(a) The Agency will make information available to prospective applicants to allow a preliminary assessment of a proposed service area's eligibility. At a minimum, the prospective applicant will be able to determine:
(1) Whether the proposed service area is located in a rural area;
(2) Whether the proposed service area overlaps with any part of a borrower's or grantee's service area; and
(3) Whether the proposed service area overlaps with any part of a proposed service area in a pending application for a loan.
(b) A preliminary assessment of service area eligibility does not account for all eligibility factors, and the situation within a proposed service area may change between the preliminary assessment and application submission. A preliminary assessment indicating that a proposed service area may be eligible does not guarantee that the area will remain eligible at the time of application. Sec. Sec. 1738.105-1738.150 [Reserved]