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It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of June 15, 1999. On December 1, 1998, the Board of County Commissioners authorized community development staff to apply for a Neighborhood Revitalization Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and to initiate the process to select a consultant to prepare the CDBG application and administer the grant, if the grant is awarded. On February 23, 1999, the Board of County Commissioners approved the county's CDBG consultant selection committee's consultant selection prioritization list and authorized staff to begin contract negotiations with the number one ranked firm, CRA Consulting, Inc.. Since then, staff has successfully negotiated a contract for planning application and administration services with the top-ranked firm, CRA Consulting, Inc.. The proposed contracts are attached to this staff report (Attachment 1 and Attachment 2). If the grant is awarded to the county, CRA Consulting, Inc. will receive 8.0% of the grant funds for administration services. The grant application will be prepared by CRA Consulting, Inc. for $10.00. Due to the complexity of the CDBG program, obtaining a consultant to prepare the grant application and administer the grant has become the norm for many local governments. As a result of that norm and the requirements of the Department of Community Affairs, the contracts between CDBG consultants and local governments have become standard documents. In fact, the contracts attached to this staff report are similar to the approved consultant contracts for the county's previous CDBG project that was undertaken in Wabasso. Both contracts, one for preparation of a Neighborhood Revitalization CDBG application and one for administration of the grant, have been reviewed by the county's attorneys. Based on the attorneys' review, revisions were made to the contract. One such revision was to add a nominal dollar amount to the cost of preparation of the CDBG application. Adding a nominal dollar amount of $10.00 indicates that the consultant has an interest in the successful execution of the planning services contract. Normally, no fee is charged by CDBG consultants for preparation of a CDBG application, provided that the same firm is retained to administer the grant, if the grant is awarded. Administration costs will be paid with grant funds. Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners: approve the proposed contract between the Board of County Commissioners and CRA Consulting, Inc. for the preparation of a Neighborhood Revitalization CDBG application and for administration of that grant if the grant is awarded; and authorize the Chairman to execute the contract upon approval. JUNE 159 1999 �y -9- BOOK �� FADE 527