Common use of Expenses for Personnel Clause in Contracts

Expenses for Personnel. During a federally declared disaster, only the actual hours worked beyond the regular duty time, either overtime or regular time hours, including Fringe benefits, can be claimed for FEMA category A and B (Emergency Work). Pay rates will be in accordance with the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), pay ordinance or plan that is in effect at the time of the Plan activation. Standby time is not eligible for reimbursement. If time and one-half or double time is paid to regular hourly employees for overtime or holiday work, these payments must be in accordance with rates established prior to the disaster. Volunteer emergency service personnel activated by this plan may submit claims to the impacted jurisdiction(s) for reimbursement at the rate of $12.00 per hour for personnel who are identified as members of public safety agencies who receive minimal or no compensation. In some cases, FEMA may approve reimbursement for overtime costs associated with “backfilling”. If approved, this option would allow the department to be reimbursed when personnel are called back to work on an overtime basis to replace existing employees already approved to perform disaster related activities elsewhere. To facilitate this reimbursement, the responding department must have a written policy concerning “backfilling” in existence prior to the disaster. Expenses for Equipment Each department may be eligible for reimbursement for the use of equipment owned (Force Account Equipment) by the department when it is used in disaster work. To assist in the reimbursement process, FEMA has developed a “Schedule of Equipment Rates”. The impacted jurisdiction should obtain the most recent version of the schedule available at (xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxx/xx/xxxxxxx.xxxx) prior to submitting for reimbursement. Damage/Loss of Equipment Equipment that is damaged and/or lost during disaster incidents may be eligible for reimbursement. The damage and/or loss must be documented along with sufficient supportive documentation such as video and/or photographs. Factors such as insurance, salvage, and age of the equipment (a Blue Book type of figure) will also be considered as a part of the review of the claim. If the documentation is not comprehensive, detailed and accurate, portions of the claim and possibly the entire claim may be disallowed.