FEMA ready to roll

It seems that FEMA is playing catch-up to Sandy's victims. Sure, they promised to deliver bottled drinking water. They put in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation on November 2nd -- five days after Sandy made landfall. From the Federal Government's Business Opportunities comes this solicitation:

bottled water 470 tractor trailer or truck loads of water. Equates 2.3M gallons. Proposals are due by 4:30pm on 11/02/2012
Solicitation Number: HSFE70-R-0010
Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Office: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Location: Region IV
Posted Date: November 2, 2012

THIS ACQUISITON IS SET ASIDE FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITON This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued....

It drones on -- government language -- more:

Specifications Requirements FEMA is requesting 2.3M gallons of bottle water which equates 470 tractor trailer truck loads. Package shall be wrapped and palletized. Date of Delivery: The date of delivery will be on 11/05/2012 by 4:30PM

And more:

SHIPPING/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: Delivery Location: Republic FSA 7150 Republic Airport Road East Farmingdale, NY 11735

They had at least ten days heads up and five days of actual time to get this done. Five days after landfall, they are now finally getting around to ordering the water on Friday and they are expecting delivery the next Monday? Sale, shipment and delivery of 470 tractor trailer truck loads - bid goes out November 2nd and they are expecting delivery on November 5th -- to serve people who have been without potable water for, at that time, a full week. Oh - and that line in the RFQ: THIS ACQUISITON IS SET ASIDE FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITON? ACQUISITON and COMPETITON are both missing an I at the end: acquisitIon and competitIon. You might want to run a spell checker before you post something...