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15 . Payment shall be made only after receipt and approval of goods and services unless <br /> advance payments are authorized by the Department of Financial Services under Section <br /> 21 5 . 422 ( ] 4 ) , Florida Statutes , or by the Department ' s Comptroller under Section <br /> 334 . 044 ( 29 ) , Florida Statues . <br /> 16 . PARTICIPANT providing goods and services to the DEPARTMENT should be aware of <br /> the following time frames . Upon receipt of an invoice from the COUNTY , the <br /> DEPARTMENT has ( 10 ) ten working days to inspect and approve the goods and services <br /> where working day is defined as any day of the week excluding Saturday, Sunday and <br /> any legal holiday as designated in Section 110 . 117 , Florida Statutes . The <br /> DEPARTMENT has 20 calendar days to deliver a request for payment (voucher) to the <br /> Department of Financial Services . The 20 calendar days are measured from the latter of <br /> the date the invoice is received or the goods or services are received , inspected <br /> and <br /> approved . <br /> 17 . If payment is not available within 40 calendar days , a separate interest penalty at a rate as <br /> established pursuant to Section 55 . 03 ( 1 ) , Florida Statutes , will be due and payable, in <br /> addition to the invoice amount , to the PARTICIPANT . Interest penalties of less than one <br /> ( 1 ) dollar will not be enforced, unless the PARTICIPANT requests payment . Invoices <br /> that have to be returned to the PARTICIPANT because of PARTICIPANT preparation <br /> errors will result in a delay in the payment . The invoice payment requirements do not <br /> start until a properly completed invoice is provided to the DEPARTMENT . <br /> 18 . A Vendor Ombudsman has been established within the Department of Financial Services . <br /> The duties of this individual include acting as an advocate for contractors/vendors who <br /> may be experiencing problems in obtaining timely payment( s) from a state agency. The <br /> Vendor Ombudsman may be contacted at ( 850) 413 - 5516 . <br /> 19 . The PARTICIPANT shall establish for the Project , in conformity with uniform <br /> requirements that may be established by the DEPARTMENT , program guidelines , or <br /> procedures to facilitate the administration of the financing program , separate accounts to <br /> be maintained within its existing accounting system or establish independent accounts . <br /> Such accounts are referred to herein collectively as the ` Project Account ' . The Project <br /> Account information shall be made available upon request by the DEPARTMENT at any <br /> time during the period of this Agreement and for a period of five years after the final <br /> payment is made . <br /> 20 . The PARTICIPANT shall provide to the DEPARTMENT for each of its fiscal years for <br /> which the Project Account remains open , an audit report prepared either by its official <br /> auditor or audit agency or an independent Certified Public Accountant, reflecting the use <br /> of the funds of the DEPARTMENT , the PARTICIPANT , and those from any other <br /> source with respect to the Project . Audits shall be performed in accordance with <br /> Page 4 <br />