60FF-5.002: Rural County Grants
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule provides the requirements and approval process for the Rural County Program.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Rural County Grants.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 365.172(b)(a)12., 365.173(2)(c), (g) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 365.173(2)(c), (g) FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: John C. Ford, Executive Director, E911 Board, 4030 Esplanade Way, Suite 235M, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
60FF-5.002 Rural
The E911 Rural County Grant program is a semi-annual grant program provided for the purpose of assisting rural counties, as defined by Section 365.172(3)(y), F.S., with the installation and maintenance of an Enhanced 911 (E911) system.
(1) Eligibility. Any county with a population of fewer than 75,000 is eligible to apply. The county must be currently assessing the full $0.50/month nonwireless fee provided in Section 365.172(8)(f), F.S.
(2) General conditions.
(a) Each rural county applying for rural county grant funds shall complete and submit W Form 1A, “Application for the E911 Rural County Grant Program,” effective 7/1/2007, which is incorporated herein by reference and which may be obtained from the E911 Board office at the following address:
State of
ATTN: Administrative Assistant
Building
The applicant must provide the original grant application and seven copies postmarked or delivered to the Board's Office on or before March 1 or October 1 of each year, dependant on the fall or spring application period.
(b) The E911 Board will approve grants for leased equipment only if the applicant county can demonstrate that a lease agreement would be financially beneficial to the grant program as a whole.
(c) Applications for grants for each item over $25,000 must be accompanied by at least three written competitive quotes. The E911 Board will compare the three quotes to any existing state contract in order to determine appropriate funding. Sole source funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Justification and documentation for sole-source funding must be provided with this application.
(d) Priorities for awarding of grants will be determined by the Board. Grant priorities may be adjusted by the Board and published with the grant application package three (3) months prior to the application submission date. The grant priority list is available as an addendum with the grant application at the start of each grant cycle at the address shown in paragraph (2)(a) above.
(e) The E911 Board may approve funding salary requests on an annual basis.
(f) No grant money will be awarded to be used for the purpose of paying call-takers' salaries.
(g) Two or more rural counties may apply for a joint grant, but each county must complete and submit W Form 1A as requested and indicated.
(h) Grant funds shall be deposited in a bank account maintained by the grantee county, and each grant shall be assigned a unique accounting code designation for deposits, disbursements, and expenditures. All E911
(i) Grantee counties must submit quarterly reports to the E911 Board, summarizing the expenditures and activities of the grant funds. The reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period, which ends September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30. In lieu of submitting a signed quarterly Grant Budget/Expenditure Report form, the updated form can be e-mailed to the Board's administrative/technical staff. The quarterly and final reports will be considered late if not received by the Board Staff prior to the next scheduled Board Meeting after the due date.
(j) At project completion, a final report shall be submitted based on the same reporting periods described above. The County shall determine the final completion date based on the final payment date or the initiation date of the warranty period. Final supporting documentation including copies of all expenditures and corresponding invoices shall be submitted within 90 days of the final report.
(k) Grant funds are not transferable to any other entity. If equipment purchased using grant funds is sold or transferred within three (3) years of the end of the grant period, the grantee county must return the grant funds to the E911 Board on a pro-rata basis.
(l) The E911 Board will adjust the funds awarded to a rural county based upon eligibility of requested items, institutional knowledge of Board members, published quotes, increased effectiveness of grant funds, minimum allowable specifications for performing the needed E911 function, or other documented factors.
(3) The
Spring Schedule
Counties submit applications: by March 1
E911 Board evaluates applications: March – April
Board votes on applications at regularly scheduled meetings: March – June
Board sends notification of award and issues checks to counties approved for funding: before June 30
Fall Schedule
Counties submit applications: by October 1
E911 Board evaluates applications: October – November
Board votes on applications at regularly scheduled meetings: October – December
Board sends notification of award and issues checks to counties approved for funding: before December 30
(4) After the grants have been awarded, the E911 Board may adjust the funds awarded to a rural county, due to the changes in E911 technology, at any time within the grant period. Adjustments may be requested with an authorized Change Request Form and appropriate cost estimates from the county. Changes shall be based on a notice of subsequent extensive changes in technology that were not available at the date of grant submission. Increased system costs shall be considered based on eligible requested items that clearly demonstrate increased effectiveness of grant funds and the proposed E911 system's capabilities due to the changes in E911 technology.
Specific Authority 365.172(6)(a)12, 365.173(2)(c), (g) FS. Law Implemented 365.173(2)(c), (g) FS. History–New_________.