66B-1.009. Project Administration

The District will appoint a project manager who shall be responsible for monitoring the project and the project agreement. The project manager shall also be responsible for approving all reimbursement requests. The project sponsor shall appoint a liaison agent, who will be a member of the eligible applicant’s staff, to act on its behalf in carrying out the terms of the project agreement. Administration of the project will be as follows:

(1) Project Agreement: For each funded project, the District and the project sponsor will enter into a project agreement setting forth the mutual obligations of the parties concerning the project. The project agreement shall be executed and returned by the project sponsor within six (6) months of the approval of the project funding. The project agreement shall incorporate the applicable policies and procedures of the program as outlined in this rule. Project agreements will be for a two-year period with the possibility for one, one-year extension. Any request for a one-year extension of funding shall require submittal by the PROJECT SPONSOR of a request for extension to the DISTRICT no later than July of fiscal year two of the approved project. This request will then be considered by the DISTRICT Board, whose decision shall be final. In review of these requests, the Board will take into consideration the current status and progress of the project and the ability of the applicant to complete the project within one additional year.

(2) Matching Funds: The project sponsor shall clearly identify and enumerate the amount and source of the matching funds it will be using to match the program funds supplied by the District for an approved project. The project sponsor shall provide suitable evidence that it has the matching funds available at the time the project agreement is executed.

(3) Agreement Modification: All proposed changes to the project agreement must be submitted to the District in writing by the project sponsor accompanied by a statement of justification for the proposed changes. All project agreement amendments shall be approved by the District Board, except that the executive director may approve a minor project agreement amendment for a project within a county with the local District commissioner’s concurrence. A minor project amendment shall not change the approved projects category, result in a reallocation of more than 35% of the approved funding of the project among project elements, nor allow for a greater than 35% change in the project scale or scope of work. Project agreement amendments will not include a change to the approved project’s location or a change in the approved project’s purpose or project type. Agreed changes shall be evidenced by a formal amendment to the project agreement.

(4) Project Reporting: The liaison agent will submit quarterly reports to the project manager summarizing the work accomplished since the last report, problems encountered, percentage of project completion and other appropriate information. These reports shall continue throughout the length of the project period until completion of the project. The report shall be submitted on an Assistance Program Project Quarterly Status Report, Form 95-02 (effective date 7-30-02) hereby incorporated by reference and available at the District office. A Final Project Report shall be submitted at the completion of the project and shall at minimum include: project summary, photo of completed project, final cost, project benefits to the waterway and location address.

(5) Reimbursement Requests: The liaison agent may submit periodic reimbursement requests during the project period. The project manager will approve or disapprove all reimbursement requests. The final payment of program funds will be made upon certified completion of the project.

(6) Project Inspection: Upon reasonable request, the project manager shall have the right to inspect the project and any and all records relating to the project.

(7) Project Completion: The project shall be completed within three (3) years of the beginning of the District’s first fiscal year for which the project was approved. If the completion of a project is impacted by a declared state of emergency and the Board waives this rule section, the extension of time granted shall not exceed one additional three (3) year period.

(8) Project Completion Requirements: Upon completion of the project, the liaison agent shall provide the following to the project manager:

(a) A Project Completion Certificate, FIND Form No. 90-13 (effective date 7-30-02) hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office, which certifies that the project was completed in accordance with the project agreement and the final project plans.

(b) A final reimbursement request accompanied by all required billing statements and vouchers.

(c) Photograph(s) showing the installation of the sign required by Rule 66B-1.013, F.A.C.

(d) Photograph(s) of the completed project clearly showing the program improvements.

(9) Project Completion Review: The project manager will review the project completion package and will authorize or reject the final reimbursement payment which will include all retained funds from previous requests.

Rulemaking Authority 374.976(2) FS. Law Implemented 374.976(1) FS. History–New 12-17-90, Formerly 16T-1.009, Amended 3-21-01, 7-30-02, 3-7-11, 1-27-14.