§ 4284.413 - Project priority.

The following paragraphs indicate items and conditions which must be considered in selecting preapplications for further development. When ranking eligible preapplications for consideration for limited funds, RDA or its successor agency officials must consider the priority items met by each preapplication and the degree to which those priorities are met.

(a) Preapplications. The preapplication and supporting information submitted with it will be used to determine applicant eligibility and the proposed project's priority for available funds. Applicants determined ineligible will be advised of their appeal rights in accordance with subpart B of part 1900 of this title.

(b) Regional Office review. All preapplications will be reviewed and scored for funding priority at each Regional Office using Exhibit B of this subpart (available in any RDA or its successor agency office). Funds will be requested from the National Office, Attention: Director, Water and Waste Disposal Division, using Exhibit C of this subpart (available in any RDA or its successor agency office). Eligible applicants that cannot be funded should be advised that funds are not available and advised of their appeal rights as set forth in § 1900.55(a) of subpart B of part 1900 of this title.

(c) National Office. The National Office will allocate funds on a project-by-project basis as requests are received. If the amount of funds requested exceeds the amount of funds available, the total project score will be used to select projects for funding. The RDA or its successor agency Administrator may assign up to 35 additional points that will be considered in the total points for items such as geographic distribution of funds, severity of health risks, etc.

(d) Selection priorities. The priorities described below will be used to rate preapplications and in selecting projects for funding. Points will be distributed as indicated in paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(6) of this section and will be used in selecting projects for funding. A copy of Exhibit B of this subpart (available in any RDA or its successor agency office), used to rate applications, should be placed in the case file for future reference.

(1) Population. The proposed project will serve an area with a rural population:

(i) Not in excess of 1,500—30 points.

(ii) More than 1,500 and not in excess of 3,000—20 points.

(iii) More than 3,000 and not in excess of 5,500—10 points.

(2) Income. The median household income of population to be served by the proposed project is:

(i) Not in excess of 50 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income—30 points.

(ii) More than 50 percent and not in excess of 60 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income—20 points.

(iii) More than 60 percent and not in excess of 70 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income—10 points.

(3) Joint financing. The amount of joint financing committed to the proposed project is:

(i) Twenty percent or more private, local, or State funds except Federal funds channeled through a State agency—10 points.

(ii) Five to 19 percent private, local, or State funds except Federal funds channeled through a State agency—5 points.

(4) Truly rural. The proposed project is located in a truly rural area as defined in § 1942.17(c) of subpart A of part 1942 of this title—10 points.

(5) Colonia. (See definition in § 4284.404 of this subpart.) The proposed project will provide water and/or waste disposal services to the residents of a colonia—50 points.

(6) Discretionary. In certain cases, the RDA or its successor agency Regional Director may assign up to 15 points for items such as natural disaster, to improve compatibility/coordination between RDA's or its successor agency's and other agencies’ selection systems, to assist those projects that are the most cost effective, high unemployment rate, severity of health risks, etc. A written justification must be prepared and attached to Exhibit B of this subpart (available in any RDA or its successor agency office) each time these points are assigned.