How the SRF Program Works | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

The Typical SRF Process

Note: Not all projects (especially Engineering-Services-Only and Study-Only projects) follow this "typical" process. Consult your Project Manager or one of the contacts below for information on the process of your project.

Questions?

Contact us anytime before, during, or after the SRF loan process.

Step 1: Submitting a Project Questionnaire (PQ)

The applicant (sponsor) must submit a CWSRF Project Questionnaire (for wastewater projects) or a DWSRF Project Questionnaire (for drinking water projects) to SRF-Info@des.sc.gov. To be sure your project is fundable, you may want to contact us before submitting a PQ.

Step 2: SRF Publishes Intended Use Plans (IUPs)

All eligible projects will be ranked in accordance with the Integrated Priority Ranking System and placed on the State's Comprehensive Priority List. Every year, SCDES will develop IUPs that identify projects that are ready to proceed and expected to receive loans for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1- June 30).

Step 3: Preliminary Engineering Report & Environmental Review

The next step in the permitting process is submittal of a PER. Regardless of permitting requirements, all projects in which SRF is funding construction, must submit a PER. Please refer to either the DWSRF PER Guidance Document or the CWSRF PER Guidance Document.

Before the PER can be approved, SCDES will either issue a finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) that includes a 30-day public notice period or SCDES will issue a Categorical Exclusion (CE) for the project.

Step 4: Plans and Specifications

Once the PER has received approval, plans and specifications and, in many cases, a construction permit application must be submitted. After the project has been reviewed and all requirements have been met, a construction permit or letter of approval will be issued for the project.

Once plans and specs have been finalized, the sponsor should work with the Rural Infrastructure Authority on completing the loan application.

Step 5: Bidding

Once you are ready to advertise for bids, please refer to our guidance documents:

Guide to Bidding and Award of Construction Contracts - Equivalency
Guide to Bidding and Award of Construction Contracts - General
Other methods of bidding guidance documents can be found on our Guidance page.

Step 6: Construction

Once you are ready to begin construction, there are several things to keep in mind:

SRF Staff must attend the preconstruction conference. This allows staff to share important information on managing an SRF project.
Federal requirements will apply to the project. Refer to the following guides for more detailed information:
- Guide to Federal Requirements - Equivalency
- Guide to Federal Requirements - General
The Construction Contracts Guidance Package provides information on the preconstruction conference and disbursement information.

Step 7: Disbursement of Funds

Disbursements will only be made against incurred, actual eligible costs of the project, not to exceed the amount specified for each cost category prescribed in the Project Budget (found in the Loan Assistance Agreement.)

Timeline for the Typical SRF Process