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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 15

(b.) A resolution from the board of directors, governing board or county/city commission stating their willingness to serve the unserved county(ies), and to comply with all federal and state rules, regulations and program assurances. The Letter of Interest will announce the interested entities’ intent to apply to be the designated service provider. Upon receipt of the Letter of Interest, DEO will mail the “Request for Qualifications” package to the interested entity.

PHASE TWO

Within 60 days of the due date of the Letter of Interest (or 60 days from the date of the last Letter of Interest received):

A second publicly noticed hearing on the selection of a proposed service provider will be held by the county government or DEO for the unserved area. At least two weeks prior to the date of the hearing, it must be noted in the local newspaper, in the Florida Administrative Register, and provided to all known interested parties (including all existing LIHEAP provider subrecipients with service areas contiguous to or in reasonable proximity to the unserved county). In addition, other social service agencies aiding in the unserved county must be notified by mail. The notice must list the names of all agencies that provided a Letter of Interest to the county commission and DEO (as required in Phase One) and submitted a completed “Request for Qualifications” package per the instructions listed in the second public notice. The applicants must be given an opportunity to present their qualifications to the board of county commissioners and DEO at the public hearing. If the county chooses to hold the hearing, this hearing may be part of a regularly scheduled commission meeting or at a specially scheduled meeting. The public hearing must take place before the commission makes its decision and recommendation to DEO. If for any reason the county commission declines to conduct this public hearing, DEO will conduct the public hearing using the above criteria in the unserved county(ies). The commission may ask for, and DEO may grant, a time extension not to exceed an additional 60 days from the date of the request.

Once the hearing has concluded, if the county commission held the meeting on behalf of DEO, the county may submit to DEO a letter from the chief executive officer of the unserved county reporting the outcome of the public hearing and revealing the county commission’s recommendation. If DEO holds the hearing, DEO will consider comments made at the hearing, along with the submitted “Request for Qualifications” packages, and DEO committee will score the applications and submit their final decision to DEO’s Executive Director for consideration.

PHASE THREE

After the final selection of a new provider subrecipient by DEO, and after all required documents are reviewed and approved by DEO, a formal request will be made to the Governor that they designate them as the new provider subrecipient for the unserved county.

EXTENSIONS

During any phase of this process DEO may, at the request of an applicant entity, extend the time period allowed for the submission of documents. The extension shall be no longer than 90 days.