(1) Activities projects. Grants for activities projects made under the centennial program are subject to ceiling amounts of:

(a) Five hundred thousand dollars if the match for the grant is in the form of cash and/or interlocal costs; or

(b) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars if any part of the match is in the form of in-kind goods and services; and

(c) Five hundred thousand dollars for activities project loans.

(2) Facilities projects. Loans are subject to ceiling amounts of five million dollars.

(3) Hardship projects.

(a) Grants for facilities construction projects are subject to ceiling amounts of five million dollars. If a centennial program grant is provided for a hardship project in conjunction with a water pollution control revolving fund (revolving fund) forgivable principal loan award for hardship, then the ceiling amount for the combined revolving fund forgivable principal loan and centennial program grant is five million dollars; and

(b) Grants for facilities planning and design may not exceed fifty percent of the total eligible costs.

(4) Water pollution control facilities construction bid overruns.

(a) If the low responsive responsible construction bid(s) exceeds the engineer's estimate of construction costs, the department may approve funding increases for up to ten percent of the engineer's cost estimate as supplied with the bid documents;

(b) The ceiling amounts in the year the project was offered funding and as established in WAC 173-95A-520 apply; and

(c) First priority for availability of funds will be given to hardship communities based on the severity of financial need. For more information, see WAC 173-95A-400.

(5) Water pollution control facilities construction change orders:

(a) The department may approve funding for change orders for up to five percent of the eligible portion of the low responsive responsible construction bid(s);

(b) The department may approve funding for change orders for greater than five percent of the eligible portion of the low responsive responsible construction bid(s) only if the recipient can demonstrate that the additional funding is needed to remedy unforeseeable, extraordinary site-specific conditions;

(c) The ceiling amounts in the year the project was offered funding and as established in WAC 173-95A-520 apply; and

(d) First priority for availability of funds will be given to hardship communities based on the severity of financial need. For more information on hardship, see WAC 173-95A-400.