Mississippi Small Businesses Gain Increased Role in Katrina Housing Effort

Jackson-based engineering firm latest small business to win contract with Bechtel  

Jackson, MS, Nov. 4, 2005 -- Integrated Management Services (IMS), a Jackson-based company of about 250 employees, is the latest Mississippi small business to win a key role with Bechtel National, Inc., in providing housing for Hurricane Katrina victims. 

Designated a Small Disadvantaged Business by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), IMS was awarded a subcontract of close to $1 million to provide engineering services in support of Bechtel's contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

The subcontract's scope includes detailed designs of greenfield housing sites; conceptual designs of emergency group sites; and evaluation of city, county, and state requirements and building codes.

In an effort described by FEMA officials as "a remarkable success," Bechtel has been working in Mississippi since early September to house families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Bechtel's work, FEMA officials state, is helping provide temporary housing at a rate "faster than at any time in FEMA's history."

Bechtel has made more than 15,000 temporary housing units ready for occupancy, providing shelter to more than 38,500 people. On average, over 400 units a day are being made ready for occupancy. Mississippi subcontractors such as IMS have played a key role in Bechtel's effort.

With help from local construction industry groups, 60 percent of Bechtel's subcontracts have been awarded to firms in Mississippi and 73 percent to firms in the Gulf region. 85 percent of Bechtel's subcontracts have been awarded to small businesses.

"We are a local resource, with the capability and expertise to assist with the rebuilding of Mississippi," says Rod Hill, president and chief operating officer of IMS, which is based in an area of Jackson designated by the SBA as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone. 

"It's been a great experience working with Bechtel," Hill says. "We have one common goal: get this state back up and running. We have many clients along the Gulf Coast. Katrina caused a major interruption to our business. We wanted the opportunity to provide services and help with recovery and reconstruction, and we are stretching ourselves to help meet the emergency housing needs of the people of Mississippi."

Bechtel has issued additional bid packages to local small businesses for civil works projects, hauling of temporary housing, construction of stairs and ramps for temporary housing, and construction of additional group sites. More opportunities for local small businesses are in preparation, and Bechtel continues to purchase supplies and equipment from local small businesses.

"It is important to us that Mississippians rebuild Mississippi," says Bechtel Mississippi Operations Manager Ike Richardson. "Mississippi small businesses are essential to our success."

Based in Frederick, MD, Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) is a leading provider of services to the U.S. government, specializing in large, complex projects in such areas as defense, space, energy, security, and the environment. BNI is part of San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp., one of the world's premier engineering, construction, and project management companies, with experience on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries.