[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 126 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40112-40113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16429]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Request to Office of Management and Budget for Reinstatement of 
Agency Information Collection for Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Contracts

AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, DOI and Indian Health Service, 
DHHS.

ACTION: 30-Day Notice of Submission to OMB.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior and the Department of Health 
and Human Services announce submission to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) of a request for reinstatement of information collection, 
OMB #1076-0136, ``Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act Programs.'' The information collection will be used to process 
contracts, grants or cooperative agreements for award by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service as authorized by the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act as amended and 
set forth

[[Page 40113]]

in 25 CFR part 900. The Department of the Interior and the Department 
of Health and Human Services invite you to submit comments to the OMB 
on the information collection described below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to 
Attn: Desk Officer for Department of the Interior, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. 
Please send copy of comments to James Thomas, Office of Tribal 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1849 C 
Street NW, MS 4660 MIB, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Thomas, Office of Tribal 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1849 C 
Street NW, MS 4660 MIB, Washington, DC 20240, or (202) 208-5727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Representatives of the Department of the 
Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services and the tribes 
developed a joint rule, 25 CFR part 900, to implement section 107 of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended 
by, 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 
burden hours for this collection have been reduced as a result of 
tribes contracting multiple programs under a single contract, as 
authorized under 25 CFR 900.8, tribes administering `mature' contracts 
which require fewer reports and, tribes entering into Self-Governance 
`compacts,' under which Self-Governance tribes may combine all programs 
under a single self-governance compact.
    The information requirements for this joint rule represent 
significant differences from other agencies in several respects. Both 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service 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 by 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 Department of the Interior and 
the Department of Health and Human Services 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: The Department of the Interior and the 
Department of Health and Human Services 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. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Please submit any comments to the contact in the ADDRESSES section. 
Please submit a copy of comments on this information collection to the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs by telefax to (202) 208-5113. You may also 
hand deliver written comments or view comments at the address found in 
``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.'' You may obtain a copy of this 
information collection document and the OMB submission at no charge by 
a written request to the same address, by telefaxing a request to the 
above number, or by calling (202) 208-5727. Please identify the 
information collection by, OMB #1076-0136. We make the comments and 
names and addresses of commentators available for public review during 
regular business hours. If you wish us to withhold your name and 
address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comments. We will honor your request to the extent allowable by law.
    Burden Statement: Respondents may be required to respond from 1 to 
12 times per year, depending upon the number of programs they contract 
from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. 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: 238,992 hours.
    Total number of respondents: 550.
    Total number of responses: 5,507.

    Dated: June 21, 2000.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
    Dated: April 26, 2000.
Michael H. Trujillo,
Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health Service, Department 
of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 00-16429 Filed 6-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P