In an emergency, when time is of the essence, bidding out contracts for government-funded work is not practical. So it was no surprise that in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some debris-removal and other related types of work was awarded by federal officials on a no-bid basis.

But now that the emergency is over, there is time to require bidding to ensure the government is getting the best price and to watch out for work being awarded to politically connected companies.

For that reason, officials with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) deserve a cheer for announcing last week that millions of dollars in federal contracts for hurricane recovery efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will be rebid.

FEMA chief R. David Paulison's decision should help to cool criticism of some aspects of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Among the contracts to be rebid are four contracts for housing and construction services worth $100 million each.

Federal investigations and rebidding should ease concerns over the disposition of 80 percent of the $1.5 billion in FEMA contracts awarded with little or no competition and containing vague terms or open-ended provision.

U.S. taxpayers will be spending perhaps $200 billion in the reconstruction efforts along the Gulf Coast, it is important that they be assured the money is being spent wisely, efficiently and without regard to political connections.

The FEMA decision to rebid and closely examine all existing contracts is a step in the right direction.