Section 250-RICR-90-00-20.9 - Application Procedures and Required Information, Certification and DocumentationA. Consideration for reimbursement will only be afforded to those who meet the eligibility criteria set forth in § 20.8 of this Part, who apply to the Department pursuant to the application procedures set forth below, and who provide all required information, certification, and records/documentation.B. Application1. Applicants must complete the application form titled "USDA-Seafood Processors Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program - Affidavit and Application for Eligible Participants from Rhode Island," issued by the Department. The application form will be available at the following locations:a. The Department's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance, located at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02908;b. The Department's Division of Coastal Resources, located at 301 Great Island Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882; and, c. The Department's Division of Marine Fisheries, located at 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island 02835.2. Applications must be completed in full. Applications not completed in full will not be considered eligible.3. Applications must be notarized prior to submission.4. Individual processing facilities or vessels may apply separately for reimbursement. Processors may only apply once for each location or vessel.5. Submission. Fully completed and notarized applications must be submitted in hard copy (i.e., hand delivered) during the application period, Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. to either of the three (3) offices set forth below. Neither mailed submission nor electronic submissions of application forms will be accepted. a. The Department's Division of Coastal Resources, 301 Great Island Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882;b. The Department's Division of Marine Fisheries, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island 02835; or c. The Department's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02908.D. Application period: The application period is limited to the fifteen (15) day period beginning on May 2, 2022 and ending on May 16, 2022. The application deadline is 4:00 P.M. on May 16, 2022. No applications will be accepted or considered if submitted after the application deadline.E. Required Information, Certification, and Documentation1. All applicants must provide the following information as part of each application: a. Verification that the applicant held a seafood dealer license issued by the Department and/or a seafood wholesaler license issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health, during some or all of the period between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021.b. Verification that the applicant maintained a place of business in Rhode Island, during some or all of the period between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021, where eligible expenses were incurred.c. Self-certification that the applicant incurred expenditures to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and/or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic during the period between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021 in any of the following three (3) categories: workplace safety measures, market pivots, and retrofitting facilities.d. Quantification of those eligible expenditures for which the applicant is seeking reimbursement, broken out by eligible category.e. The total amount of the applicant's claim for reimbursement.f. Identification of the specific type(s) of records/documentation available to verify eligible expenses for which the applicant is seeking reimbursement. Generally, such records/documentation will be in the form of receipts, purchase orders, and/or invoices.g. Self-certification that the applicant has available all relevant records/documentation to verify eligible expenses for which the applicant is seeking reimbursement; will produce those records/documentation to the Department upon request by the Department as part of the application process; will retain those records/documentation for at least three (3) years after the close of the primary grant award to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and will make the records/documentation available upon request from the State of Rhode Island, including but not limited to the Department, NOAA, or the Office of the Inspector General, if necessary, for purposes of conducting individual or programmatic audits.h. Self-certification that the applicant is in good standing with respect to the payment of all tax obligations owed to the State of Rhode Island; and acknowledgement and agreement that if the applicant is not current, or fails to remain current, with respect to such tax obligations, the Department may require the return of funds obtained pursuant to the application.i. Consent to allow the Department to make available to the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation information pertaining to final award amounts, along with information specific to the applicant as set forth in the application by the applicant, and only this specific information, for the purpose of verifying compliance with State tax obligations.j. Determination as to how each applicant wishes to be notified regarding the Department's decision on each application by picking up and signing for the decision letter at the Department's Marine Fisheries Office in Jamestown or Coastal Resources Office in Galilee (Narragansett).250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-20.9
Adopted effective 4/13/2022
Amended effective 4/13/2022