Section 26.202 - Local area preference(a) When awarding emergency response contracts during the term of a major disaster or emergency declaration by the President of the United States under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 , et seq.), preference shall be given, to the extent feasible and practicable, to local firms. Preference may be given through a local area set-aside or an evaluation preference.(b) When using the authority under the Stafford Act, see the definitions of "micro-purchase threshold" and "simplified acquisition threshold" in 2.101 for the authority to use an increased micro-purchase threshold and simplified acquisition threshold. 72 FR 63087 , Nov. 7, 2007, as amended at 84 FR 19837 , May 6, 2019