1. (a) The EA will notify the RFPGs that funds are available and that applications will be accepted from Planning Group Sponsors for grants to develop or negotiate a scope of work or to develop or revise regional flood plans. A RFPG may not receive grant funds unless the RFPG has provided the EA with a copy of the RFPG's adopted by-laws.
2. (b) The RFPG shall provide a written designation to the EA naming the Planning Group Sponsor that is authorized to apply for grant funds on behalf of the RFPG. The RFPG shall ensure that the Planning Group Sponsor has the legal authority to conduct the procurement of professional services and enter into the contracts necessary for regional flood planning.
3. (c) The RFPG meeting to consider its additional, region-specific, public notice requirements in accordance with §361.12(3) of this title (relating to General Regional Flood Planning Group Responsibilities an Procedures) must occur prior to taking action regarding its request for funding under this subchapter and must be documented in its application for funding.
4. (d) The designated Planning Group Sponsor shall provide notice that an application for funding is being submitted in accordance with §361.21 of this title (relating to General Notice Requirements).
5. (e) The EA may request clarification from the Planning Group Sponsor, if necessary, to evaluate the application. Incomplete applications may be rejected and returned to the applicant.

6. (f) The applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

   1. (1) degree to which proposed flood planning does not duplicate previous or ongoing flood or water planning;
   2. (2) application organization, responsiveness, and reasonableness of budget;
   3. (3) scope of work;
   4. (4) eligibility of tasks for funding under this subchapter;
   5. (5) the relative need of the Planning Group Sponsor for the funding based upon an assessment of the necessary scope of work, amount of work, and cost to develop the regional flood plan as compared to statewide needs for development of all regional flood plans;
   6. (6) the degree to which the scope of work associated with the funding and to be performed by the RFPG will address the flood risks in the FPR; and
   7. (7) Conformance with the requirements in the Board request for applications including other information as may be required in the application.

Source Note:The provisions of this §361.70 adopted to be effective June 10, 2020, 45 TexReg 3792.