Portal Says Pending
A Mississippi asbestos abatement firm submits its annual accreditation renewal through the state's Asbestos Certification Portal on June 2. Its current accreditation expires June 30. On July 3 the portal still shows the firm's status as 'submitted-under review,' and the firm has not received a new certificate. A school district's bid opening for a fall abatement project is July 7; the bid form requires the bidder to hold a current Mississippi asbestos abatement contractor accreditation. Separately, the firm's payroll shows that a newly hired supervisor took his refresher on June 20, but the portal still lists his old expiration date of June 15. The firm's operations manager wants to submit the bid and, if awarded, start mobilizing on July 15.
1. May the firm certify on the bid that it is currently accredited? Explain the basis for your answer.
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The firm should not certify current accreditation unless it can verify an active status or has written confirmation from the program. A portal entry showing 'submitted-under review' is an application status, not an approval. If the old accreditation expired June 30 and no new certificate has been issued, the firm's ordinary evidence of current accreditation is missing. Some programs allow a timely renewal to bridge an expiration, but that must be confirmed in the program's rules or in writing; the firm should not assume it. Because the bid form requires current accreditation at bid opening, submitting without verification risks a nonresponsive bid and possible misrepresentation. The firm should contact the program immediately, request expedited review or written verification, and keep a record of the communication.
2. What should the firm do about the supervisor's refresher record and the possible July 15 start?
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The firm should confirm that the refresher course was completed and that the provider submitted the roster or certificate to the program. It should upload the certificate if the portal allows and request correction of the expiration date. Until the portal or a program letter shows the supervisor as current, the firm should not assign him to supervise abatement work. For the July 15 start, the firm should verify every supervisor and worker, not just the firm status. If the portal lag is administrative, a written verification from the program can support mobilization; without it, the firm should delay or assign another current supervisor. The firm should retain screenshots, submission confirmations, course certificates, and program correspondence so it can show good-faith compliance if questions arise later.