An administrative oversight in the Newark Department of Child and Family Well-Being nearly resulted in a loss of $11.9 million in federal funding for HIV/AIDS programs, The Star-Ledger/NJ.com reports (nj.com, 6/24). Officials in the New Jersey department attribute the slipup to a failure to process grant applications sufficiently in advance of the deadline.

According to the article, the city had 120 days to process grants and get them approved and distributed to various AIDS service organizations (ASOs) in the region. Because grant applications were filed just prior to the deadline, many ASOs will receive funding later than expected.

“We dropped the ball,” said Maria Vizcarrondo, director of the department. However, Vizcarrondo told The Star-Ledger that agencies should be receiving their money by August.