UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service (RUS)

RUS BULLETIN 1777-2 

SUBJECT: Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks 

Project Selection Criteria

TO: RUS Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) Staff.

ATTN: Rural Development State and Program Directors 

EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of approval.

OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST: Office of the Assistant Administrator, WEP, RUS. 

INSTRUCTIONS: This bulletin replaces previous versions.

AVAILABILITY: This Bulletin is available on 

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/rd_rus_wep/SitePages/Home.aspx 

PURPOSE: To provide a worksheet for Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate 

Health Risks Project Selection Criteria.

 

Acting Assistant Administrator Date

Water and Environmental Programs 
RUS Bulletin 1777-2

Page 2

1 PURPOSE

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

used when reviewing public infrastructure applications seeking funding through 

programs administered in accordance with 7 CFR Part 1777, Water and Waste 

Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks Program. Specific priority 

criteria can be found in 7 CFR 1777.14(c), Scoring. 

2 APPLICABILITY

The application, along with supporting information, will be used to determine applicant 

eligibility. 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 Exhibits A and B of this Bulletin. 

3 INSTRUCTIONS

All applications will be processed, scored and reviewed for funding priority. The priorities 

listed in 7 CFR Part 1777 and included in Exhibits A and B of this Bulletin will be used to 

rank applications and will be a factor in selecting projects for funding. The completed 

Project Selection Criteria Worksheet, as provided in Exhibits A and B, will be placed in 

the processing file for future reference. 

Select from the appropriate Exhibit A or B for the project. If using Exhibit A, complete 

Sections A through E by selecting the points for the priorities that are met by the proposed 

project and enter them in their respective section. Similar action should be taken if using 

Exhibit B, but for Sections A through D. The State Director can recommend up to 15 

discretionary points by providing a written justification which must be attached to this 

worksheet and included in the processing file. Once the above actions are completed, the 

total points scored should be calculated and added to the Exhibit.

The RUS Administrator or designee may assign up to 15 additional points that will be 

considered in the total points for items including but not limited to the geographic 

distribution of funds nationally and within the state, and the severity of health risks.
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit A 

Page 1 

Exhibit A 

Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks

Colonia Project Selection Criteria

Name of Applicant 

Name of Project __________________________________________________________ 

State County 

Statewide Median Household Income 

Median Household Income of Population Served 

Available Points 

Priorities Points Awarded

A. Population: The proposed project will primarily serve a rural area

having a population: 

1. Not in excess of 1,000 25 

2. Between 1,001 and 2,500 15 _______ 

3. Between 2,501 and 5,500 5 

B.Income: The median household income of population 

to be served by the proposed project is: 

1. Not in excess of 50 percent of the statewide

nonmetropolitan median household income 30 

2. More than 50 percent and not in excess of 60 percent 

of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income 20 ________

 

3. More than 60 percent and not in excess of 70 percent 

of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income 15
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit A 

Page 2 

C. Joint financing: The amount of other than RUS 

funds committed to the proposed project is:

1. Fifty percent or more 15

2. Twenty to forty-nine percent 10 _______ 

3. Five to nineteen percent 5

D. Colonia: The proposed project will provide water or 

waste disposal services to the residents of a recognized

 Colonia 25 ________

E. Access and Health Risks: 

1. A service area that lacks access to both water

and waste disposal facilities, resulting in a 

significant health risk 50

2. A service area that lacks access to either water

or waste disposal facilities, resulting in a 

significant health risk 40 _______

3. A service area that has access to water

and waste disposal facilities, but has a 

significant health risk 20 

F. Discretionary: In certain cases, the State Director

or designee may assign up to 15 points for administrative

and programmatic priorities for items including, but not 

limited to, natural disasters, priority coordination between 

RUS and other agencies, including leveraged funding or 

other initiatives identified by the administration, to assist 

those projects that are the most cost effective, or to projects 

located in areas experiencing high unemployment and 

poverty rates and severe health risks. A written justification 

must be prepared and attached to this worksheet each time 

the State Director or designee assigns these points. _______ 

Total Points Scored _______ 

_________________________________________ ___________________

 State Director or Designee Date 
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit A 

Page 3

Discretionary: In certain cases, the RUS Administrator 

may assign up to 15 additional points that will be 

considered in the total points for items including but not 

limited to geographic distribution of funds nationally and 

within the state, and the severity of health risks. Written 

justification for Administrator points will also be included 

in the processing file. _______ 

Total Points Scored including Discretionary _______
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit B 

Page 1 

Exhibit B

Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks

Tribal Project Selection Criteria

Name of Applicant 

Name of Project __________________________________________________________ 

State County 

Per Capita Income of Service Area Unemployment Rate of Service Area 

Statewide Median Household Income 

Median Household Income of Population Served 

Available Points 

Priorities Points Awarded

A. Population: The proposed project will primarily serve a rural area having a population:

1. Not in excess of 1,000 25 

2. Between 1,001 and 2,500 15 _______ 

3. Between 2,501 and 5,500 5 

B. Income: The median household income of 

 population to be served by the proposed project is: 

1. Not in excess of 50 percent of the statewide

nonmetropolitan median household income 30 

2. More than 50 percent and not in excess of 60 percent 

of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income 20 ________

3. More than 60 percent and not in excess of 70 percent 

of the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income 15
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit B 

Page 2

C. Joint financing: The amount of other than 

 RUS funds committed to the proposed project 

is:

1. Fifty percent or more 15 

2. Twenty to forty-nine percent 10 _______

3. Five to nineteen percent 5

D. Access and Health Risks:

1. Service area that lacks access to both

water and waste disposal facilities, resulting in a 

significant health risk 50

2. Service area that lacks access to either 

water or waste disposal facilities, resulting in a 

significant health risk 40 _______

3. Service area that has access to water 

and waste disposal facilities, but is facing a 

significant health risk 20 

E. Discretionary: In certain cases, the State Director

or designee may assign up to 15 points for administrative 

and programmatic priorities for items including, but not 

limited to, natural disasters, priority coordination between

RUS and other agencies, including leveraged funding or 

other initiatives identified by the administration, to assist 

those projects that are the most cost effective, or to projects 

located in areas experiencing high unemployment and 

poverty rates and severe health risks. A written justification 

must be prepared and attached to this worksheet each time 

the State Director or designee assigns these points. _______ 

Total Points Scored _______ 

_________________________________________ ___________________

 State Director or Designee Date 
RUS Bulletin 1777-2 

Exhibit B 

Page 3

Discretionary: In certain cases, the RUS Administrator may 

assign up to 15 additional points that will be considered

in the total points for items including but not limited

to geographic distribution of funds nationally and within

the state, and the severity of health risks. Written 

justification for Administrator points will also be included 

in the processing file. _______ 

Total Points Scored including Discretionary _______