern FEMA DPA Title I Activities

FEMA to Release New Emergency Management Priorities and Allocation System to Govern FEMA DPA Title I Activities

Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.12.20

On May 13, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will publish an interim final rule establishing the Emergency Management Priorities and Allocation System (EMPAS) pursuant to Title I of the Defense Production Act (DPA). As drafted, EMPAS will apply beyond the current COVID-19 context and will become part of the Federal Priority and Allocations System (which includes, for example, the Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) and the Health Resources Priority and Allocations System (HRPAS)). Although largely similar to the DPAS and HRPAS, EMPAS also provides express authorization to issue rated orders to facilitate sales of health and medical resources to third parties while simultaneously rejecting any government financial liability for such orders (44 C.F.R. § 333.12(c) and 333.19). EMPAS is effective immediately upon publication, and comments on the interim final rule will be accepted through June 12, 2020.

Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 03.03.25

HHS Suggests It Will Provide Less Notice and Opportunity for Comment on Grant and Contract Rules

On February 28, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it was rescinding the Richardson Waiver, a policy in place since 1971 which said HHS would provide notice of proposed rulemaking in certain cases where it was not otherwise required to do so by law. This announcement signals a policy shift for the agency and suggests that where permitted by law, HHS will generally now issue rules relating to “agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts” without providing notice and comment to stakeholders, and may otherwise find good cause to forego notice and comment procedures....