N.J. Admin. Code § 15:24-6.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 15:24-6.1 - Grant administration

(a) The State Librarian may execute any agreements deemed to be necessary or useful and convenient in connection with any project. The State Librarian may determine any costs deemed to be necessary or useful and convenient in connection with any project. Such costs may include expenses incurred in connection with the administration, organization, or operations incident to this Act, its financing, and the completion of any project authorized by the Act.

(b) Each grant agreement shall include provisions as may be necessary to ensure that the applicant provides the required matching funds for the project.

1. If the required matching funds are not paid by the applicant as set forth in the grant agreement, the State Librarian may terminate the grant agreement and no additional grant funds will be provided to the applicant for this project.

(c) Architectural or engineering supervision and inspection shall be provided by the applicant at the construction site to ensure that the completed work conforms to the approved plans. For the purpose of inspection, representatives of the State Librarian shall have access, at all reasonable times, to all construction work being funded by the Bond Act. The applicant and contractor shall be required to facilitate such access and inspection.

(d) Construction shall be initiated and completed according to the proposed timeline specified in the grant application. The time limit for completion of the construction shall be measured from the date of execution of the grant agreement.

(e) The grant shall be paid to the applicant in four installments as set forth in this subsection, but only upon receipt of satisfactory evidence upon completion of each phase, including the certification by the architect as to compliance with the maximum per square foot costs.

1. Twenty-five percent upon approval of the award of the construction contract(s). Satisfactory evidence of the award may be minutes of the governing body approving the award of construction contracts, copies of title pages of contracts with necessary signatures, letters of award, or other proofs of award of contract;

2. Fifty percent when the project is 50 percent complete and upon submission of the architect's certification;

3. Twenty percent when the project is substantially complete and upon submission of the architect's certification; and

4. Five percent upon receipt of a temporary certificate of occupancy and final project expenditure report.

(f) If the construction period exceeds the timeline by more than 12 months, a request for an extension must be made to the State Librarian no less than three months prior to the original completion date on an approved form. The State Librarian, in consultation with the President, will grant an extension for good cause with documentable reasons.

(g) In the event that construction is not substantially completed according to the approved timeline, or within reasonable extensions as granted by the State Librarian, the State Librarian has the authority to rescind the balance of the approved grant.

(h) Each recipient of a project grant shall provide such information as the State Librarian or President may request regarding the use of grant funds and the progress of the project. Construction progress status reports and up-to-date spend-down timelines may be requested as necessary.

(i) Failure to comply with any of the rules set forth in this chapter shall make an applicant ineligible for funding not yet disbursed.

(j) The President, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Commission, may, in a manner consistent with the allocations provided in the Bond Act, allocate any balance in an approved grant to another eligible library; a new solicitation for grant applications; an amended application; or toward a library's larger project, if theapproved project was only for a portion of a larger library construction project.

1. If an applicant determines not to undertake an approved project for which a grant was awarded;

2. To adjust for actual project expenses in a manner consistent with the approved grant; or

3. If an applicant fails to comply with the provisions of the grant.

N.J. Admin. Code § 15:24-6.1

Adopted by 51 N.J.R. 1610(a), effective 11/4/2019