OAR 340-081-0036: Prioritization of Preliminary Applications

(1) If it appears that the potential requests for financial assistance may exceed the funds available, the Department shall notify potential applicants of the deadline for submitting preliminary applications to receive consideration in the prioritization process. Such prioritization will generally occur no more frequently than once per year. To the extent possible, the prioritization process will be completed in February in order to mesh with local budget processes and facilitate project initiation during favorable construction weather. (2) The process for prioritization shall be as follows: (a) Each project shall be assigned points based on the schedule contained in OAR 340-081-0041; (b) Projects shall be ranked by point total from highest to lowest with the project receiving the highest points being the highest priority for funding assistance. A fundable list shall then be established based on available funds; (c) The Department shall notify each public agency within the fundable range on the list and forward a draft loan agreement for review, completion, and execution; (d) If the loan agreement is not completed, executed, and returned to the Department within 60 days of notification, the public agency’s priority position for funding assistance during that year shall be forfeited, and the funds made available in order of priority to projects below the fundable line on the list. The 60-day time limit may be extended by the Department upon request of the applicant with a demonstration of need to complete required legal and administrative processes. (3) If funds remain after all qualifying applications on the list are funded, the Department may fund new requests from qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis. (4) This section shall not apply to financial assistance which the Department provides pursuant to a long-term, written agreement with a public agency.