UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

RUS BULLETIN 1778-1 

RD-GD-2014-74

SUBJECT: Water Programs Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance

Grants Project Selection Criteria

TO: State Directors, Rural Development 

ATTN: Community Programs - Program Directors 

EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of approval 

OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST: Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental 

Programs 

INSTRUCTIONS: This issuance replaces the September 26, 2003, version. 

AVAILABILITY: This Bulletin is available on the Internet at

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDU_Bulletins_Water_and_Environmental.html

PURPOSE: To provide project selection criteria for Emergency and Imminent Community 

Water Assistance Grants. 

_______________________________ 1/27/2014 

JACQUELINE M. PONTI-LAZARUK Date 

Assistant Administrator 

Water and Environmental Programs 

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this guidance document does not have the force and effect of law and is not 

meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding 

existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Bulletin 1778-1

Page 2

1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide current project selection criteria that will be 

used when reviewing applications for the Water Program Emergency and Imminent 

Community Water Assistance Grant program.

2 APPLICABILITY

Agency officials must consider the priority items met by each application and the degree 

to which those priorities are met. The priority items are listed in the Project Selection 

Criteria Worksheet included as Exhibit A of this Bulletin. The application and 

supporting information submitted with the application will be used to determine applicant 

eligibility.

3 REVIEW

All applications will be processed and scored in the State Office and then reviewed for 

funding priority at the National Office. The priorities listed in 7 CFR 1778 and included 

in Exhibit A of this Bulletin will be used to rate applications and in selecting projects for 

funding. The completed Project Selection Criteria Worksheet, as provided in Exhibit A, 

will be placed in the case file for future reference. The State Program Official can 

recommend discretionary points by providing a written justification which is attached to 

this worksheet and included in the case file. The RUS Administrator may assign up to 30

additional points that will be considered in the total points
Bulletin 1778-1

Exhibit A

Page 1

Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grant Program

Project Selection Criteria

State Program Official's Project Score __________________________ 

Name of Applicant ________________________________________________________ 

State _____________________________ County ___________________________ 

Congressional District No. ________ 

Grant Request $__________________ Initial or Subsequent ____________

Priorities Points 

A. Population: The proposed project will serve an area 

 with a rural population: 

 1. Not in excess of 1,500 30 

 2. More than 1,500 and not in excess of 3,000 20 

 3. More than 3,000 and not in excess of 5,000 15

 4. Over 5,000 0

B. Income: The median household income of population 

 to be served by the proposed project is: 

 1. Not in excess of 70 percent of the statewide 

 nonmetropolitan median household income 30 

 2. More than 70 percent and not in excess of 80 

 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median 

 household income 20 

 3. More than 80 percent and not in excess of 90 

 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan median 

 household income 10

 4. More than 90 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan

 Median household income. 0
Bulletin 1778-1

Exhibit A

Page 2

C. Pursuant to §1778.7 (c) (3), please select below the statement and points that most 

appropriately describe the impact of the project. The proposed project will correct the:

 1. Quantity of water available from private individually owned

 wells or other sources of water 30

 2. Quality of water available from private, individually owned

 wells or other individual sources of water 30

 3. Quantity of water available from an established system’s

 source of water 20

 

 4. Quality of water available from an established system’s

 source of water 20

D. Imminent Decline: The proposed project will attempt to avert an 

 imminent decline expected to occur during the one-year period 

 following the filing of an application 0 

E. Acute Shortage: Grants made in accordance with §1778.11(b)

 of 7 CFR 1778 to assist an established water system, remedy an acute

 shortage of quality water, or correct a significant decline in the

 quantity or quality of water that is available 10

F. Administrator’s Discretionary Points (up to 30 points may be assigned):

 Does the applicant’s project address a drought-related natural disaster or emergency?

 

 Yes No

 

Other: 

________________________________________________________________________ 

 State Program Official Date
Bulletin 1778-1

Exhibit A

Page 3

Instructions: In parts A-D circle the points for those priorities that are met by the proposed 

project and enter the total project score on page one of Exhibit A of RUS Bulletin 1778-1. The 

State Program Official can recommend discretionary points by providing a written justification

and including it in the transmittal memorandum provided in RUS Bulletin 1778-2. Discretionary 

points will be assigned by the RUS Administrator.