[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