[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21033-21034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3829]


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

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.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior and the Department of Health 
and Human Services announce a request for comments concerning renewal 
of OMB Control Number 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

[[Page 21034]]

Services invite comment on the information collection described below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 23, 2006.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to 
Terry Parks, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., Mail Stop 
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: Terry Parks, (202) 513-7625. 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) 513-7625. 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 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 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 
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; and
    (5) If the instructions are clear and easily understood, leading to 
the least burden on the respondents.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or request, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 320-SIB, 
during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST Monday through Friday 
except for legal holidays. If you wish to have your name and/or address 
withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comments. We will honor your request according to the requirements of 
the law. All comments from organizations or representatives will be 
available for review. We may withhold comments from review for other 
reasons.

Information Collection Abstract

    OMB control number: 1076-0136.
    Type of review: Renewal.
    Title: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
Programs, 25 CFR 900.
    Brief Description: 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.
    Respondents: Tribes or tribal organizations.
    Total number of respondents: 550.
    Estimated number of responses: 5507.
    Estimated annual burden: 191,174 hours.

    Dated: April 14, 2006.
Debbie L. Clark,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Department 
of the Interior.
    Dated: February 17, 2006.
Mary Lou Stanton,
Deputy Director, Indian Health Policy, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
[FR Doc. 06-3829 Filed 4-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P