Big housing services contract awarded

The Shaw Group of Baton Rouge received a contract with FEMA today (Thursday) for up to $100 million worth of post-disaster "support services," including "all support services necessary to provide housing assistance for displaced residents" of the Gulf Coast. Per the company's Web site it is seeking both staff and subcontractors. According to Forbes, its shares rose 14% on rumors before it got the contract and a further 2% within hours of the announcement. Later in the day Shaw announced an additional $100 million contract with the Army Corps of Engineers. Shaw was mentioned in the Washington Post contracting story that we cited here earlier. If any readers have worked with Shaw or can otherwise comment knowledgably on the company, could they please use the comments section below?

Reuters has more on the contracting picture, noting high demand for trailers and mobile homes especially.

[UPDATE: Here's the relevant EDGAR search for the Shaw Group.]

[UPDATE: Via TPM, the Shaw Group's CEO is chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. This and other details noted here because the wording of that press release suggests the Shaw Group may be given considerable power over any apartment owners who offer to house disaster-victim tenants.]