Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg are set to receive a combined $973.7 million in federal storm recovery funding, contingent on meeting strict criteria and a tight deadline.

On January 27, St. Petersburg issued a request for proposals (RFP) to companies with the expertise to develop and write a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan. Applicants had only two days to submit questions, and extensive paperwork is due by 5 p.m. Friday, despite the typically month-long process.

During their January 28 meeting, county commissioners approved previously submitted and ranked proposals for comprehensive disaster recovery consulting services from 11 companies. Administrator Barry Burton noted that local governments have 90 days to create the program’s “general framework.”

“We’re going to have to come back after that initial large, very high-scale plan with more specific programs,” Burton said. “We’re not going to create a detailed plan in 90 days.”

Burton mentioned that staff would conduct outreach with area communities. County documents indicate that the consultancy contracts were drafted to include requirements from all area municipalities.

The previous presidential administration awarded the county $813.8 million on January 7 to support long-term recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funding comes from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiative.

Local governments can use the funds to rebuild homes, develop affordable housing, assist impacted small businesses, and repair critical infrastructure. Burton emphasized that officials must allocate 70% of the funds to low-to-moderate-income residents.

“There are a whole host of requirements tied up with these federal funds,” he added.

Burton said Pinellas officials have already discussed the process with counties devastated by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. He noted that those communities are “just now getting their programs up and running two years later. We want to learn from that.”

HUD awarded St. Petersburg $159.9 million. Amy Foster, housing and neighborhood services administrator, has repeatedly warned city council members not to expect an immediate influx of funding.

At a January 9 meeting, she pointed out that Lee County received over $1 billion in early 2023 and has not disbursed any funds yet. “Their plan has not been approved by HUD yet,” Foster said.

Burton stated on Tuesday that local officials hope to avoid those pitfalls. While the city has not responded to a request for comment, that would explain the tight RFP window.

According to the municipal procurement portal, St. Petersburg will award one vendor “whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the city, taking into consideration the price and the evaluation criteria … in this solicitation.” However, administrators reserve the right to evaluate and select additional vendors.

The city could negotiate with short-listed companies or award applicants without discussion. “Therefore, each initial proposal should contain the Vendor’s best terms …,” states the portal.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Tampa Bay Business Journals)