High Springs city staff withdrew agenda items tied to the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) grant-administration procurement on Oct. 23 after Cornerstone Community Partners filed a formal notice of protest.

Jeffrey Winter of Cornerstone Community Partners told the commission his firm submitted a proposal for $46,000 and left $10,000 available to cover single-audit or administrative expenses, and that the firm has filed a certified written protest and delivery to the city. Winter urged the commission to consult Florida Commerce before taking any award action to avoid jeopardizing CDBG compliance.

Melissa Fox, representing another proposer, said the city was not yet in jeopardy of losing the grant and clarified that, had the city proceeded with the award and Florida Commerce found noncompliance, the agency would have required the city to redo procurement steps rather than immediately cancel the grant. Fox noted Florida Commerce will not allow a proposed grant administrator to assist the procurement due to conflict-of-interest rules.

City staff acknowledged a procedural error in preparing ranking sheets and said they would re-rank proposals and return the matter to the commission in a manner intended to comply with Florida Commerce procurement rules. One city official explained: “We made a mistake. We didn’t rank them the right way…we’re gonna pull it off. We’re gonna go back and re-rank them, that will be in compliance with the state Florida Commerce.”

The commission did not take an award vote on the CDBG administration contract on Oct. 23. City staff advised retaining submitted materials for the re-ranking process so proposers would not need to refile their full submittals.

Cornerstone’s written protest, read into the record by its representative, cites concern that the city’s current agenda request could lead to Florida Commerce rejecting the professional-services procurement and delaying the CDBG project. The protest letter is on file with the city clerk.