School Construction Priority List Grant Process

A step-by-step breakdown of the Priority List process

The workflow on this page describes each step of the life cycle of Priority List school construction project grants. Districts considering applying for Priority List school construction projects should review this information carefully.
Learn more about the Priority List  

Lifecycle of Priority List school construction project grants

Looking for similar information for Non-Priority List grant projects? View School Construction Non-Priority List process page (CT.gov)


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Step 1: Office of Grants Administration (OGA) Posts Priority Event
Priority list events are posted on July 1 and are open through June 30 of the following calendar year.

Additional information:

Learn about all required documents and forms (CT.gov)

View the sample Priority List Application (PDF)

Step 2: Priority List Event Closes

On June 30 at 8:00 p.m., the Priority List event closes. No applications can be submitted in Core-CT after the event closes. A new event for the following year’s priority list will be created, at which point districts can apply. 
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Step 3: OGA Reviews Applications

Between July and November, OGA reviews all applications that were submitted by the June 30 deadline.

Step 4: Communication with Districts

After the review is complete, OGA will inform applicants whether they have been placed on the Priority List, if any additional information is needed, or if the district will need to reapply the following year due to missing critical information (e.g., if a referendum for the local share was not held before November 15).

Step 5: DAS Submits the Priority List

By December 15, the DAS Commissioner submits the Priority List to the Governor and the legislative Priority List Committee.

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Step 6: Legislative Review and Authorization

The Priority List Committee makes changes and/or approves the Priority List and submits it to the full General Assembly and Governor prior to February 1. Once approved by the legislature and the bill is signed by the Governor, OGA prepares and sends grant commitment letters to districts.
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Step 7: Plan Review Approval

The district must receive DAS approval of final designs through a pre-bid conference prior to any phase of a project being let out for bid.

More information:

School construction plan review (CT.gov)

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Step 8: Construction Begins

Once Plan Review approves Phase 1 of the project, DAS sends the district a bid approval letter and construction can begin. Per statute, construction must begin within 2 years of the grant commitment date. Approval from Plan Review for each phase of the project must occur before beginning each phase or reimbursement may be denied.
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Step 9: Change Orders

Throughout construction, the district must submit all change orders to Plan Review within six months of issuance for eligibility review. Statute limits the total number of eligible change orders.

More information:

Filing school construction change orders (CT.gov)

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Step 10: Estimated Payments

As work on the project moves forward, the district can submit estimated payment requests for reimbursement. 5% of each payment is withheld until the audit of the project is completed.

More information:

School construction progress payments (CT.gov)

Step 11: Project Completion

After the construction phase, the project reaches completion.

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Step 12: Final Payment Request and Audit

Once the project is completed, the district can submit the final payment request. To avoid penalty, districts must submit final payments within 1 year of BOE acceptance of project completion. OGA then transmits the project to the Audit Unit. The audit team completes an in-depth audit of the project and financials. The final audit report is issued within 2 years of the date of transmittal to the audit team.

More information on final payment request and audit (CT.gov)

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Step 13: Final Payment/Refund Notice

Once the OGA receives the final audit report from the audit team, the project is processed for the release of final audit payment. If a project is deemed to have been overpaid, the district will be notified that a refund is due to the state.
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Step 14: Project Complete

Once the final audit payment is sent to the district or the refund is received by DAS, the project is deemed to be complete and closed at DAS.