ECD amendment with BDO to cover Hurricane Helene funds draws questions over multi‑year extension

The Economic and Community Development Department asked the Fiscal Review Committee on March 23 to approve Amendment No.1 to contract 84910 with BDO Government Services to administer the CDBG disaster‑recovery grant program and additional projects related to Hurricane Helene. ECD staff said the amendment adds roughly $4 million and extends the contract term, consolidating previous amendments and a vendor name change.

Representative Bridal asked for clarity on the funding and term. "The original contract was $3,000,000… this contract's near $7,000,000 — this additional $4,000,000 is covering what number of years?" she asked. Ken Archer, ECD director of community infrastructure, said the additional funds covered roughly two to three years; later clarification from presenters indicated the amendment adds four years to the contract term to incorporate the new disaster declaration.

Brooksy Carlton, assistant commissioner for rural development, said the amendment adds services tied to Hurricane Helene and that a new disaster declaration and HUD allocation ("we also got 84,000,000 more dollars for the Helene disaster") prompted the change. Several members, including Senator Rose and Representative Bridal, urged limiting extension length and suggested rebidding after a shorter extension. Fiscal Review Director Blaine Savage said an earlier amendment had been approved by the committee in July but the vendor name change required returning for this vote.

After discussion, the committee approved the amendment by voice vote.

Next steps: ECD will proceed under the amended contract; committee members asked staff to be mindful of extension lengths and the potential disruption of contractor changes mid‑grant management.