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| Small Businesses Gain Increased Role in Katrina Housing Effort 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. Bechtel has been working in Mississippi since early September to house families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. It 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. 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. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |