[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 26427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12176]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Contracts
AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, and
Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) announce a request for comments
concerning renewal of 1076-0136, the Information Collection Request
used for Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance actions.
The information collection will be used to process contracts, grants or
cooperative agreements for award by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(Bureau) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) as authorized by the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act as amended and
set forth in 25 CFR part 900. DOI and DHHS invite comment on the
information collection described below.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
July 13, 1999.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to
James Thomas, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, MS 4603 MIB, Washington,
DC 20240. You may telefax comments on this information collection to
(202) 208-5113. You may also hand deliver written comments or view
comments at the same address. You may obtain a copy of this information
collection document at no charge by a written request to the same
address, telefaxing a request to the above number, or by calling (202)
208-5727. Please identify the information collection by the number
1076-0136.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Thomas, (202) 208-5727.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOI and DHHS developed a joint rule, 25 CFR
part 900, to implement section 107 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act, as amended, and Title I, Public Law 103-413,
the Indian Self-Determination Contract Reform Act of 1994. Section
107(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Indian Self-Determination Contract Reform Act
requires the joint rule to permit contracts and grants be awarded to
Indian tribes without the unnecessary burden or confusion associated
with two sets of rules and information collection requirements when
there is a single program legislation involved. The Bureau expects that
the base burden hours established for this Information Collection
Request, OMB 1076-0136, will be substantially reduced during the
renewal process. The reduction in the number of base burden hours
established for information collection requirements of 25 CFR part 900
is a result of three following factors:
(1) More tribes are contracting under 25 CFR 900.8 which permits
tribes to contract several programs under a single contract;
(2) The number of self-governance tribes has increased. Self-
governance tribes may combine all programs under a single self-
governance compact;
(3) A moratorium on new and expanded self-determination contracting
for FY 1999, which is expected to carry over into FY 2000, has
prevented the tribes from requesting new contracts which have a higher
burden than the recontracting proposals.
The information requirements for this joint rule represent
significant differences from other agencies in several respects. Both
the Bureau and IHS let contracts for multiple programs whereas other
agencies usually award single grants to tribes. Under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, and the Indian
Self-Determination Contract Reform Act of 1994, tribes are entitled to
contract and may renew contracts annually where other agencies provide
grants on a discretionary/competitive basis.
The proposal and other supporting documentation identified in this
information collection is used by the DOI and DHHS to determine
applicant eligibility, evaluate applicant capabilities, protect the
service population, safeguard Federal funds and other resources, and
permit the Federal agencies to administer and evaluate contract
programs. Tribal governments or tribal organizations provide the
information by submitting Public Law 93-638 contract or grant proposals
to the appropriate Federal agency. No third party notification or
public disclosure burden is associated with this collection.
Request for Comments
DOI and DHHS request comments on this information collection
particularly concerning:
(1) the necessity of the information collection for the proper
performance of the agencies' functions;
(2) whether this information collection duplicates a collection
elsewhere by the federal government;
(3) whether the burden estimate is accurate or could be reduced
using technology available to all respondents;
(4) if the quality of the information requested ensures its
usefulness to the agency(ies);
(5) if the instructions are clear and easily understood, leading to
the least burden on the respondents.
Burden Statement
Each respondent is required to respond from 1 to 12 times per year,
depending upon the number of programs they contract from the Bureau and
IHS. In addition, each Subpart concerns different parts of the
contracting process. For example, Subpart C relates to provisions of
initial contract proposal contents. The burden associated with this
would not be used when contracts are renewed. Subpart F describes
minimum standards for the management systems used by Indian tribes or
tribal organizations under these contracts. Subpart G addresses the
negotiability of all reporting and data requirements in the contract.
Total annual burden: 299,552 hours.
Total number of respondents: 620.
Total number of responses: 6,880.
Dated: May 10, 1999.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
Dated: May 10, 1999.
Michel E. Lincoln,
Acting Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human
Services.
[FR Doc. 99-12176 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P