Program Contact
Xavier Vega - Xavier.Vega@miamidade.gov (Send Email)

Creating a New Application to Submit
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Missed Deadline FAQs

General Requirements

If you have an ADA related issue, need to request an accommodation for a program or service, or need information provided in an accessible format, please contact PHCD ADA Coordinator to make a request:
Evelyn Contreras
ada.coordinator@miamidade.gov
786-469-2155




Definitions (specific to this program)

DEFINITIONS

1. Activity Delivery Costs (ADC): ADC are those allowable costs incurred for implementing and carrying out eligible CDBG activities. All ADC are allocable to a CDBG activity, including direct and indirect costs integral to the delivery of the final CDBG-assisted activity.
2. Audit Report: When the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F apply, an audit shall be conducted for each fiscal year for which federal awards attributable to this Agreement have been received by the Awardee. Each audit shall include a fiscal review, which includes a validation of all program generated income and its disposition, especially attributable to CDBG funds, an internal control review, and a compliance review as described in 2 CFR Part 200.  A copy of the audit report in triplicate must be received by HCD no later than six months following the end of the Awardee's fiscal year.
3. Credit Underwriting (CU): An analytical process that determines the amount of financing necessary for completion of the construction and development of a project as indicated in a report prepared by a credit underwriter under the direction and oversight of HCD. Credit underwriting will assist HCD to determine the terms of financing, whether the project is financially feasible as represented in the application, and whether the costs and risks associated with the project are reasonable. (Developer will be responsible for the cost of this analysis; however, this is a reimbursable expense). 
4. Commission District Fund Process – The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are allocated a percentage of Community Development Block Grant funds to award. District Commissioner award funds through a non-competitive process in the Public Service Category, Economic Development or Public Facilities/Capital Improvements. The members of the BCC are encouraged to award funds through the RFA process but are not required to do so.
5. Community Based Development Organization (CBDO): Generally, new construction housing is not eligible under the CDBG program. However, an entity defined as a CBDO is eligible to carry out new construction. activities. The eligible groups include neighborhood-based organizations, section 301(d), Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC), Local Development Corporation (LDC), and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)These organizations must be undertaking a neighborhood revitalization, community economic development or energy conservation project as part of a larger effort to revitalize the neighborhood.  The applicant must meet the definition outlined in Section105(a) (15) of the Housing and Community Development Act and §570.204.
6. Community Land Trust – Community Land Trusts (CLT) as defined in Section 212 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1922 (H11966,10/5/1992), means a community housing organization (except that the requirements under subparagraph (C) and (D) of section 104(6) shall not apply for purposes of this subsection):
   
   1. that is not sponsored by a for-profit organization
   2. that it is established to carry out the activities under paragraph (3).
   3. that –
      
      1. acquires parcels of land, held in perpetuity, primarily for conveyance under long-term ground leases.
      2. transfers ownership of any structural improvements located on such leased parcels to the lessees; and
      3. retains a preemptive option to purchase any such structural improvement at a price determined by formula that is designed to ensure that the improvement remains affordable to low and moderate-income families in perpetuity.
   4. whose corporate membership that is open to any adult resident of a particular geographic area specified in the bylaws of the organization; and
   5. Whose Board of Directors –
      
      1. includes a majority of members who are elected by the corporate membership; and
      2. is composed of equal numbers of
         
         1. lessees pursuant to paragraph (3)(B)
         2. corporate members who are not lessees, and
         3. any other category of persons described in the bylaws of the organization.
7. Davis-Bacon Act: Since its enactment in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) has provided critical wage protections for construction workers and has guaranteed a level of playing field for construction contractors bidding on federal projects. The federal government constructs buildings, builds dams, and funds housing projects.  Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, apply to contractors and subcontractors performing on federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works.  Davis-Bacon Act and Related Act contractors and subcontractors must pay their laborers and mechanics employed under the contract no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area.  The Davis-Bacon Act applies to contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia contracts.  The Developer shall ensure that its contractors and their subcontractors are classifying workers properly for Davis-Bacon and Internal Revenue Code purposes and that they maintain proper documentation to support worker classification.  In reviewing certified payrolls, the County will be alert to anomalies, and in such cases will consult with federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
8. Developer: Any individual, association, corporation, joint venture or partnership which possesses the requisite skill, experience, and credit worthiness to successfully produce affordable housing as required in the application.
9. Direct Expenses: Expenses that can be identified specifically with the CDBG activity and can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Typical direct expenses charged directly to a CDBG award are the compensation for the time employees work on the CDBG activity award, their related fringe benefit costs, the costs of materials and other items of expense incurred for the CDBG activity. If directly related to the CDBG activity, certain costs that otherwise would be treated as indirect costs may also be considered direct costs. Examples include extraordinary utility consumption, the cost of materials supplied from stock or services rendered by specialized facilities, program evaluation costs, or other institutional service operations.
10. Disabled: Persons who are classified under the Bureau of the Census definition of "severely disabled". Under this definition, persons are classified as having a severe disability if they: (a) used a wheelchair or had used another special aid for 6 months or longer; (b) were unable to perform one or more functional activities or needed assistance with an Activity of Daily Living or Instrumental Activity of Daily Living; (c) were prevented from working at a job or doing housework; or (d) had a condition including autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, senility, or mental retardation. Finally persons who are under 65 years of age and who are covered by Medicare or receive SSI are considered to have a disability (and a severe disability). Functional activities include seeing, hearing, having one's speech understood, lifting and carrying, walking up a flight of stairs, and walking. Activities of daily living include getting around inside the house, getting in and out of bed or a chair, bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living include going outside the home, keeping track of money or bills, preparing meals, doing light housework, and using the telephone.
11. Eligible Block Group: an area that is eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant funds. The CDBG-eligible block group map divided the County into southern, central, and northern regions. An interactive version of the map is available at https://miamidade.live/CDBGViewer .
12. Firm Commitment: Match/leverage funds must be explicit, in writing and signed by a person authorized to make the commitment, i.e., applicant MUST show proof of subsidy. The commitment must indicate the total dollar value of the commitment and must be valid through financial closing of the project. It must be supported by evidence of funding availability from an industry recognize financial institution and show evidence of initial underwriting by the lender or from a financial source determined through documented evidence to be able to support the commitment.  Final decisions on the issue of “firm commitment” shall be made by HCD.
13. Gap Funding: The difference between the total project cost the funding available for the project at the time of application.
14. Geographic Location: When scoring applications, the County will give priority to activities located in and/or serve Participating Municipalities and Eligible Block Groups. for descriptions/definitions of such. Applications must describe how these areas and the residents will be served by the proposed activity.
15. Indirect expenses: Expenses of doing business that are not readily identified with proposed the CDBG activity but are necessary for the general operation of the organization and the conduct of activities it performs. Typical examples of indirect expenses may include rent, the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, general administration, and general expenses, such as the salaries and expenses of executive officers, personnel administration, and accounting.
16. Leveraging:  Where applicable, applicants must show that they have other sources of funding available for the proposed activity.  Since the County only uses its federal and local funds to address funding gaps, other sources of funding identified in the application must firmly be in place and committed to ensure the successful completion of the project.  Documentation must be provided with the application to verify the availability and firm commitment of leveraged resources. Applicants must have complete funding in place, except for the requested gap funding, and applicants must provide a Sources and Uses Statement.  Applicants must demonstrate maximum leveraging with non-County funds. Not meeting leveraging and firm commitment requirements with supportive documentation under this section shall result in the application being declared non-responsive and ineligible for funding.  Such applications shall not be scored.
17. National Objective:The proposed activity must meet the HUD national objective of benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) persons. Applicants proposing activities that will benefit low- and moderate-income persons will be required to provide appropriate documentation.  Applicants must provide income eligibility requirements for the proposed activity or demonstrate that the activity is located in a Eligible Block Group
18. Organizational and Financial Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and have the skills, ability, experience required to achieve HUD’s National Objective(s) and are able to meet other program requirements. HCD will accept audited financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and have been audited by an independent third party certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or certified financial statements that include, but are not limited to, balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows that have been prepared and certified by an independent third party certified public accountant in accordance with GAAP. Applicants will be evaluated on experience, organizational and administrative capacity, financial capacity, and effective management.  This will include a review of résumés, financial statements, monitoring reports, audit findings, and complete inspections of new proposed activity locations. HCD may deem an application as non-responsive and ineligible for scoring and funding if organizational and financial capacity is not demonstrated.
19. Participating Municipalities: Small cities that have elected to participate in Miami-Dade County’s CDBG program. The Participating Municipalities for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 are: Biscayne Park, Hialeah Gardens, North Miami Beach, Surfside, Coral Gables, Doral, El Portal, Golden Beach, Key Biscayne, Medley, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Opa-Locka, Pinecrest, South Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Sweetwater, Virginia Gardens, and West Miami
20. Priority Needs: Activities must address a high priority needs as identified in the County’s FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. Applications must describe how the priority needs will be addressed and provide supporting data. 
21. Public Facilities and Capital Improvements:  Public Facilities and capital improvements include all facilities and improvements that are publicly owned and open to the general public. If Participating Municipalities are seeking CDBG funds for a Public Facility and Capital Improvement project already in construction, please note that per 24 CFR Part 58.22 funds cannot be committed to an activity until the related environmental clearance is completed.
22. Public Services: Provision of public services (including labor, supplies, and materials) including but not limited to those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, fair housing counseling, energy conservation, welfare (but excluding the provision of income payments identified under 24 CFR 207(b)(4)), homebuyer down payment assistance, or recreational needs. To be eligible for CDBG assistance, a public service must be either a new service or a quantifiable increase in the level of an existing public service above that which has been provided by or on behalf of the unit of general local government (through funds raised by the unit or received by the unit from the State in which it is located) in the 12 calendar months before the submission of the action plan.  (An exception to this requirement may be made if HUD determines that any decrease in the level of a service was the result of events not within the control of the unit of general local government).
23. Rehabilitation: The alteration, improvement, or modification of an existing structure where less than 50% of the proposed construction work consists of new construction. This includes but may not be limited to the installations of improvements to upgrade substandard electrical, plumbing, roofing, siding, insulation, weatherization, heating systems, hot water heaters, and dry rot repairs. 
24. Responsible Wages and Benefits: The Board of County Commissioners established a Responsible Wages and Benefits requirement for minimum payment of specified wages to employees performing work on County construction contracts and privately funded construction on County-owned land.  Responsible Wages and Benefits applies to competitively bid construction contracts valued greater than $100,000 as defined in the provisions of Miami-Dade County’s Section 2-11.16 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.  The rates paid shall be not less than those contained in the Wage and Benefits Schedule in effect as of January 1^st of the year the work is performed.  Workers must be paid the appropriate base rate and fringe benefits on the Wages and Benefits Schedule for the classification of work being performed without regard to skill. 
25. Section 3: A provision of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 designed to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons.
26. Readiness to Proceed: The extent to which a construction project is in the advanced stages of development planning. Ready to proceed means that the project can commence construction with laborers immediately and is past the planning, engineering, and funding stages. More specifically, the Environmental Site Assessment report (Phase I and/or Phase II) are completed with a “No Further Action” recommendation, construction plans and specifications have been completed and approved by all local agencies, full funding of the construction phase is available (less the GAP funding requested) and construction is ready to start within thirty days of closing of financing, pending the selection and award of the general contractor within one hundred twenty days (120) from the contract execution date with HCD.
27. Site Control: Applicants must demonstrate site control (e.g., recorded title, executed lease agreement, firm purchase contract, Option-to-Purchase, or Local Government Resolution) for the site proposed for funding. A letter from a District Commissioner expressing the intent to convey specific County-owned property in that Commissioner’s District may be submitted as evidence of site control, and at the discretion of HCD may be accepted as evidence of site control for this RFA.  However, prior to financial closing, a formal BCC Resolution and/or deed naming the applicant’s sponsor or legal representation as the property’s controlling entity must be in place.
28. Special Economic Development Lending: Per 24 CFR 570.203 – Special economic development activities include: construction, acquisition, rehabilitation reconstruction of installation of commercial or industrial buildings, structures and other real property equipment and improvements including railroad spurs or similar extensions. The provision of assistance to a private for-profit business including but not limited to loans, grants, technical assistance, or other forms of support.
29. Sub-recipient: A public or private non-profit agency, authority, organization, or a for-profit entity authorized under §570.201(o), receiving CDBG funds from the recipient or another sub-recipient to undertake activities eligible for assistance under subpart C of this part. In the case of an entity that is not carrying out an activity for the grantee, but rather is specifically eligible to receive assistance under the regulations: an owner (either non-profit or for-profit) of an apartment building receiving a rehabilitation loan or grant under 24 CFR 570.202(b)(1), a for-profit business receiving a loan or grant for an economic development project under 24 CFR 570.203(b)(1), a for-profit business receiving relocation assistance under 570.201(i).
30. Subsidy Layering Review: An analytical process that determines the amount of Government (public) financing necessary and the reasonableness of cost allocations. (Developer will be responsible for the cost of this analysis; however, this is a reimbursable expense).
31. Supporting Documentation: Written documentation or proof that provides relevant information to support items stated in the application.
32. Threshold: Minimum requirements that must be satisfied for the application to be responsive.  Per Resolution No. R-630-13 applicants are required to provide a detailed project budget, sources and uses statement, certifications as to past defaults on agreements with non-County sources and clear a due diligence check prior to a funding commitment. Due Diligence checks will be performed up until the time of recommendations for award of funds, and findings will be reported to the BCC.
33. Timely Completion: Applicants must demonstrate that they have a history of completing projects in a timely manner.  For CDBG activities, timely manner is defined in 24 CFR 570.902 as within one year, except for construction-related projects, which may allow up to two years for completion.
34. Track Record: Prior funded agencies must be in good standing with respect to audit findings and have a track record of completing projects on time, submitting accurate and complete quarterly progress reports, and addressing all monitoring findings. Applicants with an existing HCD contract that have either 1) failed to demonstrate achievement of the National Objective, or appropriate performance measures under their existing CDBG, HOME, NSP, ESG and/or Section 108 loan agreements as well as SHIP and Surtax contractual requirements; or 2) are currently in a delinquent payment status with their existing County contracts; or 3) are in breach of an existing contract, shall be ineligible for funding under this RFA. THIS IS A MINIMUM THRESHOLD ITEM.
35. Vulnerability Ranking: The Miami-Dade County Consolidated Plan for FY2020-2024 provided a map that ranks eligible block groups by vulnerability based on income and other socio-economic factors (see Attachment 1). The map ranks eligible block groups into five color coded groups: the most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (red), the second most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (orange), the third most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (yellow), the fourth most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (light green) and the least vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs. A scoring preference is provided in portions of this RFA for projects and activities that serve the most vulnerable EBGs.

DEFINITIONS

1. Activity Delivery Costs (ADC): ADC are those allowable costs incurred for implementing and carrying out eligible CDBG activities. All ADC are allocable to a CDBG activity, including direct and indirect costs integral to the delivery of the final CDBG-assisted activity.
2. Audit Report: When the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F apply, an audit shall be conducted for each fiscal year for which federal awards attributable to this Agreement have been received by the Awardee. Each audit shall include a fiscal review, which includes a validation of all program generated income and its disposition, especially attributable to CDBG funds, an internal control review, and a compliance review as described in 2 CFR Part 200.  A copy of the audit report in triplicate must be received by HCD no later than six months following the end of the Awardee's fiscal year.
3. Credit Underwriting (CU): An analytical process that determines the amount of financing necessary for completion of the construction and development of a project as indicated in a report prepared by a credit underwriter under the direction and oversight of HCD. Credit underwriting will assist HCD to determine the terms of financing, whether the project is financially feasible as represented in the application, and whether the costs and risks associated with the project are reasonable. (Developer will be responsible for the cost of this analysis; however, this is a reimbursable expense). 
4. Commission District Fund Process – The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are allocated a percentage of Community Development Block Grant funds to award. District Commissioner award funds through a non-competitive process in the Public Service Category, Economic Development or Public Facilities/Capital Improvements. The members of the BCC are encouraged to award funds through the RFA process but are not required to do so.
5. Community Based Development Organization (CBDO): Generally, new construction housing is not eligible under the CDBG program. However, an entity defined as a CBDO is eligible to carry out new construction. activities. The eligible groups include neighborhood-based organizations, section 301(d), Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC), Local Development Corporation (LDC), and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)These organizations must be undertaking a neighborhood revitalization, community economic development or energy conservation project as part of a larger effort to revitalize the neighborhood.  The applicant must meet the definition outlined in Section105(a) (15) of the Housing and Community Development Act and §570.204.
6. Community Land Trust – Community Land Trusts (CLT) as defined in Section 212 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1922 (H11966,10/5/1992), means a community housing organization (except that the requirements under subparagraph (C) and (D) of section 104(6) shall not apply for purposes of this subsection):
   
   1. that is not sponsored by a for-profit organization
   2. that it is established to carry out the activities under paragraph (3).
   3. that –
      
      1. acquires parcels of land, held in perpetuity, primarily for conveyance under long-term ground leases.
      2. transfers ownership of any structural improvements located on such leased parcels to the lessees; and
      3. retains a preemptive option to purchase any such structural improvement at a price determined by formula that is designed to ensure that the improvement remains affordable to low and moderate-income families in perpetuity.
   4. whose corporate membership that is open to any adult resident of a particular geographic area specified in the bylaws of the organization; and
   5. Whose Board of Directors –
      
      1. includes a majority of members who are elected by the corporate membership; and
      2. is composed of equal numbers of
         
         1. lessees pursuant to paragraph (3)(B)
         2. corporate members who are not lessees, and
         3. any other category of persons described in the bylaws of the organization.
7. Davis-Bacon Act: Since its enactment in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) has provided critical wage protections for construction workers and has guaranteed a level of playing field for construction contractors bidding on federal projects. The federal government constructs buildings, builds dams, and funds housing projects.  Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, apply to contractors and subcontractors performing on federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works.  Davis-Bacon Act and Related Act contractors and subcontractors must pay their laborers and mechanics employed under the contract no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area.  The Davis-Bacon Act applies to contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia contracts.  The Developer shall ensure that its contractors and their subcontractors are classifying workers properly for Davis-Bacon and Internal Revenue Code purposes and that they maintain proper documentation to support worker classification.  In reviewing certified payrolls, the County will be alert to anomalies, and in such cases will consult with federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
8. Developer: Any individual, association, corporation, joint venture or partnership which possesses the requisite skill, experience, and credit worthiness to successfully produce affordable housing as required in the application.
9. Direct Expenses: Expenses that can be identified specifically with the CDBG activity and can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Typical direct expenses charged directly to a CDBG award are the compensation for the time employees work on the CDBG activity award, their related fringe benefit costs, the costs of materials and other items of expense incurred for the CDBG activity. If directly related to the CDBG activity, certain costs that otherwise would be treated as indirect costs may also be considered direct costs. Examples include extraordinary utility consumption, the cost of materials supplied from stock or services rendered by specialized facilities, program evaluation costs, or other institutional service operations.
10. Disabled: Persons who are classified under the Bureau of the Census definition of "severely disabled". Under this definition, persons are classified as having a severe disability if they: (a) used a wheelchair or had used another special aid for 6 months or longer; (b) were unable to perform one or more functional activities or needed assistance with an Activity of Daily Living or Instrumental Activity of Daily Living; (c) were prevented from working at a job or doing housework; or (d) had a condition including autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, senility, or mental retardation. Finally persons who are under 65 years of age and who are covered by Medicare or receive SSI are considered to have a disability (and a severe disability). Functional activities include seeing, hearing, having one's speech understood, lifting and carrying, walking up a flight of stairs, and walking. Activities of daily living include getting around inside the house, getting in and out of bed or a chair, bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living include going outside the home, keeping track of money or bills, preparing meals, doing light housework, and using the telephone.
11. Eligible Block Group: an area that is eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant funds. The CDBG-eligible block group map divided the County into southern, central, and northern regions. An interactive version of the map is available at https://miamidade.live/CDBGViewer .
12. Firm Commitment: Match/leverage funds must be explicit, in writing and signed by a person authorized to make the commitment, i.e., applicant MUST show proof of subsidy. The commitment must indicate the total dollar value of the commitment and must be valid through financial closing of the project. It must be supported by evidence of funding availability from an industry recognize financial institution and show evidence of initial underwriting by the lender or from a financial source determined through documented evidence to be able to support the commitment.  Final decisions on the issue of “firm commitment” shall be made by HCD.
13. Gap Funding: The difference between the total project cost the funding available for the project at the time of application.
14. Geographic Location: When scoring applications, the County will give priority to activities located in and/or serve Participating Municipalities and Eligible Block Groups. for descriptions/definitions of such. Applications must describe how these areas and the residents will be served by the proposed activity.
15. Indirect expenses: Expenses of doing business that are not readily identified with proposed the CDBG activity but are necessary for the general operation of the organization and the conduct of activities it performs. Typical examples of indirect expenses may include rent, the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, general administration, and general expenses, such as the salaries and expenses of executive officers, personnel administration, and accounting.
16. Leveraging:  Where applicable, applicants must show that they have other sources of funding available for the proposed activity.  Since the County only uses its federal and local funds to address funding gaps, other sources of funding identified in the application must firmly be in place and committed to ensure the successful completion of the project.  Documentation must be provided with the application to verify the availability and firm commitment of leveraged resources. Applicants must have complete funding in place, except for the requested gap funding, and applicants must provide a Sources and Uses Statement.  Applicants must demonstrate maximum leveraging with non-County funds. Not meeting leveraging and firm commitment requirements with supportive documentation under this section shall result in the application being declared non-responsive and ineligible for funding.  Such applications shall not be scored.
17. National Objective:The proposed activity must meet the HUD national objective of benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) persons. Applicants proposing activities that will benefit low- and moderate-income persons will be required to provide appropriate documentation.  Applicants must provide income eligibility requirements for the proposed activity or demonstrate that the activity is located in a Eligible Block Group
18. Organizational and Financial Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and have the skills, ability, experience required to achieve HUD’s National Objective(s) and are able to meet other program requirements. HCD will accept audited financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and have been audited by an independent third party certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or certified financial statements that include, but are not limited to, balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows that have been prepared and certified by an independent third party certified public accountant in accordance with GAAP. Applicants will be evaluated on experience, organizational and administrative capacity, financial capacity, and effective management.  This will include a review of résumés, financial statements, monitoring reports, audit findings, and complete inspections of new proposed activity locations. HCD may deem an application as non-responsive and ineligible for scoring and funding if organizational and financial capacity is not demonstrated.
19. Participating Municipalities: Small cities that have elected to participate in Miami-Dade County’s CDBG program. The Participating Municipalities for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 are: Biscayne Park, Hialeah Gardens, North Miami Beach, Surfside, Coral Gables, Doral, El Portal, Golden Beach, Key Biscayne, Medley, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Opa-Locka, Pinecrest, South Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Sweetwater, Virginia Gardens, and West Miami
20. Priority Needs: Activities must address a high priority needs as identified in the County’s FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. Applications must describe how the priority needs will be addressed and provide supporting data. 
21. Public Facilities and Capital Improvements:  Public Facilities and capital improvements include all facilities and improvements that are publicly owned and open to the general public. If Participating Municipalities are seeking CDBG funds for a Public Facility and Capital Improvement project already in construction, please note that per 24 CFR Part 58.22 funds cannot be committed to an activity until the related environmental clearance is completed.
22. Public Services: Provision of public services (including labor, supplies, and materials) including but not limited to those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, fair housing counseling, energy conservation, welfare (but excluding the provision of income payments identified under 24 CFR 207(b)(4)), homebuyer down payment assistance, or recreational needs. To be eligible for CDBG assistance, a public service must be either a new service or a quantifiable increase in the level of an existing public service above that which has been provided by or on behalf of the unit of general local government (through funds raised by the unit or received by the unit from the State in which it is located) in the 12 calendar months before the submission of the action plan.  (An exception to this requirement may be made if HUD determines that any decrease in the level of a service was the result of events not within the control of the unit of general local government).
23. Rehabilitation: The alteration, improvement, or modification of an existing structure where less than 50% of the proposed construction work consists of new construction. This includes but may not be limited to the installations of improvements to upgrade substandard electrical, plumbing, roofing, siding, insulation, weatherization, heating systems, hot water heaters, and dry rot repairs. 
24. Responsible Wages and Benefits: The Board of County Commissioners established a Responsible Wages and Benefits requirement for minimum payment of specified wages to employees performing work on County construction contracts and privately funded construction on County-owned land.  Responsible Wages and Benefits applies to competitively bid construction contracts valued greater than $100,000 as defined in the provisions of Miami-Dade County’s Section 2-11.16 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.  The rates paid shall be not less than those contained in the Wage and Benefits Schedule in effect as of January 1^st of the year the work is performed.  Workers must be paid the appropriate base rate and fringe benefits on the Wages and Benefits Schedule for the classification of work being performed without regard to skill. 
25. Section 3: A provision of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 designed to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons.
26. Readiness to Proceed: The extent to which a construction project is in the advanced stages of development planning. Ready to proceed means that the project can commence construction with laborers immediately and is past the planning, engineering, and funding stages. More specifically, the Environmental Site Assessment report (Phase I and/or Phase II) are completed with a “No Further Action” recommendation, construction plans and specifications have been completed and approved by all local agencies, full funding of the construction phase is available (less the GAP funding requested) and construction is ready to start within thirty days of closing of financing, pending the selection and award of the general contractor within one hundred twenty days (120) from the contract execution date with HCD.
27. Site Control: Applicants must demonstrate site control (e.g., recorded title, executed lease agreement, firm purchase contract, Option-to-Purchase, or Local Government Resolution) for the site proposed for funding. A letter from a District Commissioner expressing the intent to convey specific County-owned property in that Commissioner’s District may be submitted as evidence of site control, and at the discretion of HCD may be accepted as evidence of site control for this RFA.  However, prior to financial closing, a formal BCC Resolution and/or deed naming the applicant’s sponsor or legal representation as the property’s controlling entity must be in place.
28. Special Economic Development Lending: Per 24 CFR 570.203 – Special economic development activities include: construction, acquisition, rehabilitation reconstruction of installation of commercial or industrial buildings, structures and other real property equipment and improvements including railroad spurs or similar extensions. The provision of assistance to a private for-profit business including but not limited to loans, grants, technical assistance, or other forms of support.
29. Sub-recipient: A public or private non-profit agency, authority, organization, or a for-profit entity authorized under §570.201(o), receiving CDBG funds from the recipient or another sub-recipient to undertake activities eligible for assistance under subpart C of this part. In the case of an entity that is not carrying out an activity for the grantee, but rather is specifically eligible to receive assistance under the regulations: an owner (either non-profit or for-profit) of an apartment building receiving a rehabilitation loan or grant under 24 CFR 570.202(b)(1), a for-profit business receiving a loan or grant for an economic development project under 24 CFR 570.203(b)(1), a for-profit business receiving relocation assistance under 570.201(i).
30. Subsidy Layering Review: An analytical process that determines the amount of Government (public) financing necessary and the reasonableness of cost allocations. (Developer will be responsible for the cost of this analysis; however, this is a reimbursable expense).
31. Supporting Documentation: Written documentation or proof that provides relevant information to support items stated in the application.
32. Threshold: Minimum requirements that must be satisfied for the application to be responsive.  Per Resolution No. R-630-13 applicants are required to provide a detailed project budget, sources and uses statement, certifications as to past defaults on agreements with non-County sources and clear a due diligence check prior to a funding commitment. Due Diligence checks will be performed up until the time of recommendations for award of funds, and findings will be reported to the BCC.
33. Timely Completion: Applicants must demonstrate that they have a history of completing projects in a timely manner.  For CDBG activities, timely manner is defined in 24 CFR 570.902 as within one year, except for construction-related projects, which may allow up to two years for completion.
34. Track Record: Prior funded agencies must be in good standing with respect to audit findings and have a track record of completing projects on time, submitting accurate and complete quarterly progress reports, and addressing all monitoring findings. Applicants with an existing HCD contract that have either 1) failed to demonstrate achievement of the National Objective, or appropriate performance measures under their existing CDBG, HOME, NSP, ESG and/or Section 108 loan agreements as well as SHIP and Surtax contractual requirements; or 2) are currently in a delinquent payment status with their existing County contracts; or 3) are in breach of an existing contract, shall be ineligible for funding under this RFA. THIS IS A MINIMUM THRESHOLD ITEM.
35. Vulnerability Ranking: Eligible block groups are ranked by vulnerability based on income and other socio-economic factors (see Attachment 1). The map ranks eligible block groups into five color coded groups: the most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (red), the second most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (orange), the third most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (yellow), the fourth most vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs (light green) and the least vulnerable 20 percent of EBGs. A scoring preference is provided in portions of this RFA for projects and activities that serve the most vulnerable EBGs.