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Issue 3 February 2022
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FEMA TENDER OF SERVICE PROGRAM
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The onboarding period for the 2022 FEMA Tender of Service program year has ended. Since November 16th, 2021, the FEMA Tender of Service program team has been working diligently to onboard new and re-applying Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) for the 2022 program year. We want to extend a warm welcome to our new Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) and a hearty welcome back to our previously approved TSPs. The 2021 program year is still in progress and will end on April 30th, 2022. For our 2022 FEMA Approved TSPs, the program year begins on May 1st, 2022, and the 2022 STOS also goes into effect. For the TSPs that were not approved or missed the onboarding deadline, worry not; we welcome you to try again for the 2023 program year. Keep an eye out for future announcements and updates on our program's website at
www.fema.gov/transportation-programs.
We'd like to hear from our TSPs that participated in the onboarding season of the FEMA Tender of Service Program. Please keep a lookout for a survey from us soon. Your feedback will help us improve our onboarding process for the next season.
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Now that you have fully completed the onboarding process, you're probably wondering what comes next. One of the first steps is to ensure that at least one team member has access to Web Tenders in LSCMS. FEMA will grant Web Tenders access after completing the Logistics Gateway training and passing the final exam with an 80% or higher score. Web Tenders is a critical tool for providing LSCMS users with up-to-date shipment statuses. Additionally, it contributes significantly to meeting the In-Transit Visibility performance metric. It is also not a bad idea to retake the training as a refresher for our re-approved TSPs that have not taken the Logistics Gateway training in a while.
Furthermore, as a FEMA Approved TSP, you must log in to LSCMS at least once a month to prevent your account from getting deactivated. Take into consideration that you must also maintain an active registration in the System For Award Management (SAM) and valid cargo insurance even after approval.
As a FEMA-Approved TSP, you must be prepared to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergencies can strike at any hour of the day or night. FEMA requires TSPs to provide a single point of contact (email and phone number) so that we can contact you for potential transportation opportunities. It is beneficial to provide FEMA with a reliable bid contact email and phone number to respond when contacted quickly. Keep in mind your organization can only have one bid contact, so it is helpful to use a group email address for your bid contact. If one team member is unavailable, another team member can view the FEMA request and respond promptly. With that said, the most effective way for a TSP to increase their chances of being awarded FEMA shipment opportunities, is to provide efficient and effective service. FEMA places high value on TSPs that respond quickly to agency requests, pick up and deliver shipments on time, and avoid performance failures.
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For FEMA-Approved TSPs providing Motor Freight Services (TL/LTL) to FEMA, you have the option of submitting linehaul rates and accessorials during the open rate filing cycle. The Rate Filing Cycle begins on March 2nd, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. EST and ends on March 30th, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST and applies to Motor Freight Trucking TSPs only. FEMA does not solicit rates for Air, Maritime, Rail, and TTHU services, as they are spot bid only.
The rates submitted will take effect on May 1st, 2022, and will remain in effect until April 30th, 2023. Motor Freight TSPs interested in submitting rates for the 2022 program year are strongly encouraged to attend the online training sessions that will walk them through the process of submitting rate offers. The following dates will be available for this training:
- Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Wednesday, February 16th, 2022, 10:00 a.m. EST
FEMA will email invitations to all eligible Motor Freight TSPs to register for one of the training dates before the first training course. If you haven't received an invitation already, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at fema-transportation-programs@fema.dhs.gov.
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Frequently Asked Questions
 Q: My Company was approved for the 2022 Program Year, when do I start getting loads?
A: TSPs approved for the 2022 program year will be eligible to receive transportation moves from FEMA starting May 1st, 2022. Remember that registration with the FEMA Tender of Service Program does not guarantee that you will be offered transportation opportunities with FEMA. There may be times when FEMA has very few transportation requirements as well as times when FEMA has an urgent need for a great deal of transportation support.
Q: Even though onboarding is over, can I request LSCMS access for new users in my Company?
A: Yes. We will continue to process LSCMS User Request Forms for TSPs that are approved in the FEMA Tender of Service Program. We will not accept new LSCMS User Request Forms for TSPs that were not approved in the program.
Q: I am a FEMA approved Motor Freight TSP, do I have to submit rates during the rate filing process?
A: You are not required to submit rates as a FEMA-Approved Motor Freight TSP. If you do not submit rates, you will only be eligible for One Time Only (OTO) Spot Bids.
Q: My Company started the onboarding process before the deadline, but was not approved for the 2022 program year. How can I find out why?
A: You can send an email to fema-transportation-programs@fema.dhs.gov for information regarding your onboarding status. Make sure to include your company name and SCAC in the email.
Q: When does onboarding for the 2023 program year begin?
A: We have not yet determined the dates for the 2023 onboarding season, but onboarding typically begins in November or December of each year. Your best bet is to keep an eye on our program's website for any future updates and announcements.
Q: My Company was not approved for the 2022 program year, but I plan on applying for the 2023 program year. Will I get to keep my LSCMS account?
A: If you were not approved for the 2022 program year, your LSCMS account and all accounts associated with your Company profile will be deactivated. To begin the application process for the new program year, you must submit a new LSCMS User Request Form once onboarding re-opens in late 2022.
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