| (a) The agency shall announce grant funds, select grant recipients, and award assistance grants under this subchapter utilizing a Request for Applications (RFA). Under the RFA process, the agency will: (1) publish a formal notice in the Texas Register advising eligible applicants that the commission is accepting grant applications for household do-it-yourselfer used oil collection, reuse and recycling projects, and that the commission will make grant awards, on a first-come, first-served basis, to those entities whose applications and proposed projects meet certain RFA-specified minimum requirements; (2) make available, upon request, application forms and instructions, together with the specific RFA document that sets forth the established minimum requirements and criteria for application acceptance and award of the grant; (3) accept and process applications, on a first-come, first-served basis; and (4) providing budgeted funds remain available, award grants to those local governments and/or private entities whose applications meet the minimum standards and criteria set forth in the RFA. (b) All grant applications will be reviewed and processed by the executive director's staff to ensure compliance with the requirements of this subchapter, the appropriate RFA, and applicable requirements of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 371. The applications shall also be reviewed and considered by the advisory committee whose statutory duties include recommending grant recipients to the commission based on the used oil collection needs of the state and/or by other public agencies or organizations who have specific responsibilities to review, comment on, or coordinate the selection and/or awarding of state grants. (c) Applicants selected to receive used oil collection, reuse and recycling assistance grants, or other used oil recycling program support under this subchapter, may be required, depending on the specific RFA, to enter into a written contract with the commission as a condition to receiving a grant. The contracts will indicate the amount and type of grant, establish time frames and/or deadlines for completing grant-supported activities and for expending grant-provided funds, describe reporting requirements and payment procedures, and contain standard contract conditions. |
