Section 9600.

(a) Priority for funding shall be given to proposals for multipurpose senior centers that are open to all seniors. Each area agency shall rank the proposals it submits to the department for funding. The area agency, together with its advisory council, in ranking the proposals shall consider the most feasible facilities to serve as senior centers and the most qualified local agencies to operate the programs in those centers in their jurisdictions. Approval from the area agency shall be obtained before any contract is awarded in its jurisdiction.

(b) The department and each area agency shall also give priority consideration to fund proposals that are from rural or low-income and racial or ethnic minority areas of the state.

(c) The department shall consider any protest or objection regarding the award of a contract, whether submitted before or after the award, provided that the protest is filed within the time period established in the request for proposals. All protests or objections shall be filed in writing. The protesting party shall be notified in writing of the final decision on the protest, and the notification shall set forth the rationale upon which the decision is based.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1097, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1997.)