Section 427.14.5. Requests for proposals—operation of IDAs.

       14.5(1) Issuance of requests for proposals. The division shall issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for operating organizations interested in operating an IDA program. The RFP shall require the operating organization to provide information in its proposal regarding the financial institution that the operating organization will use for the proposed IDA program. The division shall include such information in evaluating proposals submitted in response to the RFP.

       14.5(2)  Review criteria used to evaluate and select proposals responding to the RFP. The division shall evaluate and select proposals submitted by operating organizations in response to the RFP based upon, but not limited to, the criteria as provided in the RFP and the following criteria, which shall be ongoing responsibilities of the operating organization:

        a.           The project shall provide for a safe and secure investment mechanism for IDAs using a financial institution approved by the division. This provision shall include assurances to contributors that a process is in place to ensure that contributions will be used for approved purposes as provided in subrule 14.6(1).

        b.           The proposed project shall link the making of an account holder’s contributions to an IDA with other services provided by or outcomes identified by the operating organization in the proposal. The proposed project shall include mechanisms for the operating organizations to monitor and enforce the identified outcomes and services.

        c.           The operating organization shall provide documentation establishing experience and ability to execute the project as proposed. Minimum capabilities shall include: an ability to provide financial education including asset-specific education, ability to link with tax preparation assistance, familiarity and ability to work with the proposed target population, and a strong record of successful management.

        d.           The operating organization's proposal shall include a commitment by the operating organization to provide independent matching funds for contributions made by account holders to an IDA on not less than a 1:1 ratio.

        e.           The proposal shall include a monitoring and evaluation plan for certifying the proposed project’s outcomes.

        f.            The proposal shall include agreement and acknowledgment by the operating organization that it shall have ongoing responsibility for:

       (1)             Certifying that an investment account is an IDA based on its having the characteristics described in Iowa Code section 541A.2.

       (2)             Certifying annually the income eligibility of each account holder and the amount of contributions made by the account holder to the IDA during the preceding tax year, in order to determine the account holder’s eligibility for the state match payment for such year.

       (3)             Recording annually the contributions made by the account holder, individual and charitable contributors, and the state.

       (4)             Submitting information regarding the IDA and account holders to the division as requested.

       14.5(3) Additional evaluation criteria in the RFP. The division may include additional evaluation criteria in the RFP including, but not limited to: ability to network with other agencies or to form a communitywide consortium of agencies, if desirable, to operate IDAs; ability to form an effective working relationship with banks or other financial institutions; and ability to raise funds to provide an independent match on account holder deposits.

       14.5(4) Other considerations and guidelines. Other considerations and guidelines in implementing IDAs are:

        a.           The division shall have authority to designate and limit the number of locations where IDA projects shall be implemented, taking into account demographic characteristics and geographic considerations.

        b.           The division shall require all IDA operating organizations and projects to comply with any federal individual development account program requirements for drawing federal funding.

        c.           The division and the operating organization shall enter into an agreement that specifies the responsibilities of both parties, which agreement shall incorporate by reference the provisions of the RFP.

        d.           The operating organization shall maintain a clear and precise audit trail of all deposits and withdrawals of funds in IDAs. All withdrawals from an IDA shall require a signature of approval from the operating organization. Upon the termination of the agreement between the operating organization and the division or upon the discontinuance of the IDA program for any reason, the IDA accounts under the management of that operating organization shall terminate and the funds in the IDAs shall be distributed to the account holders, unless the operating organization and a successor operating organization located in the same geographic area and operating an IDA program approved by the division enter into an agreement for the transfer of IDA accounts to the successor operating organization. The division shall have authority to review and approve in advance the agreement between the two operating organizations.

        e.           Upon the termination of an operating organization’s relationship with the financial institution holding its IDA accounts, the operating organization managing the accounts shall enter into an agreement with a division-approved successor financial institution to hold the accounts and shall arrange for the transfer of the accounts to the new financial institution. The new agreement shall be subject to the division’s review and advance approval.

        f.            If an account holder moves to another location in the state not served by the operating organization but which is served by another operating organization with a division-approved IDA program, the original operating organization shall arrange for the transfer of the account to a financial institution that has an agreement with the operating organization in the new location. If there is no operating organization in the new location, the IDA account shall be closed, with funds in the account distributed to the account holder; alternatively, the operating organization and the account holder may jointly agree to maintain the account under the management of the existing operating organization and financial institution. The operating organization shall provide a written notification to the division of all transfers of IDA accounts to the management of a new operating organization.

[ARC 7613B, IAB 3/11/09, effective 2/16/09]