Appeals

Mark Ghilarducci                                                                   Darren Lynne

Director                                                                                   Director of Special Projects and

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services            Academic Support

 3650 Schriever Avenue                                                         855 North Vermont Avenue

Mather, CA 95655                                                                  Los Angeles, CA 90029

Dear Mr. Ghilarducci and Mr. Lynne:

This is in response to a letter from the California Office of Emergency Services (Recipient) dated July 22, 2022, which transmitted the referenced second appeal on behalf of Los Angeles City College Foundation (Applicant).  The Applicant is appealing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of $337,213.93 in costs pertaining to flu vaccinations and emergency food distribution provided to Los Angeles City College students and the surrounding community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Section 423(a) of the Stafford Act provides that any decision regarding eligibility for assistance may be appealed within 60 days after the date on which the applicant is notified of the award or denial of assistance.  Implementing this provision, Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 206.206(c) (2019), requires that applicants must file appeals within 60 days after receipt of a notice of the action that is being appealed. 

According to the Administrative Record, the Applicant received notice of FEMA’s Request for Public Assistance denial by way of a Determination Memorandum on September 29, 2020.  However, the Applicant mailed its first appeal on December 2, 2020, and the Recipient received it on December 7, 2020.  The Applicant did not comply with the 60-day appeal submission timeframe required by FEMA’s regulations, making the first appeal untimely.  Therefore, this appeal is denied.

Please inform the Applicant of this decision.  This determination is the final decision on this matter pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206, Appeals.

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                           /S/

                                                                         Ana Montero

                                                                        Division Director

                                                                        Public Assistance Division

cc: Robert Fenton

Regional Administrator

FEMA Region IX