preceding fiscal year.
"(4) Subject to section 1206 (f)—
"(A) the amount of the first grant or contract under this section for an emergency medical
services system may not exceed
(i) 50 per centum of the establishment and operation costs (as determined pursuant to
regulations of the Secretary) of the system for the year for which the grant or contract is
made, or
(ii) in the case of applications which demonstrate an exceptional need for financial
assistance, 75 per centum of such costs for such year; and
294 Appendix A
"(B) the amount of the second grant or contract under this section for a system may not
exceed (i) 25 per centum of the establishment and operation costs (as determined
pursuant to regulations of the Secretary) of the system for the year for which the grant or
contract is made, or (ii) in the case of applications which demonstrate an exceptional
need for financial assistance, 50 per centum of such costs for such year.
"(5) In considering applications which demonstrate exceptional need for financial
assistance, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications submitted for
emergency medical services systems for rural areas (as defined in regulations of the
Secretary).