WASHINGTON— Information about federal contacting opportunities for small businesses able to support post-disaster cleanup and rebuilding in areas devastated by recent storms and flooding is now accessible through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Disaster Contracting Assistance Center.

The DCAC provides a central point of reference for small businesses, particularly minority, women and veteran owned businesses, to register for and learn about federal contracting opportunities.

"A vast area—from the Gulf States to the Midwest— suffered millions of dollars in property damage when these massive storms struck, and the rebuilding projects will stretch well into next year," said Acting SBA Administrator Sandy K. Baruah. "We want to make sure small businesses have the opportunity to seek federal contracting dollars, armed with detailed information that will make it possible for them to take advantage of thenet- work of available resources."

Business owners can visit the Web site at www.disastercontractingassistance. go v for a detailed look at how to seek government contracts. Also on the main page is a link to FedBizOpps, which allows businesses to sign up for e-mail notification of open contracts related to specified fields. In addition, steps on how to register for a Data Universal Number System identification number from Dun & Bradstreet, and information on how to sign up with the Central Contractor Registration — which establishes a company's eligibility to seek federal contracts—are provided on the DCAC site.

The site also provides information on prevailing wages in construction contracts, sub-contractor information and federal acquisitions regulations.

The DCAC can be contacted by phone at 1-888- 4USADOC (1-888-487- 2362) Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Saturday and Sunday. Contact the center by e-mail a t disastercustomerservice@sba .gov.

For more information about SBA's Disaster Assistance program, visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.