(a) The Department of State will provide outreach services to inform municipalities of the availability of funding and provide information to applicants concerning application preparation and submission.

(b) The Secretary may focus the program in specific functional service areas, in which case such areas of focus shall be detailed in a request for applications.

(c) All action recognition must be undertaken pursuant to a contract with the Department of State, which contract shall require, in addition to the requirements of the Department of State, Attorney General and State Comptroller, that all contracts not to be performed by the officials and employees of the awardee be entered into in accordance with General Municipal Law, sections 103 and 104-b. Awards may be made in amounts less than those requested by applicants in order to allow the department to recognize a greater number of projects.