When a vending facility becomes available a "notice of available facility" is prepared by the vending facility program staff and sent to all licensees and vendors. The "notice of available facility" will contain sufficient information to enable licensees and vendors to determine if they are interested in applying to become the vendor in the available facility. A closing time and date for accepting applications is specified in the "notice," but in no event shall the closing time be less than ten business days from the date of mailing, unless the department declares an emergency requiring less than ten business days notice. Only written applications will be accepted. Lack of response from a licensee or vendor within the allotted time period will be considered to be a negative response. Applications are date stamped when they are received.