diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy_functions.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy_functions.yml
index 85e9854..5dac13a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy_functions.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy_functions.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Deploy to Firebase Functions
+name: Deploy to DEV
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -6,44 +6,70 @@ on:
       - stg
   workflow_dispatch:
 
-env:
-  FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID: "schemessg-v3-dev"
-  SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_SCHEMESSG_V3_DEV }}
-
 jobs:
-  deploy:
-    name: Deploy Functions
+  build_and_deploy:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
     steps:
-    # Step 1: Checkout the code
-    - name: Checkout Repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v3
-
-    # Step 2: Set up Node.js environment
-    - name: Setup Node.js
-      uses: actions/setup-node@v3
-      with:
-        node-version: 18
-
-    # Step 3: Install Dependencies
-    - name: Install Dependencies
-      run: |
-        npm install -g firebase-tools@13.25.0
-
-    # Step 4: Authenticate Firebase CLI
-    - name: Authenticate Firebase CLI
-      env:
-        FIREBASE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_TOKEN_SCHEMES_V3_DEV }}
-      run: |
-        echo "$SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY" > ${HOME}/serviceAccountKey.json
-        firebase auth:login:ci --project $FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID --token $FIREBASE_TOKEN
-        firebase use --add $FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID --token $FIREBASE_TOKEN
-
-    # Step 5: Deploy All Functions
-    - name: Deploy Firebase Functions
-      run: |
-        firebase deploy --only functions --project $FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID
-      env:
-        FIREBASE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_TOKEN }}
-        GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS: ${HOME}/serviceAccountKey.json
+      # Step 1: Checkout the code
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      # Step 1.5:  Environment variables
+      - name: create env file
+        working-directory: backend
+        run: |
+          cd functions
+          touch .env
+          echo "${{ secrets.FUNCTIONS_ENV_VARS }}" >> .env
+
+      # Step 2: Set up Python environment
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+
+      # Step 3: Set up Node.js environment
+      - name: Set up Node
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        with:
+          node-version: 19.7.0
+
+      # Step 3.5: Download the ZIP file from Google Drive
+      - name: Download Models ZIP
+        run: |
+          wget "${{ secrets.LINK_TO_MODEL_FILES }}" -O models.zip
+
+      - name: List Directory Contents
+        run: ls -lh models.zip
+      - name: Check File Type
+        run: file models.zip
+
+      # Step 3.5.2: Extract the ZIP file
+      - name: Extract Models ZIP
+        run: |
+          unzip models.zip -d backend/functions/ml_logic
+
+      # Step 3.5.3: Clean up
+      - name: Clean Up
+        run: rm models.zip
+
+      # Step 4: Create Service Account Key and Set Env Variables
+      - name: Create SA key and set env variables
+        run: |
+          echo '${{ secrets.FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_SCHEMESSG_V3_DEV }}' > ${{ runner.temp }}/gcloud.json
+          echo "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=${{ runner.temp }}/gcloud.json" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      # Step 5: Prepare the environment
+      - name: Prepare the environment
+        working-directory: backend/functions
+        run: |
+          python3.10 -m venv venv
+          . venv/bin/activate
+          npx firebase-tools --version
+          python3.10 -m pip install -r requirements.txt
+
+      # Step 6: deploy functions
+      - name: Deploy functions
+        working-directory: backend
+        env:
+          GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS: ${{ runner.temp }}/gcloud.json
+        run: npx firebase-tools deploy --only functions --debug --token "${{ secrets.FIREBASE_TOKEN_SCHEMESSG_V3_DEV }}"
diff --git a/backend/functions/fb_manager/firebaseManager.py b/backend/functions/fb_manager/firebaseManager.py
index 536d191..98e7806 100644
--- a/backend/functions/fb_manager/firebaseManager.py
+++ b/backend/functions/fb_manager/firebaseManager.py
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ def _initialize_app(self):
         if not firebase_admin._apps:
             # Replace newlines in private key
             private_key = os.getenv("FB_PRIVATE_KEY").replace("\\n", "\n")
+            # path_to_creds = os.getenv("GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS")
+
+            # if not path_to_creds or not os.path.exists(path_to_creds):
+            #     raise ValueError(f"Invalid certificate path: {path_to_creds}. Make sure GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS is set properly.")
+
+            # cred = credentials.Certificate(path_to_creds)  # Adjust path as needed
 
             cred = credentials.Certificate(
                 {
diff --git a/backend/functions/feedback/feedback.py b/backend/functions/feedback/feedback.py
index 0eddedd..f22c2d9 100644
--- a/backend/functions/feedback/feedback.py
+++ b/backend/functions/feedback/feedback.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 from fb_manager.firebaseManager import FirebaseManager
 from firebase_functions import https_fn
-from datetime import timezone
-import datetime
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+import json
 
 # Firestore client
 firebase_manager = FirebaseManager()
@@ -22,9 +22,16 @@ def feedback(req: https_fn.Request) -> https_fn.Response:
     Returns:
         https_fn.Response: response sent to client
     """
-
+    headers = {
+        'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': 'http://localhost:3000'
+    }
     if req.method != "POST":
-        return https_fn.Response("Only POST requests are allowed.", status=405)
+        return https_fn.Response(
+            response=json.dumps({"success": False, "message": "Only POST requests are allowed"}),
+            status=405,
+            mimetype="application/json",
+            headers=headers
+        )
 
     try:
         # Parse the request data
@@ -35,7 +42,12 @@ def feedback(req: https_fn.Request) -> https_fn.Response:
         timestamp = datetime.datetime.now(timezone.utc)
 
         if not feedback_text or not timestamp:
-            return {"success": False, "message": "Missing required fields."}, 400
+            return https_fn.Response(
+                response=json.dumps({"success": False, "message": "Missing required fields"}),
+                status=400,
+                mimetype="application/json",
+                headers=headers
+            )
 
         # Prepare the data for Firestore
         feedback_data = {
@@ -49,8 +61,18 @@ def feedback(req: https_fn.Request) -> https_fn.Response:
         firebase_manager.firestore_client.collection("userFeedback").add(feedback_data)
 
         # Return a success response
-        return {"success": True, "message": "Feedback successfully added."}, 200
+        return https_fn.Response(
+            response=json.dumps({"success": True, "message": "Feedback successfully added"}),
+            status=200,
+            mimetype="application/json",
+            headers=headers
+        )
 
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error: {e}")
-        return {"success": False, "message": "Failed to add feedback."}, 500
+        return https_fn.Response(
+            response=json.dumps({"success": False, "message": "Failed to add feedback"}),
+            status=500,
+            mimetype="application/json",
+            headers=headers
+        )