ARM 18.4.303. DISBURSEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(1) All eligible project applications received within the first 72 hours of the application date will be prioritized and awarded as follows: (a) Closed bridges: These will be ranked in the order they are received based upon the digital timestamp of the department’s receipt of a complete application and will be selected and approved in sequence until available funds are exhausted. (b) Bridges with load postings of five tons or less: If funds remain after approving all closed bridge projects, bridges with load postings of five tons or less will be ranked in the order of receipt as described in (a) and selected and approved in sequence until the remaining available funds are exhausted. (c) All other load posted bridges: If funds remain after approving all bridges with load postings of five tons or less, all other load posted bridges will be ranked in the order of receipt as described in (a) and selected and approved in sequence until the remaining available funds are exhausted. (d) All other bridges: If funds remain after (a), (b), and (c), all other bridges will be ranked in the order of receipt as described in (a) and selected and approved in sequence until the remaining available funds are exhausted. (e) Any eligible projects submitted after the initial 72-hour period will be selected and approved in the order received if funds remain available. (f) The department may apply its technical expertise to objectively select projects that would otherwise not rank high enough under the above criteria, based on considerations that may include, but are not limited to: (i) the overall impact the load posting of the existing structure has on the community; (ii) any positive impact the project would have on safe transportation and essential services. (2) BLB funds will be distributed as a lump sum payment upon execution of a project agreement and MDT approval of a Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) checklist completed by the local government. (3) Any project cost increases are the sole responsibility of the local government. (4) BLB funds may only be used for the project as described in the approved application. (5) Local governments must submit a final close-out report within 90 days of the local government’s final acceptance of the project. (6) Failure to submit a final close-out report within 90 days of the local government’s final acceptance of the project may result in: (a) the local government being ineligible for any future BLB funds distribution until a final close-out report is submitted and accepted by the department in writing; and (b) the local government being responsible for repayment of BLB funds.