Procurement

The Children's Trust's procurement process and funding opportunities are governed by county ordinances that help to ensure fairness and transparency. The intent of the Cone of Silence is to ensure that no one unduly or inappropriately influences anyone responsible for reviewing proposals or making funding recommendations, including volunteer reviewers, board members and staff of The Children's Trust. The "Cone" goes into effect when a competitive solicitation is released and remains in effect until the CEO announces the funding recommendations.

For more information, click here to visit the Cone of Silence page on the Miami-Dade County website.

In order to avoid a conflict of interest, the by-laws of the board prohibit a staff member of any agency from serving on the board if more than 10 percent of the agency's budget is provided by The Children's Trust.

Effective January 1, 2021, section 448.095(e) of the Florida Statutes requires all public employers, contractors and subcontractors, including The Children’s Trust providers, to use the E-Verify system to establish the authorization of new employees, including all new subcontractors and professional services consultants, to work in this country. Providers must also obtain and keep an affidavit from its subcontractors affirming that the subcontractors do not employ, contract or subcontract with any individuals who are not authorized to work in the US.

By entering into a Contract with The Children’s Trust, the Contractor and its Subcontractors are jointly and severally obligated to comply with the provisions of Section 448.095, Florida Statutes, as amended, titled “Employment Eligibility.” The Contractor affirms that (a) it has registered and uses the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to verify the work authorization status of all new employees of the Contractor; (b) it has required all Subcontractors to this Contract to register and use the E-Verify system to verify the work authorization status of all new employees of the Subcontractor; (c) it has an affidavit from all Subcontractors to this Contract attesting that the Subcontractor does not employ, contract with, or subcontract with, unauthorized aliens; and (d) it shall maintain copies of any such affidavits for duration of the Contract.

If The Children’s Trust has a good faith belief that Contractor has knowingly violated Section 448.09(1), Florida Statutes, then The Children’s Trust shall terminate this contract in accordance with Section 448.095(5)(c), Florida Statutes. In the event of such termination the Contractor agrees and acknowledges that it may not be awarded a public contract for at least one (1) year from the date of such termination and that Contractor shall be liable for any additional costs incurred by The Children’s Trust because of such termination.

In addition, if The Children’s Trust has a good faith belief that a Subcontractor has knowingly violated any provisions of Sections 448.09(1) or 448.095, Florida Statutes, but Contractor has otherwise complied with its requirements under those statutes, then Contractor agrees that it shall terminate its contract with the Subcontractor upon receipt of notice from The Children’s Trust of such violation by Subcontractor in accordance with Section 448.095(5)(c), Florida Statutes.

Any challenge to termination under this provision must be filed in the Circuit or County Court by The Children’s Trust, Contractor, or Subcontractor no later than twenty (20) calendar days after the date of contract termination. Public and private employers must enroll in the E-Verify System and retain the I-9 Forms for inspection.

The E-Verify system is Internet-based and operated by the Department of Homeland Security that verifies the employment eligibility of employees. For more information on E-Verify and 448.095(e), F.S. (2020); click here.