(1) Upon receipt, all applications shall be given an initial screening to ensure appropriate signature and completeness. The application must bear the signature of the minority owner who is submitting the application for review.
    (2) Within thirty (30) days following initial receipt of the application, the Office will request the applicant business to furnish omitted items or additional information. If all requested information or items are not received by the Office within thirty (30) days from the date of the request, the Office will close the file within the Office unless the reason for the delay is received and accepted by the Office, at which time a one-time extension may be granted. The applicant may request a reactivation of the file within six months of closure date, and shall at that time provide current, update information for the file, as well as any outstanding requested information. If the applicant makes a request to activate the file six months after closure, a new and complete application must be submitted.
    (3) The on-site verification review may be conducted by the Office upon receipt of the completed application. Failure to cooperate with the scheduling of the on-site review or during the on-site review may result in the denial of the application.
    (4) Applicants determined eligible shall receive a certification letter stating the length of time for which the business has been certified, the specialty areas of the business, the minority status categories in which the business is certified, and the business’ responsibilities set out in Florida Statutes § 287.0943(1) Only specialty areas which are confirmed as being of need and interest to the State in meeting its contractual and/or procurement needs will be considered as specialties for consideration in granting certification. Once certified, an applicant shall remain certified for a period of one (1) year.
    (5) Applicants determined ineligible shall receive a letter stating the basis for denial of certification, citing applicable rules and notice of right to hearing. Applicants shall not be eligible to submit new applications until six (6) months after the Commission’s final agency order is entered denying certification if a hearing has been conducted; or until six (6) months have passed from receipt of notification and no hearing is requested.
Rulemaking Authority 120.53, 287.0943(14) FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 287.0943. History-New 9-11-96, Formerly 38A-20.006.