[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37016-37017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15608]


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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 and the Department of Health 
and Human Services 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 and the Indian 
Health Service as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act, as amended, and as set forth in 25 CFR part 
900. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and 
Human Services invite comment on the information collection described 
below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 19, 2003.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to Lena 
Mills, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department 
of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., MS 320-SIB, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lena Mills, Office of Tribal Services, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, (202) 513-7612. You may obtain a copy of this 
information collection document at no charge by a written request to 
the same address, by telefaxing a request to the above number, or by 
calling (202) 513-7612. Please identify the information collection by 
the number 1076-0136.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Interior and the 
Department of Health and Human Services 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 to 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 of Indian 
Affairs and the Indian Health Service expect that the base burden hours 
for complying with this Information Collection Request, OMB 1076-0136, 
will be reduced overall by approximately 20 percent during the contract 
renewal process. The reduction in the number of base burden hours 
associated with information collection requirements of 25 CFR part 900 
results form the following three 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) The majority of contracts awarded are renewal contracts, which 
take considerably less time to complete than new contracts and 
therefore substantially decrease time spent under subpart C.
    The information requirements for this joint rule differ from those 
of other agencies. 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, and the Indian 
Self-Determination Contract Reform Act of 1994, tribes are entitled to 
contract and may renew contracts annually with the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and the Indian Health Service, whereas other agencies provide 
grants on a discretionary or competitive basis.
    The proposal and other supporting documentation identified in this 
information collection are 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

[[Page 37017]]

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 agencies;
    (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 it contracts from the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service. In addition, each subpart 
concerns information collection for different parts of the contracting 
process. For example, subpart C relates to initial contract proposal 
contents. Information collection for subpart C would be unnecessary 
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: 191,174 hours.
    Total number of respondents: 550.
    Total number of responses: 5,507.

    Dated: June 13, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
    Dated: April 30, 2003.
Duane Jeanotte,
Acting Director of Headquarters Operations, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
[FR Doc. 03-15608 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P