Subject:
Title
Agreement with Horne LLP for requirements of services for the management, administration and implementation of Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery Program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the agreement with Horne LLP for the requirements of services for the management, administration, and implementation of Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program.
• The agreement allows for certain Disaster Recovery Program and Housing Program Management services for our CDBG-DR programs.
• Pinellas County has been awarded $813M in federal funds through the CDBG-DR, which are designated specifically to address critical unmet needs that have not been fully covered by other federal assistance programs, such as Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• The required Action Plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on June 30, 2025, and the grant agreement with HUD was executed on July 30, 2025.
• The management of these funds aims to supplement existing recovery efforts, ensuring that resources do not duplicate or supplant other federal support.
• The total not to exceed amount above includes vendor implementation time and material costs, vendor fixed unit-based costs, and pass-through grant recipient funds.
• The breakdown of these costs is below:
o Disaster Recovery Implementation Contract Costs: not to exceed $25,596,550.80 for the contract term
o Housing Program Management Contract Costs: not to exceed $61,184,472.37 for the contract term
o Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Pass through Grant Funds: not to exceed $478,875,000.00 for the contract term.
• Contractor will not retain or markup any rehabilitation or reconstruction pass-through grant funds.
Contract No. 25-0425-RFP is for a thirty-six-month total contract value of $565,656,023.17.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
Summary
This contract provides services for Management, Administration, and Implementation of the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. HORNE, serving under the direction of the County as its contractor, will manage, administer, and implement (as provided in the contract) all the County’s CDBG-DR programs.
The total contract value includes both HORNE’s contract service costs and direct beneficiary costs such as construction. These categories are distinct, even though both are accounted for within the contract. Except for the Housing Rehabilitation Program, service costs will be paid out of the disaster recovery implementation budget.
For the Housing Rehabilitation Program, HORNE will administer the program and procure licensed general contractors as subcontractors. HORNE will pay these subcontractors for work completed, and the cost of program management will be paid from the Housing Program Management budget. HORNE will then be reimbursed for subcontractor payments through the pass-through funding provided in the contract.
The remaining CDBG-DR programs will be carried out by HORNE in accordance with the contract, and the County will make payments directly to the ultimate recipients of funding. These payments will be reviewed by HORNE and County staff before being forwarded to the Clerk of the Court for processing.
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Background Information:
An RFP was issued on May 23, 2025, for Management, Administration & Implementation of Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. Nine (9) submittals were received, and Horne LLP was selected as the highest-ranked firm. Negotiations concluded on August 28, 2025. The firms, in order of ranking, are provided in the attached ranking spreadsheet.
Fiscal Impact:
Total estimated fees not to exceed: $ 565,656,023.17
Staff Member Responsible:
Matthew Spoor, Assistant County Administrator
Merry Celeste, Purchasing Director, Administrative Services
Joe Lauro, Director, Administrative Services.
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Agreement
Ranking Spreadsheet