Section 109.50  Local Administering Agency Application for Funding

a)         To be eligible for financial assistance, a local agency must be designated by the Department to operate the Energy Assistance or Weatherization Program contained in this Part.

1)         Where a local agency has been designated by the Department, in accordance with Section 109.40, to operate the Energy Assistance or Weatherization Program for a county or counties, only that designated local agency may apply for financial assistance.

2)         Where no local agency has been designated by the Department to operate these programs, that agency which is successful in its request for proposal bid to operate the aforementioned programs shall be awarded financial assistance under this Part.  The proposal will be evaluated in accordance with 10 CFR 440.15(a) (1989) and Subparts A, B, C, D, E, F and H of 45 CFR 96 (1988).

b)         Applicants will be required to meet program and fiscal requirements prior to the submittal of an application for funding.  Applications will not be processed nor grants awarded prior to the Department's review of the applicant's performance in the following four areas.

1)         an effective outreach referral program (evidenced by services to clients in accordance with their incidence in the census-based client population of the service area);

2)         a continuing planning process and capability (evidenced by demonstrated applicant staff capability to complete federal and/or state grant applications and reporting documents containing qualitative and quantitative objectives);

3)         an accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) (1989), 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036-8775; and

4)         an effective citizen participation/community involvement program.

c)         In preparing the application for funding assistance for programs contained in this Part, applicants will be required to submit the following items:

1)         Application for Assistance:  The Department will require the submittal of a form provided by the Department which requires the basic information needed for grant award documentation and for the Department's review purposes.

2)         Annual Work Program:  The work program will narrate the activities as required by the Department to be undertaken utilizing the grant funds. The work program must include at a minimum such items as provisions for staff, coordination with other delivery agencies and a description of how the agency intends to deliver its basic services.

3)         Annual Budget:  The applicant shall submit a grant budget by cost categories, on the budget summary form and detail sheets provided by the Department.

4)         Statement of Coordination:  The grant applicant will be required to outline its program of coordination with other agencies and programs. The statement shall include coordination mechanisms established by the applicant and cite interagency agreements or contractual arrangements used in support of coordinated service delivery.

5)         Assurances and Certifications:  In a form and manner provided by the Department, the applicant will be required to certify its compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations as detailed in this Part dealing with the receipt and expenditure of grant monies, as provided on the grant application.

6)         Additional Grant Application Submittals:  These include:

A)        Name, address, telephone number of the agency responsible for administering the projects as well as signatures designating responsibility for the grants;

B)        The "Notice of Grant Award" and grantee acceptance;

C)        The "Method of Compensation, Fiscal Recording/Reporting Requirements";

D)        The "Terms and Conditions Governing the Grant";

E)         The "Scope of Work" which insures programmatic controls, such as training, staffing, outreach, and reporting; and

F)         Any information which the Department deems necessary to clarify or document information provided in the application.

d)        The Department will use the following standards to select grantees for special demonstration projects.  The weight to be given to each standard will be dependent on the nature of the project, keeping in mind the Department's goal of equally representing all areas of the State.

1)         The Department will consider the applicant's experience in the particular type of weatherization project to be implemented.

2)         The Department will consider the qualifications of the applicant's personnel as related to the particular type of weatherization project to be implemented.

3)         The Department will evaluate the methodology proposed by the applicant for completion of the project under consideration.

4)         The Department will evaluate the ability of the applicant to complete the project under consideration as evidenced by factors specified in subsections (d)(1), (2), (3), (5) and (6).

5)         The Department will evaluate the applicant's timetable for completion of the project both in terms of other applicants and whether or not the timetable appears to consist of a realistic statement of goals.

6)         The Department will evaluate the applicant's budget both in comparison to other applicants and to determine whether or not the proposal is a realistic assessment of the costs of the project.

(Source:  Recodified at 29 Ill. Reg. 2791, effective February 3, 2005)