GSA Plans Gulf Coast Set-Asides GSA has moved to expedite set-aside contracts for businesses in the Gulf Coast area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Under an Aug. 30 order signed by Administrator Lurita Doan, GSA contracting officers have blanket authority to set aside recovery contracts for local small firms. The Stafford Disaster Relief and Recovery Act allows preferences for local businesses, but a separate justification must be issued for each contract. GSA said Doan’s order serves as a blanket justification that will make it quicker and easier to award local set-asides. “Local small businesses are the backbone of every community,” Doan said in a statement. “Revitalizing the small businesses is one of the most significant ways we can aid in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region.” House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez, D-NY, has criticized the agency for giving too little work to local firms. Earlier this year the committee found GSA had awarded only 6% of its recovery contract dollars to Gulf Coast small businesses. Doan said the figure was actually 23%. In addition GSA said it has conducted several small business partnering events to connect local businesses with subcontracting opportunities and plans a series of monthly meetings in the Gulf region to enroll local small firms in the HubZone and GSA Schedules program.