To All Superintendents:
The Office of Grants Administration (OGA) would like to remind districts of the requirement concerning the submission of the start of construction date on awarded projects.
Policy Reminder:
In accordance with Chapter 173 §10-284(b) and §10-282(9), all awarded projects must start construction within two (2) years of the effective date of grant commitment. Specifically, The “Date of beginning of Construction” means the date on which the general construction contract or the first phase thereof, purchase agreement or leasing agreement is signed by the authorized agent of the town or regional school district. Furthermore, The Commissioner of Administrative Services may also disapprove a grant application if the town or regional school district has not begun construction, as defined in section 10-282, not later than two years after the effective date…”
Compliance:
Start of Construction
To report the start date of construction, the district must submit a formal statement along with its first payment request that includes construction costs. This statement must clearly specify the exact date construction began (mm/dd/yy), in accordance with Chapter 173 §10-284(b) and §10-
282(9). Please be sure to reference the project number in the statement. If the district is approaching the two-year deadline to begin construction but is not yet prepared to submit a payment request with supporting documentation, the statement may be submitted via email to OGA at DAS.GrantsAdminstration@ct.gov. In this case, please reference the project number in both the statement and the email.
If the district anticipates difficulty in meeting the two-year deadline (i.e., bidding results higher than anticipated) it is important to notify OGA as soon as possible by emailing DAS.GrantsAdminstration@ct.gov with a detailed explanation of the circumstances causing the delay. Be sure to include the project number in your correspondence. Please do not wait until the deadline has passed, as statutory limitations may restrict our ability to assist after that point.
End of Construction
As the district approaches the conclusion of construction, it is essential to ensure compliance with the final reporting requirements outlined in Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 173, specifically Section 10-287, which requires the following:
Upon project completion, the district must submit the following to the Office of Grants Administration:
- A final grant application detailing all eligible construction costs to include both eligible and ineligible costs (DAS 1049F, formally ED-049F).
- All costs must have been incurred and paid by the district prior to requesting reimbursement.
- Certification from the Board of Education that the project is complete (i.e., signed board minutes)
- Certification through Core-VSS that all work complies with applicable building codes and standards
Timely and accurate submission of these documents is critical to ensure proper grant reconciliation and avoid delays in final funding disbursement.
Please ensure the project number (found on the grant commitment letter) is clearly referenced in all correspondence and documentation.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to DAS.GrantsAdminstration@ct.gov.
We appreciate your attention to detail and collaboration.
Office of Grants Administration
Department of Administrative Services
State of Connecticut
