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6 <br />values, and/or home modifications designed to enable frail or disabled household members to <br />function more independently. <br />It is anticipated that. each home rehabilitated with SFRll funds will, with reasonable <br />maintenance, be capable of lasting another 30 or 40 years. <br />Of course, contractors performing work funded under ~FRll are responsible for meeting all <br />-local requirements for permits and inspection. All- work done under the program -must be <br />performed to NC State_Residential Building Code standards. (This does not mean, however, that <br />the whole house must be brought up to Building- Code Standards.) <br />What atrot~t lead-based paint? Until it was discovered to be a health hazard, the metal, lead,. <br />was used for centuries to make house paints. Now we know that lead exposure is a serious <br />problem f-0r everyone .and especial-ly small children. Selling lead paint was outlawed inr 1978, <br />but many older buildings still contain lead paint and children are still being poisoned. <br />Under SFR1I, a lead hazard- evaluation must be performed on every home selected for <br />rehabilitation that was built before 1978. The specif c type of evaluation and the appropriate <br />lead hazard reduction work performed will depend on the total amount of Federal_-funds used to <br />rehabilitate the home, as per 24 CFR part 3 S. <br />It may be necessary for the household to relocate during the construction process for protection <br />against further lead poisoning. If relocation is required, reasonable and documented relocation <br />expenses will be covered by SFRI l assistance. The cost of relocation will be part of the loan <br />associated with- SFRI l and the average cost cannot exceed $1,000 per assisted household. <br />Who will do the work on the homes? Orange County is obligated under SFRI I-to ensure that <br />quality work is done at reasonable prices and that all work is contracted through fair, open and <br />competitive process. T-a meet those very difficult requirements, Orange County will invite bids <br />only from contractors who are part_of an "approved contractor's registry". <br />To be on the registry, contractors must (1) fill out an application form, listing several references <br />and recent jobs completed, and (2) receive the "conditional approval" of Orange County. Once a <br />contractor has been conditionally approved has successfully completed on job for Orange <br />County, his or her status is upgraded to "regular approval", meaning that they will be allowed to <br />bid on a regular rotation as long as they remain in good standing. (Homeowners who know of <br />quality r-ehabilitation contractors that are not on Orange County's Approved Contractors Registry <br />are welcome to invite them to apply.) <br />From three to five approved contractors will be invited to bid on each job, and the lowest <br />responsive and responsible bidder will be selected for the contract. "Responsive and <br />responsible" means the contractor (1) is deemed able to complete the work in a timely fashion, <br />and (2) that the bid is within 15% (in either direction) of Orange County's cost estimate. In the <br />event that more than five approved contractors wish to compete, licensed contractors will take <br />precedence. If required, lead based paint hazard reduction and/or abatement will be performed <br />by contractors who are trained and certified to per form such work. <br />5 <br />