(1) The Secretary of State’s Florida Main Street Awards Program is intended to acknowledge and encourage activities that advance the revitalization and historic preservation goals of Active Local Programs and of the statewide Florida Main Street Program.
    (2) Annually, at least 60 days but no more than 90 days prior to the deadline for award nominations, such nominations shall be solicited by the Division by written notice to all Active Local Programs. The notice shall include the deadline for award nominations and a mailing address and telephone number through which nomination forms and additional information may be obtained.
    (3) All award nominations shall be made on a Secretary of State’s Florida Main Street Award Nomination Form (Form HR3E018R0102, effective 3-12-03), incorporated by reference, and a copy of which may be obtained from the Bureau of Historic Preservation at the address and telephone number indicated in subsection 1A-36.003(2), F.A.C.
    (4) Award nomination forms shall be delivered to the offices of the Bureau of Historic Preservation on or before 5:00 p.m., on the date of the annual nomination deadline, or shall be clearly postmarked on or before the nomination deadline and mailed by “”Certified Mail”” or a suitable express mail or package service to the Bureau offices. All such nominations shall be designated eligible nominations. Award nominations that are postmarked, shipped or personally delivered to the Bureau after the nomination deadline shall be automatically rejected, and shall be returned to the nominator by “”Certified Mail.””
    (5) All eligible nominations and associated support materials shall become the property of the Division and will not be returned to the nominator.
    (6) For the purpose of evaluating eligible nominations, an ad hoc Florida Main Street Awards Advisory Committee shall be convened annually. Membership of the five-member Awards Committee shall include the Program Coordinator, the Bureau of Historic Preservation architect assigned to the Florida Main Street Program, and three Managers of Active Local Programs. The Program Coordinator shall select the three Managers.
    (7) All members of the Awards Committee shall comply with all laws governing conflicts of interest, including chapter 112, Part III, F.S.
    (8) Division staff shall forward copies of all eligible nominations to the members of the Awards Committee, at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting called for the purpose of reviewing nominations and formulating recommendations for awards. Awards Committee members are expected to familiarize themselves with the nominations before the meeting.
    (9) Division staff shall conduct a review of all eligible nominations to determine if they are technically complete. If it is determined that a nomination is incomplete, the Division staff shall notify the nominator of the missing information or supporting material in writing. Supplemental information and supporting material received by the Division in response to this notification shall be presented to the Awards Committee for consideration in the course of the meeting during which recommendations regarding annual awards are formulated, and prior to final deliberations on nominations.
    (10) The Awards Committee shall evaluate the nominations on the basis of information provided in the Secretary of State’s Florida Main Street Award Nomination Form and any additional information received pursuant to subsection 1A-36.011(9), F.A.C. All activities receiving recognition:
    (a) Must conform with the principals set forth in the Main Street Approach; and,
    (b) For rehabilitation or other construction projects, must conform to the recommended approaches to rehabilitation set forth in The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.
    (11) Based on its formal review of all eligible nominations, the Awards Committee shall formulate a consensus recommendation to the Secretary of State regarding nominees to receive awards.
    (12) Within 30 days following the Awards Committee meeting, the Secretary, taking into account the recommendations of the Awards Committee, shall approve the awards to be conferred for the year. Division staff shall notify all award recipients and make arrangements for formal presentation of the awards.
Rulemaking Authority Florida Statutes § 267.031(1). Law Implemented 267.031(5)(g) FS. History-New 3-12-03.